CLEVELAND, OH (November 17, 2022) -- The Cleveland State University Board of Trustees has approved the naming of “The Levin College of Public Affairs and Education.”

The naming is the result of a transformational philanthropic donation from Mort Levin, his wife Judy and his entire family. The newly formed college brings together programs of the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, a significant portion of the university’s former College of Education, and other strategically aligned social sciences programs.

The agreement with the Levin family honors two generations of philanthropic giving and other support from the family and builds upon the national reputation of the Maxine Goodman Levin College, named in honor of Mort’s aunt. The school of Urban Affairs situated within the newly formed and expanded college will continue to bear her name.

CSU President Laura Bloomberg made the gift announcement during comments at her investiture, the academic ceremony officially installing her as the University’s 8^th president, Oct. 7. The CSU Board of Trustees approved the naming Nov. 17.

“The Levin’s are a vital, intrinsic part of the CSU family,” Bloomberg said. “I am deeply moved by their commitment to build upon their legacy of support for our students, our faculty, and our research. I can’t think of a more fitting announcement to help mark the official start of my presidency.”

“We enthusiastically support the vision of President Bloomberg bringing together these important disciplines in to one college,” Mort Levin said on behalf of the family. “We believe that this new college alignment preserves Maxine’s original vision and intent, and allows for synergy and growth in addressing societal challenges both locally and nationally.”

CSU’s college realignment process is a part of CSU 2.0, the University’s aggressive strategic plan for growth. Academic programs were realigned among CSU’s eight colleges to better reflect the University’s unique strengths.

According to Bloomberg, the new Levin College of Public Affairs and Education which will include scholars from teacher education, curriculum, counseling, urban affairs, sociology, communication, and criminology will enhance CSU’s national reputation in these fields.

“By bringing these disciplines together, we are positioning the Levin College of Public Affairs and Education to help address the most significant public affairs issues facing our city, state, region and country,” she said. “In the near term, our students and faculty will be the real winners. The innovative work that will come from this alignment, coupled with the incredibly generous gift from the Levin family, has the potential to benefit all of society”  

Mort Levin founded the Levin Group, Inc. in 1977. A highly successful Cleveland real estate development firm, it specializes in the development and management of multi-family housing units, warehouses, and shopping centers. Levin served as a member of the CSU Board of Trustees from 2008-2017. He is also an Emeritus Director of the CSU Foundation Board. He and his wife, Judy, also support a number of student scholarship funds at the University.