As members of the Case Western Reserve University community celebrated Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2025, the College of Arts and Sciences took time to recognize exceptional alumni from the college.
Nearly 90 supporters attended the Oct. 10 IGNITE: A Celebration of Leadership and Philanthropy gathering at Glidden House, where Dean David Gerdes presented the 2025 College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award winners, whose leadership, service and impact exemplify the school’s mission. Learn more below about this year’s award recipients, who inspire others through their professional achievements and commitments to creating positive change.
Distinguished Undergraduate Alumni Award
Ellen Feldman (WRC ’75)
Feldman retired from Northwestern University after a 15-year career in research and grant administration, most recently serving as director of administration for the University Research Centers. She has maintained a longstanding commitment to Case Western Reserve, serving for over a decade on the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Visiting Committee, which she currently chairs. She is completing her term as vice president of the board and chair of the donor engagement committee for The People’s Music School, the largest tuition-free music school serving children in the Chicago area. Feldman is a committed supporter of Books and Breakfast, a program providing nutritional and academic support to Evanston, Illinois students.
Matt Feldman (WRC ’75)
Feldman currently serves as chair of the board of managers of U.S. Financial Technology, a technology and operations company, where he also serves as chair of the audit and risk oversight committees. He was president and CEO of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago for over a decade, and throughout his career has held roles across banking, capital markets, technology, and consulting. Deeply committed to public service, Feldman is a trustee and audit committee chair for the Evanston Community Foundation and a member of its investment council. He is a board member and treasurer of First Repair, a nonprofit advancing local reparations efforts across the United States, and also serves on the boards of Forefront and the Beth Emet Foundation.
The Feldmans support an annual summer internship for CWRU students pursuing degrees in the humanities or social sciences.
Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award
Kimberly Wiefling (GRS ’86, physics)
Wiefling is a physicist, consultant, and author with over four decades of experience spanning scientific research, engineering, product development and organizational leadership. She began her career with technical and engineering roles at Hewlett-Packard, where she was one of the first women service engineers in the Analytical Products Division. Wiefling led the redesign of the HP 5989B Mass Spectrometer and later transitioned into positions in Silicon Valley startups. She lectures internationally and collaborates with organizations around the world on both technical and management challenges, with a particular focus on global sustainability initiatives. To ensure future Case Western Reserve students are encouraged to study the sciences as she did, she established the Kimberly M. Wiefling Endowed Scholarship Fund.
Distinguished Professional Achievement Award
James McAleese (WRC ’88, GRS ’88, political science)
McAleese is a leading defense industry strategist and expert analyst. He currently serves as principal at McAleese & Associates, P.C. where he applies his in-depth knowledge of defense policy, budgeting, and programmatic decision-making to help clients navigate the intricacies of government contracting. He founded McAleese and Associates in 1992 to focus on strengthening relations between the Department of Defense and the contracting community. He is the creator of The McAleese Analysis, a widely respected resource offering insight into key defense priorities, programmatic trade-offs, and financial analysis for defense contractors and policymakers. He is a multi-year recipient of the prestigious Wash100 Award, which recognizes the top 100 changemakers across government and industry.
Distinguished Service Award
Timothy O’Brien (WRC ’74)
O’Brien is a senior member of RSR Partners, a leading executive search and board advisory firm, where he opened the firm’s Cleveland office and currently works within the industrial technology practice. He has more than 30 years in executive search, including leading his own firm for nearly two decades. A dedicated community and university volunteer, O’Brien is a board member of the Bratenahl Community Foundation and is an active supporter of the Cleveland Museum of Art, serving on its campaign committee. He is currently a member of the Dean’s Visiting Committee for the College of Arts and Sciences at Case Western Reserve.
Distinguished Young Alumni Award
Shayna Brathwaite, MD, MS (CWR ’07, MED ’12)
Brathwaite is a vascular surgeon at the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Healthcare System and assistant professor of surgery at Morehouse School of Medicine. Her clinical and research work focuses on improving outcomes for patients undergoing hemodialysis, particularly in veteran populations. A strong advocate for diversity in medicine, Brathwaite mentors students and trainees, working to increase representation of underrepresented minorities in surgical specialties. She also participates in community outreach to raise awareness of vascular disease in high-risk populations.
