#csualumni

LEVIN COLLEGE PROFILES

This story was originally published by the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs

 Meet Cait Kennedy

PhD, Urban Studies and Public Affairs (In Progress) Master of Science in Urban Studies, 2019 Levin College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University BA Political Science, DePaul University

Where are you currently residing? Cleveland, Ohio

Where are you from? Cleveland, Ohio

Current Employment: Position Title/ Place of Employment: Executive Director, [unBail]

Job Duties: As Executive Director of [unBail], I manage the development, implementation, and external affairs of a mobile app startup organization, creating a user-centric wayfinding platform to guide defendants through the criminal legal system.

Successfully pitched the app concept @ HACK CLE scope-a-thon and was awarded 1st prize, received a seed grant from Cleveland Foundation, and received support from Microsoft and the Civic User Testing Group.

Cultivate relationships with key local and national organizations and leaders, including The Bail Project, policymakers, lawyers, judges, law enforcement, and activists to gather information, garner support, and secure funding.

Created a practicum in partnership with CSU’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law that successfully mapped the experience of defendants navigating criminal legal system; was selected to give a Lightning Talk about this collaboration at Data Days CLE.

Selected as a participant in “The Lab's Product & Ideation” track at Cuyahoga County’s Office of Innovation and Performance and gener8tor's gALPHA Social Impact 2020 Accelerator.

Why did you decide to attend Levin? After I completed my undergraduate degree, I was a campaign staffer for progressive candidates from NH to CA, living in five states in four years. During that time, I was reminded of both the vast diversity of our country and the common threads that bring us together. I returned to Cleveland and joined MoveOn.org, the largest independent digital organizing group in the US, and also decided to pursue my Master's degree. The only school I considered was the Levin College at Cleveland State because of its urban-focused program. I earned my MS in Urban Studies and Urban Policy in 2019 and then immediately began Levin’s PhD program to pursue my own research interests.

How did your experience at Levin influence your career path? Levin connected me to leaders in the community who have mentored and supported me through my professional and academic growth. I did not anticipate pursuing a PhD when I started, but my positive experience with the Levin College as an MSUS student, coupled with my passion for my research area, led me on a new and exciting path into the Urban Studies and Public Affairs PhD program.

What's your favorite Levin memory? I've enjoyed many of the impromptu, causal conversations with professors and students; I'm always learning something new from someone in the Levin community.

What piece of advice do you have for current Levin graduate students? In addition to dedicating yourself to your studies, don't forget to make connections with your fellow students and professors. These relationships are often quite fruitful in ways you may not expect!

What was the most valuable lesson you learned at Levin?   My time at Levin allowed me to probe and question my assumptions about my industry as I pursued new knowledge in my research area.

What inspires you about Northeast Ohio? Why? Northeast Ohio is home to some of the best park systems in the country, which is something I take full advantage of!

In your opinion, what’s Northeast Ohio’s best kept secret? The Larchmere neighborhood isn't so much a secret but deserves far more credit in the discussion of great Cleveland neighborhoods. Our diverse neighborhood abuts Shaker Lakes and Shaker Square, and is home to numerous bars, restaurants, and coffee shops, along with the iconic Loganberry Books and Academy Tavern.

What’s one thing someone would be surprised to learn about you? I'm a creative person who likes to write, sing, and dance. I've performed in numerous theatrical productions, a gospel choir, and a band. I'm active and enjoy exploring Northeast Ohio's many parks with my dog, Clyde. In the summer, I'm often paddle boarding in our region's lakes and rivers. I look forward to resuming travel in the future and continuing to explore the world through food. I'm an animal lover and an equestrian.

What issues are you passionate about/what inspires you? I'm passionate about democracy, cities, criminal justice reform, music, and animals.

Who’s your hero and why? I have many heroes, including Shirley Chisholm, Bryan Stevenson, and anyone who advances the fight for justice and equality in the United States and around the world.

This story was originally published in Engineering Magazine and has been edited for length

DR. EDIUSKA LAURENS, who earned a doctoral degree in Applied Biomedical Engineering in 2009 from a joint doctoral program of the College of Engineering of Cleveland State University and the Cleveland Clinic, invented a device to help infants who are born with jaws too small to function properly.

“In plain English, we were making implants that are used to repair babies’ heads,” she says.

It’s called a pediatric mandibular distractor. At the time, she was leading a global research and development team at Stryker Corporation, a giant medical technology company, “and pretty much taking products from concept to global commercialization,” she says.

That means navigating the approval process of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which might sound like a chore. For Dr. Laurens, it was an adventure.

“During product development, we had an explosion in one of our plants in Germany,” she says. “When we were trying to do FDA approval, the U.S. government shut down. When we finally got clearance, we had to accelerate product launch, because there was already a surgery booked, so we needed to expedite everything. There’s a baby that needs this.”

FOR ORCHESTRA CEO, ITS ALL ABOUT PROVIDING ACCESS

This story was originally published in Alumni News and has been edited for length

As CEO of the Chicago Sinfonietta, alumnus Blake-Anthony Johnson is the first African American to lead a nationally renowned orchestra and wants to reimagine what it means to be diverse, inclusive and equitable.

The majority of American orchestras are not known for diversity. In fact, only 12 percent of these musicians are people of color, according to a 2016 study by the League of American Orchestras.

The Chicago Sinfonietta was created in 1987 to be a catalyst for change. Whereas orchestras nationwide and abroad are currently scrambling to become more inclusive, the Sinfonietta has been inclusive for over 30 years.

Of the Sinfonietta’s 100-plus musicians, staff and board members, more than one-third are people of color.

The Sinfonietta also often features all-but-lost compositions by diverse, lesser-known composers of color and women. They regularly commission contemporary pieces, and often include non-traditional instruments and technology in their performances.

As the Sinfonietta’s chief executive officer, alumnus Blake-Anthony Johnson (MMus ’15) is the first African American executive to lead a nationally renowned orchestra.

But for Johnson, the Sinfonietta’s mission of diversity, equity and inclusion means much more than having people of color to the stage.

It means diversity of thought from a having wide spectrum of individuals. It means attracting a diverse audience. It means more equitable and inclusive educational programs and community partnerships. It also means a senior leadership with female representation in positions that have historically excluded them. And whereas conductors are often white men, the Sinfonietta’s Music Director is a Taiwanese American woman.

“I think every organization and every city has different thoughts on what it means to champion equity, diversity and inclusion,” said Johnson. “I think you need to go beyond the traditional definitions and hear directly from the community in which you intend to serve.”

Self-taught until the age of 18, Johnson’s career as a professional cellist included touring the world with various orchestras. Always having a knack for business, Johnson held a number of roles in administration before becoming CEO of the Sinfonietta in May 2020 at the age of 29. Becoming a CEO at any age has its share of challenges; but becoming a CEO in the midst of a global pandemic is surely a trial by fire.

While many other orchestras remain at a standstill these days, when Johnson took over he immediately began overseeing the creation of a virtual concert hall so the orchestra could continue performing.

“It was a great first project to work on with our Music Director Mei-Ann Chen and our fantastic staff, musicians and board,” said Johnson.

Additionally, he created the Artist in Residence program, in which guest artists give behind-the-scenes insight into how they create their work. The inaugural installment featured Kathryn Bostic, the first female African American composer to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

“It’s really important for people to see thoughtful models of equity, diversity and inclusion. Showcasing these principles onstage is important, but it’s equally as important to practice these principles internally. Many of our milestones as an organization have been the establishment and reinforcement of supportive systems that set all Chicago Sinfonietta’s stakeholders up to for success.”