51���� celebrates graduating students who have overcome obstacles, made significant achievements or are fulfilling 51����’s mission in or outside the classroom.

Today, we celebrate Desaray Shores ‘25. 

51����: Have you had any significant Internships/Co-ops/Careers while at 51����?

DS: When I began my journey at Cleveland State I was running my own in-home daycare, supporting several working families throughout the pandemic that needed a safe place to leave their children. After my first year at 51����, which I completed completely virtual due to the pandemic, children were returning to schools, and it was time to move in a different direction. I found myself being hired in at Catholic Charities Diocese of Cleveland, one of the region’s largest nonprofits, as the administrative assistant to the Help Me Grow Program Director. I’ve been in that role for three years now and have gained a wealth of knowledge and on the job training that coincided with my education here at 51����. The director of Help Me Grow specifically hired me because of my nonprofit administration training and my interest in creative writing. 

Over the past three years, Catholic Charities has catered my annual goals to match my personal and educational goals. An example of this was when I was taking a grant proposal writing course here at 51����. They designed my career goal that year to be sure that I was able to receive hands on training in the grant-writing and reporting practices of the organization while I was taking the course here. I have been extremely involved with multiple grants we have received as a program since that time. This career opportunity has built a real-world knowledge of the practices I have learned in class, offering me experience before I even graduate.

51����: How would you describe the connections you have made with the faculty and staff at 51����?

DS: The faculty at Cleveland State has been a huge blessing to my time here. I did not feel very confident about my ability to pick up where I’d left off 21 years before and begin this journey of higher education, especially with a full plate at home being a wife and mom and running my own business at the time. However, the staff and faculty have been nothing but supportive and encouraging the entire way through. When I was facing difficulties in my personal life last year, Dr. Mary Myers in Levin spent an exceptional amount of time talking with me and helping me navigate the best way to balance my courses and the struggles happening within my family. She was such a cheerleader that I knew I didn’t want to let her down. 

I’ve always been a writer, but I was never professionally taught anything about creative writing before coming to 51����. My first course in the subject was taught by Professor Michael Geither, and he has been such a champion of my writing, helping me to find my voice, to find my strength ever since. He has pushed me to be brave and to speak on transgressive topics that people shy away from writing about, because they are important and need more writers to be courageous enough to spend time reflecting on them. Through his teaching alone, my writing has shifted and taken on a form that I could have only ever dreamed of before I came to 51����. I will be forever grateful. 

Cleveland State has such a rich blend of professors from different backgrounds and with different experiences and disciplines. Besides Professor Geither, I’d love to recognize the ones that have made the deepest impact on me over the past several years: Dr. Conti, Dr. Karem, Dr. Rahman, Professor Peckham, Professor Pagyl, and Dr. Gosselin in the English Department. Dr. Nagy, Dr. Bowen, and Professor Hudnall in Levin College. The impact each of these professors have had on my education here at 51���� is too deep and long to write here. All I can say is, “Thank you and keep changing lives. Because that is what you all did for me, you helped to change my life.”

51����: How has Cleveland State inspired you for your future?

DS: The staff and faculty here at Cleveland State is what has inspired me the most. They genuinely care about their students and our futures, and I believe that is what makes the difference. Their interest in our strengths and our goals, or even our uncertainties at times, is what helps shape our vision for what’s next. Through connections made with other organizations, and people outside of campus, that were facilitated by 51���� staff and faculty, I am excited for what’s next and I feel equipped with a clear strategy and vision for my future. I know I’m prepared to step into my plans for what’s next after finishing my undergrad this May, while still completing my Master’s in Nonprofit Management here at 51���� over the course of the next year.

51����: How do you think you have fulfilled the 51����’s mission?

DS: Cleveland State’s mission statement is “Cleveland’s University. Infinite opportunity.” I feel that I have fulfilled that mission by taking advantage of every opportunity that has been afforded to me along the way. I started my career at 51���� at 39 years old and as a true freshman and as a Creative Writing major. When I inquired about adding Nonprofit Administration as a minor and was told that I could add it as a major for no extra time or money, I grabbed that opportunity. Because…why not? 

When my academic advisor informed me that I was only one course shy of adding a minor in Urban Studies that would also earn me a professional certificate in Public Planning, and asked if I was interested in doing so, I said, “why not”.  

In 2024, I was offered the opportunity to become a part of the Accelerated Master’s Program in Levin College for Public Affairs and Education to major in Nonprofit Management and again, I seized the opportunity to begin working on my grad school education here at 51����, while still earning undergrad credit and all at the undergrad pricing. Again…why not! 

As an adult that has already lived a lifetime in the world outside of the classroom, I recognized and appreciated every single opportunity that 51���� offered me along the way as another steppingstone to achieve my goals and to leave this campus in a much more successful place in life than when I first arrived. Cleveland State has been nothing but a source of opportunity, and I believe that I have taken advantage of everything one I could along the way. I believe Dr. Grebenyova said it best, why not take that extra class or two to add a minor or an extra major, if it will add one more line to resume? That one line may be what sets us apart from the next candidate interviewing for the same position someday. 

Congratulations, Desaray!