Geoffrey S. Mearns

Mearns’ Success at Cleveland-Marshall Elevates Him to Key University Position

Cleveland State University’s Board of Trustees has ratified a recommendation by President Ronald Berkman to appoint Geoffrey Mearns to the position of provost, the University’s chief academic officer. The decision follows overwhelming recommendations by CSU’s deans, vice presidents and its Faculty Senate Steering Committee, Berkman said.

“As dean for five years, Geoff truly transformed Cleveland-Marshall into a highly respected law school,” Berkman noted. “As interim provost, he has earned the respect and support of every dean within the University, and I know he will bring a new level of academic success to the entire university.”

During Mearns’ tenure at Cleveland-Marshall, the law school significantly improved the quality and performance of law students. In recent years, CSU law graduates have ranked among the state’s highest for bar passage rates, and this year reached 90 percent, placing the success rate among the state’s top three.

Mearns also helped to create the new Center for Health Law and Policy and supervised an $8.8 million law school renovation. In his seven months as interim provost, he helped realign science and nursing programs in ways that will significantly improve the quality of health science education across various programs.

Mearns’ future goals include helping Berkman advance additional health science programs, including a newly formed partnership with NEOUCOM aimed at increasing the number of primary care physicians in urban medical centers.

“The president has led several major initiatives, including a new K-12 campus school to better facilitate education majors and a renewed focus on research and graduate studies.” Mearns said. “It will be essential that I help engage the faculty in the implementation of those programs to maximize effectiveness of those programs throughout the University.”

Prior to joining CSU, Mearns was a partner in the law offices of Baker Hostetler, where his practice focused on federal criminal prosecutions and complex commercial litigation.

Mearns had a distinguished career as a prosecutor with the United States Department of Justice, where he was responsible for investigating, prosecuting and supervising cases against members and associates of organized-crime families. As Special Assistant to the United States Attorney General, Mearns participated in the prosecution of Terry Nichols, one of two men convicted for bombing the Oklahoma City Federal Building. He earned his undergraduate degree at Yale University and a law degree from the University of Virginia.

About Cleveland State University

Founded in 1964, Cleveland State University is a public research institution that provides a dynamic setting for engaged learning. With an enrollment of more than 16,000 students, 8 colleges and more than 250 academic programs, CSU provides a hands-on learning environment that connects students, ideas and real-world experience.

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