Carmina Mares brings international perspective to alumni leadership

When Carmina Mares (LAW ‘01, MGT ‘20) talks about service, she returns to a fundamental lesson from her father: “It does not hurt to be good with people.”

That belief has shaped her path—from her early years growing up and studying the law in Bucharest, Romania, to her work in law, journalism, teaching and nonprofit leadership in the United States. It also continues to guide her service on the Case Western Reserve University Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Mares, who earned her LLM, or Master of Law, from the CWRU School of Law in 2001 and her MBA from Weatherhead School of Management in 2020, joined the university alumni board after earlier serving as the LLM liaison with the law school’s alumni association. When a former colleague there encouraged her to consider a broader role, she was ready to say yes.

The Alumni Association Board of Directors serves as a university partner in alumni engagement, strategic planning and volunteer leadership—strengthening the relationship between CWRU and its graduates. For Mares, that work is both meaningful and complex.

“What surprised me is how hard it is to work with a large alumni community,” she said, noting how much care and effort often happens behind the scenes. She hopes alumni better understand that the board is made up of volunteers just like them: graduates who care deeply about the university and devote their time to helping it thrive.

During her time on the board, Mares has served on the Recognition Committee and the Communications, Development and Engagement Committee. The first role gave her the chance to help identify and honor exceptional alumni through the university’s major alumni awards—work she found deeply fulfilling.

As an international alumna, Mares brings a distinctive lens to alumni engagement. She is especially passionate about making sure international students and alumni feel seen, welcomed and included in the life of the university—not only academically, but culturally and personally as well.

That commitment to connection keeps her involved across CWRU and beyond. Whether mentoring students, serving on the Board of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, volunteering in interdisciplinary programs or supporting arts organizations with ties to the university, Mares sees service as a way to strengthen community. Her advice to fellow alumni considering their own engagement is simple: ask yourself, “Why not?” Then take the first step and find your place within the CWRU Alumni Association.