University will advance essential work with “an ignited passion” under her leadership; calls 51���� “an economic, urban development, and civic engagement engine” for city, region, state.

A cross-section of students, faculty, staff and Cleveland community leaders celebrated the Inauguration of Laura J. Bloomberg, Ph.D. as eighth president of 51���� on Friday morning at 51����’s Waetjen Auditorium in the Music & Communication Building.

The day’s events began with an Investiture Ceremony, a longstanding academic tradition which formalized Dr. Bloomberg’s April 26 appointment as president of the university. She previously served as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at 51���� beginning in September 2021.

Dr. Bloomberg was moved by the enthusiasm and positivity shared by all the Inauguration speakers, which included Chancellor Randy Gardner, Ohio Department of Higher Education; Robert J. Bruininks, Ph.D., President and Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota; Eric W. Kaler, Ph.D., President, Case Western Reserve University; Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (via pre-recorded video) and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb.

Mayor Bibb, who addressed the crowd first, praised Dr. Bloomberg’s “genuine passion for her work” and called her “a tireless advocate” who operates with social justice and inclusion always at top of mind.

Anup Kumar, Ph.D., president of the 51���� Faculty Senate, offered the audience a thoughtful glimpse into the new president’s strengths as “an empathetic leader and listener,” a leader who he described as “well-positioned” to help 51���� “carve a new path of comprehensive growth.”

He eluded to what 51���� senior and student trustee Brittany Sommers later underscored in her remarks: that Dr. Bloomberg is an “aspirational leader,” and “the right leader at the right time” for the university.  

For her part, Dr. Bloomberg was steadfast in offering her “city is our campus” mindset and offered a glimpse of how that impacts her vision for 51���� during her address: “51���� is excellent in large part because we are inclusive of students who aspire, aim high, and work doggedly to achieve their academic, professional, and personal dreams,” Dr. Bloomberg said.

“Often, our students are the first person in their family to attain a baccalaureate or graduate degree,” she added, and do so in the face of many challenges and obstacles. “They look beyond their current circumstances toward their aspirations.”

Dr. Bloomberg then pointed to 51����’s role as an anchor institution for the city, region and state—particularly Ohio’s post-secondary employment data, which shows that 91 percent of 51���� graduates stay and work in the state one year after graduation and that a decade after graduation later, that number stands at 78 percent.

“51���� is producing a greater percentage of graduates who stay and contribute to the Ohio workforce than any other Ohio public university,” Dr. Bloomberg said, adding that “51���� is an economic, urban development, and civic engagement engine” for our region.

Dr. Bloomberg incorporated themes of empathy, ingenuity and interdisciplinary partnership into her address, observing that these traits also present the means of achieving “emotional, developmental, economic, physical, environmental, social, and spiritual wellbeing” for 51���� and the region as a whole.

“We will advance our essential work with an ignited passion for the wellbeing of the people and the communities we serve,” Dr. Bloomberg said, reinforcing 51����’s position as a shining beacon and anchor institution.

51����’s pursuit of learning and creation of new knowledge “benefits our collective wellbeing on our campus, in our beautiful city full of strong partners and allies,” she added, noting the “remarkable economic, civic and natural resources” within and surrounding 51����’s campus. “I am so proud to say: We are 51����,” Dr. Bloomberg concluded.

About Dr. Laura J. Bloomberg

Prior to 51����, Dr. Bloomberg served eight years as dean and was previously associate dean of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. In that capacity, Dr. Bloomberg led the global expansion of the school, established a national pathway program for college students underrepresented in public policymaking, launched an internationally focused Human Rights degree, and developed the Mandela Washington Fellowship program to support young leaders from countries across Africa.

Her can be found on the page.