CLEVELAND — *Editor's Note: The video in the player above originally aired on March 26, 2021.
As Ohio college and universities continue to adjust amid the ongoing pandemic, many are retuning to normal practices, including in-person commencements.
On Friday, Cleveland State University announced that newly confirmed U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Marcia Fudge, will serve as the 2021 Commencement Speaker.
As a result of the pandemic, the university is holding two ceremonies to honor the nearly 2,500 graduates on Saturday, May 15 at Progressive Field. Fudge is schedule to speak at the afternoon ceremony.
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Fudge, a graduate of CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, served as U.S. Representative for the 11th Congressional District of Ohio for over 12 years before being confirmed as Housing Secretary in March.
“It’s an absolute honor to be among the first to hear from our new Secretary of Housing and Urban Development,” said CSU President Harlan Sands. “She is an outstanding role model and a wonderful example of how far you can go with a CSU degree. She has a powerful, inspirational story to share with our graduates.”
Last week, the University announced a new "aggressive" growth plan with a stated goal of attracting 4,500 additional students and 200 new faculty members by 2025.
The plan, dubbed CSU 2.0, includes multi-million-dollar investments in research, faculty positions and initiatives to advance student success, develop new programs and build new partnerships. CSU President Harlan Sands presented the plan to the university's community during a Facebook stream on Friday.
“CSU 2.0 is a bold, forward-thinking, aspirational vision for our future,” Sands said. “This is about growth, not retrenchment. We’ve set ambitious, achievable goals. We’ll be serving more students, distinguishing ourselves as a leading urban public research institution, and expanding our role as an anchor institution in the region to better serve and support greater Cleveland.”
*Editor's Note: The video in the player above originally aired on March 3, 2021.