Senior executive director.

Eric leads the Donor Relations and University Events team, the centralized office for the major events that impact the university and advance the university's vision: commencement, convocation, and other initiatives involving the president and provost.

Eric develops creative strategic planning for Donor Relations and University Events that support and enhance the university vision. He works directly with the Vice President for University Relations to create guiding principles and values that serve the division, university and presidential initiatives.

Eric's first major event planning experience at Case Western Reserve University occurred when the university hosted The Race at Case: the vice presidential debates in 2004. For that event, Eric managed the 300+ volunteers required for the event. In January 2005, he joined University Events team full time. His role has expanded to encompass a range of university and donor events. He served on the core events team for the $1 billion capital campaign, Forward Thinking, the Campaign for Case Western Reserve University, which launched publicly in October 2011.

Eric leads a team that manages Fall Convocation, Commencement, Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation, the Callahan Distinguished Lecture, and Momentum. He has partnered with organizers to produce other campus events including the Inamori Ethics Prize and American Music Masters Conference, a collaboration with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

His community involvement includes work with the Cleveland International Film Festival, the Cleveland Arts Prize, and Near West Theatre. He is a member of the North American Association of Commencement Officers and the Protocol and Diplomacy International - Protocol Officers Association.

Eric earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Theatre Arts from Hiram College, a Master of Education from Kent State University, and a Master of Nonprofit Organizations from Case Western Reserve University.

Contact Eric L. Dicken, Senior Executive Director - Donor Relations, University Events, and Presidential Protocol, at eric.dicken@case.edu or 216-368-3189.