2023 Grover “Cleve” Gilmore, PhD

Photo of Grover Gilmore

During Cleve Gilmore’s 20 years as dean of the university’s Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, he cultivated academic excellence and critical investments in people, research and building renovations. 

The school consistently ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s top 10 list of social work schools. It also opened six additional research and training centers and raised $9.2 million for construction of the Mandel Center for Community Studies building, which opened in 2007.

Gilmore’s tenure also saw a $44 million capital campaign to renovate the Mandel School building, as well as for program support, professorships and scholarships.

As a longtime member of the university’s psychology faculty, Gilmore investigated visual perception and cognition in older adults, specifically people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. It was work he continued even as a dean.

“Case Western Reserve is a place where I was able to flourish,” said Gilmore, who spent 46 years on campus, “and I am very grateful to the students, faculty and the staff members for your willingness to work with me to help me learn and grow.”

This piece, written by Steve Neumann, originally appeared in the Fall 2023 issue of Think magazine.