Accomplished higher education leader joins the university Sept. 1 

CLEVELAND (July 8, 2021) – After an extensive national search, Cleveland State University has selected Dr. Laura Bloomberg, a nationally recognized leader in public and global policy education, as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Dr. Bloomberg is currently Professor and Dean of the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. She begins her new role at CSU on Sept. 1.

“Dr. Bloomberg is a creative, dynamic and forward-thinking leader with a broad range of academic experience, administrative expertise and mission-relevant successes,” said CSU President Harlan Sands. “Her grasp of the challenges and opportunities facing higher education, her passion for student success, and most importantly, her understanding of and commitment to our vision for CSU makes her the right choice to continue building and promoting our special brand of “Engaged Learning.”

CSU recently unveiled an aggressive, growth-oriented plan for emerging from the global pandemic as a stronger, more-focused institution. The plan – CSU 2.0 – sets a goal of 4,500 additional students and 200 new faculty members by 2025. It outlines multimillion-dollar investments in research, faculty positions and initiatives to advance student success, grow existing programs and build new partnerships. In her new role, Dr. Bloomberg will play a critical part in the plan’s implementation.

“Everything about Cleveland State feels welcoming and exciting to me – from the focus on engaged learning and the big goals of CSU 2.0 to the dedicated scholars I've had the opportunity to meet during my recent visits,” Dr. Bloomberg said. “The university is an integral part of Cleveland and a significant intellectual and economic driver for the region. My husband and I are looking forward to becoming a part of this dynamic community.”

Under Dr. Bloomberg’s leadership, the Humphrey School has achieved and sustained a Top 10 U.S. News & World Report ranking for public affairs schools, launched three new successful intercollegiate degrees, tripled its community-engaged research portfolio, and substantially diversified the student body, faculty and administration.

Prior to being named Dean, Dr. Bloomberg served as Associate Dean for four years, leading efforts to build interdisciplinary partnerships across the university, expand the Humphrey School globally, establish a national pathway program for underrepresented students in public affairs programs, launch a Master of Human Rights degree program and develop the Mandela Washington Fellowship program to support young leaders from across Africa.

Dr. Bloomberg is the current president of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). NASPAA is the pre-eminent international organization overseeing public and global policy education and is the globally recognized accreditor of public administration programs.

Over her 24-year academic career at the University of Minnesota, her research has focused on community-based leadership, program evaluation, public value creation, cross-cultural dialogue and educational policy.

Dr. Bloomberg holds a doctoral degree in educational policy and administration from the University of Minnesota, master’s degrees in psychometrics and educational psychology from Cornell University, and a bachelor’s degree in special education from St. Cloud State University.

She and her husband Jon, an environmental attorney, are the parents of two adult children, Elisabeth and Andrew.

Dr. Bloomberg’s appointment will be presented to the Cleveland State University Board of Trustees for ratification at their next meeting.

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About Cleveland State University
Founded in 1964, Cleveland State University is a public research institution that provides a dynamic setting for Engaged Learning. With nearly 16,000 students, ten colleges and schools and more than 175 academic programs, CSU was again chosen for 2021 as one of America’s best universities by U.S. News & World Report, including the #1 public university in Ohio for social mobility. Find more information at www.csuohio.edu.