Join President Eric W. Kaler and Mrs. Karen F. Kaler for our fourth annual CWRU Destination Weekend celebrating CWRU’s bicentennial and its impact on The Land.
Read President Eric W. Kaler's full bio here.
Read Karen F. Kaler's full bio here.
Cleveland, Ohio | April 30-May 3, 2026
Embark on a weekend of inspiring conversations, educational tours, and memorable experiences. Immerse yourself in exclusive gatherings, hear from dynamic speakers and engage with alumni and friends during this tailored CWRU specific interactive weekend.
Space is limited. Please kindly register on or before March 25, 2026. If capacity is reached before then, a waiting list will be available.
Overview of the Weekend
Please note that all speakers are subject to change.
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Welcome Reception at Great Lakes Science Center
The welcome reception will be held at Great Lakes Science Center and will feature remarks from CWRU President Eric W. Kaler. His remarks will focus on the university’s bicentennial—including its vibrant history and its bold plans for the future. At the welcome reception, there will also be two scientific demonstrations from the center’s staff.
About the venue:
Great Lakes Science Center is a museum and educational facility in downtown Cleveland. In 2025, it was ranked by USA Today as one of the Top 10 museums in the country. Home to the NASA Glenn Visitor Center, it is one of only 11 such visitor centers in the country. The center’s exhibits focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) concepts. It opened in 1996.
Friday, May 1, 2026
Downtown - MidTown - Uptown
Morning - Downtown
Breakfast at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown
Mrs. Karen F. Kaler will moderate a discussion with Playhouse Square President and Chief Executive Officer Craig Hassall along with the organization’s trustee chair and CWRU Alumnus Brent Ballard (LAW '85). The conversation will focus on its transformative restoration, its economic impact and its commitment to the greater Cleveland community.
Craig Hassall, President and CEO of Playhouse Square, brings global experience from iconic cultural institutions. Before leading Cleveland’s top performing arts center—a group of 12 venues hosting Broadway, concerts, and eight resident companies—he was CEO of the Royal Albert Hall in London and Opera Australia. His career also includes roles with English National Ballet, Sydney Theatre Company, and cultural programming for the Sydney and London Olympic Games. Craig’s vision keeps Playhouse Square a destination for world-class entertainment and drives Cleveland’s cultural and economic growth.
Brent D. Ballard, Of Counsel at Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP, and Chair of the Playhouse Square Board of Trustees, embodies Cleveland’s drive for excellence. For nearly 20 years as Managing Partner and three as Managing Partner Emeritus, Brent guided Calfee’s growth, attracting diverse legal talent and strengthening business and cultural communities. Today, he continues to champion initiatives that advance Cleveland’s vitality and support its thriving arts scene. Read Hassall and Ballard's bio.
Playhouse Square
Playhouse Square in downtown Cleveland is the world's largest theater restoration project and the largest performing arts center outside New York City, featuring 12 venues including five ornate, historic theaters restored from the 1920s. It's a major cultural and economic hub, hosting Broadway shows, concerts, comedy, and dance, attracting over a million visitors annually and serving as an economic engine for Northeast Ohio through its performing arts, education, and real estate development.
The Pack Drumline Performance at KeyBank State Theatre
Following the breakfast, you will be transported to the KeyBank State Theatre for a performance from The Pack Drumline. The performance is one of several Playhouse Square coordinates for students from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
The Pack Drumline is a group of talented musicians and performers who bring its dynamic rhythms and high-energy beats to the stage in a show that will leave you breathless. The Pack Drumline is a group of percussionists and dancers who have honed their craft through years of training and performance. Their unique blend of Southern Show Style Drumming with Intense Upbeat Choreography works to create a production both powerful and awe-inspiring. From the opening notes to the final crescendo, you’ll be captivated by their expert drumming, intricate choreography, and stunning visuals. The show will feature a mix of original compositions and classic favorites, with each piece highlighting the group’s incredible range and versatility. From the explosive rhythms of the bass drums to the intricate patterns of the snare drums, this production will have you on the edge of your seat!
Midday - MidTown
Lunch + Discussion + Tour
Cleveland Foundation
Spend your midday in MidTown, namely the newly constructed Cleveland Foundation and the MidTown Collaboration Center.
The Cleveland Foundation is the world’s first community foundation and is one of the largest. It was founded in 1914 as a solution for people who wanted to give back to their community in a lasting and impactful way. During lunch, CWRU President Eric W. Kaler will facilitate a conversation with president and CEO of the Cleveland Foundation Lillian Kuri and former Cleveland Foundation chair and current board member and CWRU alumna Connie Hill-Johnson (WRC ‘80). You’ll learn about the Foundation’s roots, how it serves the citizens in the Cleveland area and the factors that led to moving its headquarters from Downtown to MidTown.
Lillian Kuri made history by becoming the first female president and CEO of the Cleveland Foundation, the world's oldest and one of the largest community foundations with $3.5 billion in assets. With over 25 years of executive and civic leadership experience, Lillian is known as an innovator, advocate and coalition builder who delivers transformational results.
As president and CEO, Kuri is currently leading the Cleveland Foundation’s transformation with a visionary strategic plan to both create “A Vibrant Northeast Ohio Where No Cleveland is Left Behind” and a plan that shapes the "Community Foundation of the Future”. Previously, as executive vice president and chief operating officer, she spearheaded the foundation's historic move to Cleveland’s MidTown/Hough neighborhood. Read Kuri’s full bio.
Constance Hill-Johnson (Connie) is the owner and managing director of Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services in Cleveland, Ohio. Visiting Angels is an in-home service provider assisting the elderly and older adults to live as independently as possible by remaining safely in their own familiar home environment.
Now a seasoned entrepreneur, Hill-Johnson started her business in 2002, and after 23 years, has successfully served hundreds of seniors throughout the greater Cleveland area and surrounding communities. She spent many years working in both the financial services and healthcare arena. A graduate of Case Western Reserve University and the University of Southern California, Hill-Johnson is regarded as both a dynamic motivational leader and speaker who shares with audiences her entrepreneurial journey owning a homecare agency and as an adult caregiver caring for her mother with dementia. She spends time coaching and encouraging women to move forward with their hopes and dreams, sharing her experiences, good and bad, while reminding them that no time is the perfect time. Read Hill-Johnson’s full bio.
After lunch at the Cleveland Foundation, you will venture over to the adjacent MidTown Collaboration Center. The facility was constructed to bridge downtown Cleveland with Uptown Circle. You will tour the building and learn more about its tenants (including CWRU) and its approach to economic activity that centers around the community.
Afternoon - Uptown
CWRU’s Institutional Partnerships
We’ll spend the afternoon on campus at the Linsalata Alumni Center. Provost and executive vice president Joy K. Ward will lead a panel conversation that explores a few of the partnerships the university has with world class institutions in the Cleveland area. Joining Provost Ward for the discussion:
- Chair and Art History Professor Betsy Bolman (Cleveland Museum of Art)
- Associate Professor of History John Grabowski (Cleveland History Center)
- Professor of Biology Mike Benard (BioAlliance which includes research projects at the Cleveland Zoo, the Holden Arboretum and the University Farm)
Joy K. Ward is the provost and executive vice president of Case Western Reserve University. Renowned for her creativity, strategic vision, and focus on student experiences, she is also a professor of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences, where she previously served as dean.
Currently, Ward is leading an initiative to add 100 new faculty members who will collaborate on addressing some of society’s most pressing challenges. She is also overseeing the planning of the university’s $300 million Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building, designed to support groundbreaking research. Ward is committed to advancing artificial intelligence in ethical ways and is championing an initiative to promote civil discourse at the university, striving to position it as a model for open-mindedness, active listening, and critical thinking. Read Ward's full bio.
Elizabeth S. Bolman, an Afroeurasianist, engages with the visual culture of the eastern Mediterranean in the late antique and Byzantine periods. She is best known for her work in Egypt, in which she has demonstrated the vitality of Christian Egyptian art and presented new understandings of the nature of artistic production in the early Byzantine and Medieval periods.
Bolman edited and was the principal contributor to the award-winning Monastic Visions: Wall Paintings in the Monastery of St. Antony at the Red Sea and to The Red Monastery Church: Beauty and Asceticism in Upper Egypt.
She is the recipient of fellowships and grants from the Guggenheim Foundation, Fulbright program, National Endowment for the Humanities, Dumbarton Oaks, the American Research Center in Egypt, and the United States Agency for International Development, among others. Read Bolman’s full bio.
John J. Grabowski (ADL '71) is currently a visiting associate professor in history at Case Western Reserve University and the senior historian at the Western Reserve Historical Society. He also serves as the editor of the online edition of The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History and The Dictionary of Cleveland Biography. He received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in history from CWRU and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
He held the joint position as the Krieger-Mueller Associate Professor of History at CWRU and Director of Research at the Historical Society from 1998 to 2022. In 1996-1997 and 2004-2005 he served as a senior Fulbright lecturer at Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey. Read Grabowski’s full bio.
Michael Benard is a professor and the chair of the biology department at CWRU. He completed his BS at Cornell University, PhD at University of California-Davis, and was a Michigan Fellow at the University of Michigan before joining the biology department faculty in 2008.
Benard and his students have coauthored scientific papers with colleagues at both the Holden Arboretum and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. He has been nominated multiple times for the Jackson Award for outstanding undergraduate mentoring and the Wittke Award for excellence in undergraduate teaching; in 2021 he received the Students Choice Award for Outstanding Faculty award from students in the biology department.
Evening
No organized plans. Guests are on their own, but there is a concert at the Maltz Performing Arts Center on CWRU’s campus that may interest you. The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra is presenting “Woodstock ‘26: Celebrating the Music of Sly and the Family Stone, Carlos Santana and Janis Joplin.” We have secured some tickets to this concert. If you are interested in attending the tickets are $20 per person. Fun fact: Cleveland native Mary Bridget Davies is one of the featured vocalists for the concert. She played the titular role in A Night with Janis Joplin on Broadway. She was Tony nominated for her performance.
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Morning - 9-10:15 a.m.
Breakfast at Sheila and Eric Samson Pavilion on CWRU’s campus
State-of-the-Art Healthcare
Cleveland’s global reputation for excellence in healthcare is strengthened by the work of CWRU Health Sciences. Join us for a morning conversation with academic leaders in medicine, nursing, and dental medicine.
This interdisciplinary health sciences program will showcase the transformative role of artificial intelligence across the university’s medical, dental, and nursing education programs. The event brings together faculty, students, alumni, and guests to explore how AI is shaping teaching, research, and patient care—reinforcing CWRU’s leadership in innovation and collaboration among the health sciences.
The morning speakers include:
- School of Medicine Dean Stan Gerson
- Vice Dean of Medical Education Lia Logio
- Interim School of Dental Medicine Dean and Alumnus Dale Baur (DEN ‘80)
- Associate Professor of Dental Medicine Scott Pelok
- Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing Dean and Alumnus Ronald Hickman (CWR '00; NUR '06, '13; GRS '08, nursing)
- Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing Assistant Professor Kylie Meyer
Stan Gerson, MD, is the dean and senior vice president for Medical Affairs at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, where he is the Asa and Patricia Shiverick–Jane Shiverick (Tripp) Professor of Hematological Oncology and Case Western Reserve University Distinguished University Professor. In 2012, he was the recipient of the Case Western Reserve Medal for Excellence in Health Science Innovation, the highest honor bestowed by the School of Medicine to those advancing research, education and health care. He is the past president of the Association of American Cancer Institutes (2016-2018) and a member of the American Association of Physicians since 1997, and has been a member and chair of numerous NIH study sections, including the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Board of Scientific Advisors. He serves on the executive advisory board of 11 NCI-designated cancer centers. He has earned multiple National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants and published more than 258 journal articles, 275 abstracts, 37 book chapters and 18 patents.
Gerson has distinguished himself in a number of realms, including his research in DNA repair and stem cell therapy, which has resulted in numerous publications and patents. Three of his discoveries are in clinical trials as new cancer therapies. He is also the co-editor of the internationally recognized textbook, Gene Therapy of Cancer Translational Approaches from Preclinical Studies to Clinical Implementation 3, and the textbook Clinical Hematology.
Gerson is foremost a mentor and educator for the next generation of compassionate cancer research scientists and clinicians.
Lia Logio has been a medical educator and passionate clinician during her career as an internist. Her expertise ranges from relationship-centered care, empathic communication, patient safety, quality improvement, wellness, and innovations in education including the use of technology.
She has won multiple teaching awards as well as been involved at the national level in medical education including the use of milestones in competency-based education, duty hour reform, and more recently wellness for clinicians and high value care strategies. She has more than 20 years of experience as an internal medicine residency program director. In her current role, she manages the extensive portfolio of medical education at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, including three MD-track programs, a Physician Assistant program, and a network of MSA programs for anesthesiologist assistants. She has direct knowledge of both the UME and GME environments. She continues to serve as a direct mentor for a number of faculty within the domain of medical education.
Dale Baur is interim dean at CWRU School of Dental Medicine. He is also a professor and chair of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and chief of OMFS at University Hospitals/Cleveland Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to his current position, Baur retired as a Colonel after 24 years in the U.S. Army. His last assignment in the Army was at Eisenhower Army Medical Center at Fort Gordon, GA, where he was OMFS residency program director from 2003-2007.
Baur is a graduate of CWRU School of Dental Medicine, and completed his OMFS training at William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas. He later went on to complete a 2-year fellowship at the University of Michigan in head and neck surgery. Baur's areas of clinical interest are in tumor and reconstructive surgery of the head and neck. He also has interests in salivary gland tumors, surgical management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea, TMJ surgery, and cosmetic surgery of the face. He has published extensively in the peer reviewed literature, has written three book chapters, and is a co-editor of an Atlas of OMFS.
Scott Pelok, associate professor at the CWRU School of Dental Medicine, teaches clinical pharmacology, CAD/CAM dentistry, and implant dentistry. His academic and research interests focus on the integration of artificial intelligence and extended reality technologies to enhance dental education, improve learner engagement, and support consistent, high-quality clinical instruction.
Pelok is the recent recipient of a Nord Grant supporting his current research on the instructional use of augmented and extended reality in dental education. Building on the Jaws in Motion HoloLens program, his project develops best-practice guidelines for faculty use of Meta Quest augmented reality headsets during live demonstrations. The work evaluates classroom streaming capabilities, faculty usability, and student feedback to optimize the effective incorporation of ER technologies into clinical curricula.
With more than 25 years of clinical experience providing conscious sedation for extractions and implant procedures, Pelok brings extensive real-world expertise to his teaching. He has utilized CAD/CAM technology for crown and implant design for over 30 years and has long been a leader in technology-enhanced learning. In 2000, he developed award-winning asynchronous video-based instruction for head and neck anatomy, earning a Smithsonian ComputerWorld Award for excellence in educational design. Pelok earned his DDS from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, completed an advanced education in general dentistry residency at the University of Michigan, holds a master’s degree in biology with an emphasis in anatomy from Bowling Green State University, and is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry.
Ronald Hickman is the dean and Ruth M. Anderson Endowed Chair at the Case Western Reserve University Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing. He is a registered nurse and a board-certified acute care nurse practitioner who has provided care for patients undergoing general and cardiothoracic surgery, and patients in the intensive care unit. As a nurse scientist, Hickman is nationally known for his pioneering work focused on technology-based solutions to improve chronic disease self-management and end-of-life care. His research and innovative training programs have received prestigious funding from the National Institutes of Health and foundations, and his impact on nursing and health care has been significant.
In 2020, Hickman became the second nurse scientist to be named an Emerging Leader in Health Medicine by the National Academy of Medicine. He is an inductee in Sigma Theta Tau’s International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame and holds many of nursing’s top professional honors. Hickman’s impact is not constrained to his research and scholarship.
He is a sought-after mentor and his dedication to mentoring students has earned him the J. Bruce Jackson, MD Award for excellence in undergraduate mentoring and the John S. Diehkoff Award for excellence in graduate mentoring—two of CWRU’s highest honors.
Kylie Meyer is a gerontologist and assistant professor at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University and co-director of the University Center on Aging and Health. Her research program focuses on psychoeducational interventions to support family caregivers in multiple domains, such as complex medical/nursing care, healthy caregiving relationships and financial well-being. She is dedicated to research translation to ensure innovations reach caregiving families, particularly those living with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias. She does this by integrating basic research, theory, caregiver and provider input and knowledge of the health policy systems.
Since 2022, she has led a National Institute on Aging (NIA) R01 study, “Learning Skills Together: A randomized control trial of a dementia caregiving complex care training intervention.” In 2025, she launched a second NIA R01 efficacy trial of the Knowledge and Interpersonal Skills to Develop Enhanced Relationship psychoeducational intervention to prevent psychological elder mistreatment among care partners. From 2020 to 2021, she was an NIH Translational Science Training TL1 Fellow at UT Health San Antonio, and continued training in translational research as an NIA Faculty Scholar for the IMPACT Collaboratory from 2022 to 2024.
AI in Action Tour of Health Education Campus - 10:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Step into the future of healthcare education on an immersive tour that showcases how artificial intelligence, digital technology, and hands-on simulation are transforming learning and patient care. You’ll explore innovative spaces where students train in realistic environments that build confidence, sharpen skills, and prepare them for the demands of modern healthcare. Attendees will be divided into small groups
The tour includes stops at the following locations.
- Dental Clinic – Discover how digital dentistry technology and artificial intelligence are transforming dental care by enhancing diagnostic accuracy.
- Dental Simulation Clinic – Experience advanced simulation technology shaping the next generation of dental professionals.
- Nursing Center for Flight Nursing – Explore specialized training designed for high-stakes, real-world emergency scenarios.
- Center for Nursing Education, Simulation, and Innovation Labs – See immersive simulation labs where students practice critical skills in lifelike clinical settings.
- Point-of-Care Ultrasound – Discover how POCUS offers medical students a fast, economical and efficient way to evaluate patients and develop proficiency in sonography techniques and interpretation of images.
Midday/Afternoon Lunch - 11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Before concluding our time at the Samson Pavilion, you will enjoy a boxed lunch.
Choose Your Own Adventure - 12:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Following lunch, you'll head out on an adventure of your own choosing.
Your options:
Walking tour of Lake View Cemetery
An integral thread in the fabric of Cleveland’s history, Lake View was carefully designed not only to offer solace to grieving families but also to provide the living a place for reflection, recreation, and education.
Embark on a journey through the lives and legacies of some of our city’s most storied figures.
Led by one of Lake View’s expert guides, this walk through our 285-acre arboretum will also include a visit to our two historic buildings, the James A. Garfield Memorial and Wade Memorial Chapel.
Tour the Red Monastery with Chair and Art History Professor Betsy Bolman Followed by Sculpture Walking Tour with Kathy Barrie
Using extended reality designed by the Interactive Commons at CWRU, Dr. Bolman will showcase two decades of work she led with a multinational conservation team in restoring a church over 1,500 years old. You will see with your own eyes (thanks to HoloLens) what Dr. Bolman and her team found when they pulled back walls and removed soot that had gathered for centuries.
Afterwards, you will join Kathleen Barrie, director of Case Western Reserve University’s Putnam Art Collection, on a walking sculpture tour through campus. Through a generous gift of John and Mildred Putnam, CWRU has been able to commission and install works of art throughout campus since the 1980s. Earlier works were primarily sculptural and installed outside. In more recent years, works of different media and perspectives have been placed inside as well as out – in public spaces, residence halls, classroom buildings and offices. Join us as we revisit old favorites and see the most up to date work. Final tour location will be determined by the weather!
Kathleen Barrie has served as the director of Case Western Reserve University’s Putnam Art Collection for over a dozen years. She brings her background in creating new museums, exhibits and public art projects to this role. She began her career in the education department of the Cleveland Museum of Art and then was a co-founder of Cleveland’s first public art organization, still thriving and now called LAND Studio.
Barrie Projects, the consulting firm which Kathleen heads with her husband Dennis has created some of the country’s most popular and unexpected museums – International Spy Museum, National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement: The Mob Museum; United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum. She has been delighted to work with a wide range of students, faculty members, university leadership and staff as well as local and international artists in bringing art to this entire campus community.
Tour the Cleveland Museum of Art with Assistant Professor of Art History and Art, Benjamin Murphy
The tour will focus on the Cleveland Museum of Art's modern and contemporary galleries, introducing participants to some of the museum's masterpieces of twentieth- and twenty-first-century art. The tour will begin with works of classic modernism from the 1910s and 20s, focusing on pieces by celebrated artists such as Cézanne and Picasso, but also on other, lesser-known artists, such as Uruguayan painter Joaquín Torres-García, in order to explore a more global, transnational history of modern art. Moving forward in time, the tour will then survey how artists from the 1960s to today have explored the human body and ideas of identity in myriad ways.
Benjamin Murphy is assistant professor in the Department of Art History and Art at Case Western Reserve University. His research and teaching focus on contemporary art within a global context, with particular emphasis on the art of Latin America and Latinx diasporas in the United States. He is currently at work on a book project that explores a group of artists who began experimenting with video technology throughout the Latin American region during the 1970s. Prior to joining the faculty at CWRU, Benjamin held positions at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, and at the University of Oregon. He received his PhD from Princeton University in 2021.
Seeing History at its Source: A Tour at the Cleveland History Center with John Grabowski
Are you interested in classic cars, stunning historical costumes, and the history of film in northeastern Ohio? If so the Western Reserve Historical Society’s collections focus on all of these topics and more. Join us for a guided tour of the Society with Dr. John Grabowski for an “insiders” viewpoint. He is a CWRU alum and professor who has shared a joint position with the Society and CWRU.
Tour the University Farm with Biology Professor Mike Benard
The University Farm, a 400-acre property located in picturesque Hunting Valley, serves as a natural laboratory for biology research and teaching. Biology faculty and students conduct research on diverse topics from plant disease and biotechnology, to amphibian ecology and behavior to insect adaptation to temperature. Hundreds of first-year students visit the farm each year as part of introductory biology laboratory classes, and juniors and seniors take farm-based lab classes including the principles of ecology laboratory, entomology, ecophysiology of global change, and herpetology. During this tour of the University Farm, you will see some of the Farm teaching and research spaces, and take a guided walk along the Farm trails. The walk is an easy one, but you’ll still want those comfy shoes that are allowed to get wet and/or muddy. In early May, several of our beautiful native wildflowers are likely to be in bloom, and it may also be possible to see native wildlife including deer and turtles. As part of the tour, you will learn how to use the iNaturalist app to take community science observations of plants and animals, and you can add them directly to a biodiversity project at the CWRU Farm.
A visit to the Cleveland Zoo with Kristen Lukas and Noah Dunham
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo innovates at the intersection of people, wildlife, and the environment to secure a healthy future for our planet. Northeast Ohio’s most visited year-round attraction, the Zoo’s 183 rolling, wooded acres feature countless opportunities for guests to connect with wildlife and make a difference for wildlife conservation. A partner in graduate student training in biology since 2002 and a formal member of the BioScience Alliance since 2018, the Zoo values the long-term collaboration with Case Western Reserve University that has produced eight PhD scientists employed by accredited zoos around the country. Join our scientific staff for a golf-cart tour that will highlight some of our newest habitats and introduce you to some of our groundbreaking research in animal behavior, health, and welfare.
Kristen Lukas is the director of conservation and science at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo with research expertise in animal behavior and conservation psychology. She manages a large and diverse conservation and research program that includes working with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Rwanda to train students from the University of Rwanda in conservation science. She is an adjunct professor in biology at Case Western Reserve University and advises students conducting research on animal behavior and welfare.
Noah Dunham is a research curator at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo with research expertise in animal behavior, feeding ecology and energetics. His current research focuses on quantifying total energy expenditure in zoo-housed animals to ensure that zoo diets meet physiological requirements. As part of the BioScience Alliance, he teaches the Animal Behavior Lab course at CWRU and routinely advises undergraduate and graduate students on projects related to animal behavior, nutrition and welfare.
A visit to the Holden Arboretum
Partnering with Case Western Reserve University as a member of the BioScience Alliance, The Holden Arboretum spans 3,600 acres of gardens, meadows, lakes, woodland, and the Working Woods Learning Forest—a nationally recognized site integrating research and outreach to promote best practices in forest management. Hike through the Working Woods Learning Forest with conservation scientists and research staff to explore how inter-disciplinary collaborations are informing forest resilience in our region and impacting the conservation of private and public working lands in Northeast Ohio. The tour will cover less than two miles. Trails are unpaved and include uneven terrain in places.
Katie Stuble is a restoration ecologist and the Director of Research at the Holden Arboretum, a science-driven organization that integrates research and community engagement to inspire action for healthy forests and vibrant communities. Drawing on the arboretum’s natural areas as living laboratories, Katie leads a team investigating the challenges faced by today’s forests and developing practical, science-based solutions to foster healthy and resilient forests.
Rachel Kappler is a postdoctoral researcher interested in species protection, particularly within the forest ecosystem. Currently, her work involves eastern hemlock, American beech and ash species research on individual tree defenses towards invasive pest/disease species.
Evening
Your Destination Weekend comes to a close with a grand finale reception at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. During the reception Mrs. Karen F. Kaler will facilitate a discussion with CWRU Head of Popular Music Studies Daniel Goldmark and the Rock Hall’s Vice President of Education and Visitor Engagement Jason Hanley. Their discussion will focus on the Rock Hall’s history, its current footprint as well as its expansion and the relationship between the museum and CWRU. Friend of Case Western Reserve University, Dennis Barrie, will also provide some context on the Rock Hall's origins.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a museum and institution celebrating the history and cultural impact of rock music and its pioneers, honoring influential artists, producers, and figures through immersive exhibits, artifacts like instruments and costumes, and annual inductions that now encompass genres beyond rock, from pop and hip-hop to soul and country, showcasing the genre's evolving spirit and influence on global culture. Established by music industry leaders and opened in 1995, it serves as a vibrant, non-profit hub documenting the music's journey from its roots in rhythm and blues and country to contemporary sounds, fostering creativity and innovation.
Jason Hanley is the vice president of education and visitor engagement at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It is his responsibility to make sure that every guest who engages with the museum learns about the history of rock and roll, and leaves inspired by its stories. Hanley works to develop the museum’s award-winning programs at the pre K-12, university and adult learning levels. These programs take place both on-site and online and include the Rock Hall EDU educational platform. Hanley helps plan and implement all the museum’s family and community events and partnerships, and live concerts—including the summer concert series Rock Hall Live. Hanley also oversees the museum’s daily operations and visitor experience in several related departments. Read Hanley’s full bio.
Daniel Goldmark is professor of music and associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences at Case Western Reserve University, as well as being director of CWRU’s Center for Popular Music Studies. He works on American popular music, film and cartoon music, and the history of the music industry. He is the author or editor of numerous books, including The Grove Music Guide to Film Music, Beyond the Soundtrack: Representing Music in Cinema, and Tunes for 'Toons: Music and the Hollywood Cartoon, which received positive reviews in The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Magazine, and The Hollywood Reporter. He has also been editor of the Oxford Music/Media book series since 2007. Read Goldmark’s full bio.
Dennis Barrie has had an extensive career in planning, developing and managing both major and less traditional cultural destinations--museums, exhibits, visitor centers and public spaces. He began his career working for the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art where he documented the lives of American visual artists; and leading the Contemporary Art Center in Cincinnati during a time of cultural upheaval and first amendment challenges. In 1993, he was hired as the first professional executive director of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and was given the task of creating exhibits, building staff and completing the long-awaited project. After opening the Rock Hall, Barrie went on to develop the International Spy Museum, Washington, DC; and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs. Closer to home he has worked with the Western Reserve Historical Society, developing the new “Hollywood on the Cuyahoga” exhibit about filmmaking in northeast Ohio.
Sunday, May 3, 2026
While nothing is planned, enjoy a restful morning, or plan your own fun after a fulfilling and inspiring weekend.
Destination Weekend Cleveland
Frequently Asked Questions
The list of alumni speakers is quite impressive. Will we get to meet them individually?
Each speaker will mingle with guests at their respective event. During the moderated conversations, we will take a few questions from the audience.
I am not sure which "choose your own adventure" outing I would like to do. Can I let you know later? What if I register for something and then change my mind?
All the "choose your own adventure" offerings have space limitations. We encourage you to make your selection when you register for the weekend. If you do change your mind, please contact our office at destinationweekend@case.edu about the change. It is possible that the offering to which you are looking to change is at capacity. If that is the case, we will put your name on a waiting list but keep you registered for the original offering.
If I am traveling in for Destination Weekend, do I have to stay at the host hotel?
No. You are not required to stay at the host hotel. Please note that all transportation will depart and return from the host hotel only. No additional pick-up or drop-off locations will be added to the transportation itinerary.
I see speakers are subject to change. Why is that?
We include this statement on the off chance one of our speakers takes ill or some other situation presents itself and they can’t attend. They will do all they can to keep the commitment, but we also need to be prepared if they need to bow out. We will let you know if and when a speaker cancels.
I see this is the fourth annual Destination Weekend. Can you tell me how this program started and about previous cities where it was held?
Destination Weekend started in 2023. The African American Alumni Association had been discussing having a weekend in Washington, D.C. to tour the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. The trip was organized, and the attendance was greater than anticipated. Because of the DC Weekend’s success, it was decided to offer this program annually. In 2024, the program was held in New York City where guests heard from CWRU alumni who work in the arts, including theater, visual art, historic preservation and dance. In 2025, the program was held in Los Angeles and featured alumni working in various aspects of the entertainment industry.
Enhance your stay and book your hotel room at a reduced rate as a part of The Alumni Association hotel block at Hilton Cleveland Downtown. There will be a booking link in your confirmation note once you register.
Contact Christal Crosby, director of events, programs and reunions, with any questions or updates to your reservation. Christal can be reached at destinationweekend@case.edu or 216.368.6280.
Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to connect with alumni and industry leaders in a weekend full of inspiration, adventure and fun!