Highly regarded executives Michael Biehl, Julie Rehm & Randy Deike will join CSU this fall

Cleveland State University will further its transformation into a leading urban research university thanks to the addition of three highly regarded, results-driven executives to its leadership team. CSU President Harlan Sands announced today that Michael F. Biehl has been selected to serve as senior vice president of business affairs and chief financial officer, Julie Rehm has been appointed vice president of advancement and executive director of the CSU Foundation, and Randy Deike has been appointed senior vice president of enrollment management and student success.

“Michael, Julie and Randy are extremely talented and innovative executives with proven track records of success, and we are thrilled they will be joining the CSU team,” says Sands. “They will be critical partners and leaders who will help us deliver on our ambitious set of strategic goals and objectives.”

Michael Biehl brings to CSU more than 25 years of financial leadership and CFO experience. He most recently helped execute the successful merger of Fairmount Santrol of Cleveland and unimin Corporation, owned by Sibelco a private Belgium company, to form a new public company, Covia Holdings Corp., a $2.3 billion leading provider of minerals and materials solutions for industrial and energy markets around the world. As CSU’s new senior vice president for business affairs and CFO, Biehl will provide strategic vision and operational leadership in managing university finances, allocating resources, enhancing university facilities and operations, and investing in campus growth plans. Prior to his work at Fairmount Santrol, Biehl was executive vice president and CFO of Chart Industries, a $1 billion, publicly-held company formerly headquartered in Greater Cleveland. While at Chart, he was named a Crain’s Cleveland CFO of the year. He will begin at CSU August 26.

“Working with Cleveland State’s leadership is a great opportunity where I’ll be able to utilize my business experience to help grow one of Cleveland’s anchor institutions,” Biehl states. “I am excited and looking forward to working in higher education and furthering the great work that has established CSU as a quality urban university.”

As lead for university fundraising efforts and donor stewardship, Julie Rehm will further the transformation of CSU advancement operations and drive efforts to generate critical support for Cleveland State’s aspirational student success, research and community engagement goals. She currently serves as vice president of foundation and government relations at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), where she served as a senior development leader for CWRU’s $1.8 billion capital campaign and helped secure over $34 million in public sector funds. In her 20-plus years in Cleveland, she’s led development efforts for public and private entities. She is a recognized and trusted executive known for her collaborative style with a demonstrated ability to gain support for institutions in Cleveland. Earlier in her career she held senior positions with the Cleveland Clinic and the Battelle Memorial Institute. Rehm holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Rochester. She begins her tenure at CSU September 16.

“I am excited for the opportunity to join Cleveland State and support President Sands at a time when the University is clearly transforming itself into a national leader in urban higher education,” Rehm says. “As a first generation student who began my academic career at a community college, Cleveland State’s inclusiveness appeals to me greatly and I am eager to bring CSU’s unique assets to the forefront in Cleveland and beyond.”

Randy Deike is a national leader in promoting coop-based, student-focused pathways to enrollment, graduation, and employment. While senior vice president for enrollment management and student success at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Deike helped transform enrollment management strategy and operations to increase enrollments and raise Drexel’s national profile. At CSU, he will serve in the newly created and consolidated position of senior vice president for enrollment management and student success, where he will advance and integrate the University’s award-winning Engaged Learning approach across student recruitment and financial aid, academic support services, student affairs, and student career development. His 35 years of experience includes five years as vice president for enrollment at New York University, where he played a significant role in the school’s selectivity and college rankings. Earlier in his career, Deike spent 15 years at Penn State University in a variety of roles, including associate vice president of enrollment management and executive director for undergraduate admissions. Deike holds a Ph.D. from Penn State University. He starts at CSU October 1.

“I am extremely excited to begin working with President Sands and the entire Cleveland State community to further the great work of the University,” Deike says. “Talent is our most important global commodity, and CSU’s commitment to enrolling and supporting a diverse group of talented students is what attracted me most. I feel privileged to be joining the team.”

“Our new set of strategic priorities are designed to re-envision what a public university can be for its students, its community and society as a whole. Randy, Michael, and Julie are the kind of talented leaders and thinkers we need to make our collective vision a reality,” Sands adds.