Brian's Corner

Happy 2018 Viking Nation!

After two solid weeks of single-digit temperatures in northeast Ohio, a heatwave is forecasted for the coming days with temps north of freezing. Time to rejoice! We know it won’t last (after all, it’s still January), but any days above freezing with a bonus of a blue sky is worth celebrating.  Spring is just a few months away.

In the coming weeks we will be offering a variety of alumni and student programs under the umbrella of “Share the Love.”  We’re taking advantage of occasions such as Valentine’s Day and Women’s Heart Month to plan various initiatives where alumni and students can share their love for one another, for their families, for CSU and for their communities. The full schedule of events may be found on our website www.csualumni.com.  I encourage you to join us at one or more of these experiences. 

Planning is also fully underway for our CSU2U swing through Florida.  Stops include The Villages, Ft. Myers and Boca Raton. We are bringing exceptional faculty on the road with us to share their expertise with alumni. Find out more about each of our stops.

Last semester we introduced a new series of programs targeted at young men. The series, “About Manhood,” was launched with a lecture by alumnus Dwayne Bray. An ESPN Senior Coordinating Producer, Bray discussed “A Journey from THE LAND to ESPN.” The room was filled with alumni, CSU students, and also high school juniors and seniors enrolled in our MC2STEM program on campus.  On Monday, February 5th at 4 p.m. our second presentation will take place. “A Series of Crashes” features Keller Williams Greater Cleveland CEO Scott Phillips Jr. All alumni are invited to attend what I believe will be another inspiring program.

Next week we will honor 25 alumni, students, and CSU faculty/staff at the Second Annual Alumni Recognition Reception.  Their achievements and contributions to society are also inspiring.  We will feature their bios on our website beginning in February.

As you can see, the cold winter weather isn’t slowing us down—we’re just getting warmed up. The spring semester will offer many meaningful opportunities for you to engage with CSU and with one another. I look forward to seeing you at one or many of these upcoming events. 

Brian Breittholz,
Executive Director, CSU Alumni Association
Assistant Vice President, Alumni Affairs