Our Hall of Fame, established by Dean Lee Fisher in 2017, is an outgrowth of our covenant with our students, faculty, staff, graduates, and community to hold true to our commitments and traditions, dedicated to diversity, opportunity, excellence, and civic responsibility. We have a long, proud history dating back to 1897. CSU College of Law was one of the first law schools in Ohio to admit women and one of the first in the nation to admit minorities. It was our graduates who laid the foundation for the Cleveland legal profession and who led the fight for civil rights in Northeast Ohio.
The Hall of Fame honors individuals who have contributed to the past, present, and/or future success and reputation of CSU|LAW. The inductees may include living and deceased alumni and community leaders, and living and deceased former faculty, deans, and staff. For an alumnus to be inducted, they must have graduated from CSU|LAW at least 15 years or more from the year of the Hall of Fame event. Each year, we induct no more than one person in the following three categories: former dean, former faculty member, and former staff member.
No. While the vast majority of our honorees are current and past alumni, we also honor current and past community leaders and past faculty, deans, and staff. Current full-time faculty and staff are not eligible.
It is very important to note that many prominent individuals who clearly are worthy of inclusion were not named this year. The HOF Selection Committee tried to reach a consensus on each nominee, and, as a result, no Committee member had all their first choices selected. We are very fortunate that there is no shortage of worthy individuals, and we look forward to inducting many other extraordinary people next year and in future years.
Each year, the Dean appoints individuals to serve on the HOF Selection Committee consisting of Hall of Fame members, faculty, and current and past staff. To protect them from any possible pre-selection lobbying and post-selection questions and/or concerns, the list of Committee members is confidential. New Committee members will be selected each year.
While the selection process is admittedly subjective, there are two important criteria. The criteria include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Individual’s historic significance to the law school and/or professional success and reputation
- Individual’s support of the law school (through time, talent, and/or “treasure”) (for living honorees, strong preference will be given to those who are providing continuing support).
The Committee most often chooses honorees who fit both criteria.
The Leader on the Rise Award is given at the annual Hall of Fame celebration to a recent CSU|LAW graduate who has demonstrated extraordinary community leadership and who has given back to our law school with their time, talent, and/or treasure. To be eligible, the alumnus must have graduated from CSU|LAW less than 15 years from the year of the Hall of Fame event. Although the award is given at the Hall of Fame celebration, the Leader on the Rise is not a member of the Hall of Fame, but is eligible for induction once 15 years has passed since their graduation.
Yes. Anyone may nominate someone for the Hall of Fame via the Hall of Fame Nomination Form, and anyone may nominate someone for the Leader on the Rise Award via the Leader on the Rise Nomination Form.
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