Case Western Reserve University has been a home to many students-turned-alumni over the years. But for those who dedicate much of their professional lives to the university, it has come to feel like a home, too.
We invited faculty and staff members with more than 25 years of service to Case Western Reserve to share their retirement news with the campus community and reflect on the impacts they’ve had through teaching, mentorship, research, leadership and professional contributions.
W. John Durfee, DVM
Director of the Animal Resource Center
After 25 years of dedicated service to Case Western Reserve University, W. John Durfee, DVM, will retire in late January from his role as director of the Animal Resource Center.
Durfee joined the university in 2000, bringing with him a distinguished background in laboratory animal medicine, including prior leadership roles at Baylor College of Medicine and board certification from the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine. Under his guidance, the Animal Resource Center has become a nationally respected program, supporting critical biomedical research with exemplary veterinary care and husbandry services.
A veteran of the United States Air Force, Durfee’s journey from a small town in Idaho to a career in academic veterinary medicine is a testament to his resilience, vision and commitment to service. His leadership was especially evident during the pandemic, when his team earned an outstanding review from the Accreditation Association for Laboratory Animal Care.
Durfee is licensed to practice veterinary medicine in Ohio and is a U.S. Department of Agriculture-accredited veterinarian. As director of the center, he oversees a staff of 60 employees to provide husbandry and veterinary care to all research animals.
Susan Freimark
Director of Faculty Development
School of Medicine
Susan Freimark, director of faculty development in the School of Medicine, will retire at the end of 2025 after nearly three decades of dedicated service to Case Western Reserve University.
Through her leadership, Freimark developed and implemented a wide range of professional development programs that have empowered countless faculty members to reflect on their careers, define goals and build the skills and confidence to achieve them. Her work has strengthened the School of Medicine's academic culture and fostered a spirit of growth, collaboration and leadership across departments and institutions.
Freimark has guided faculty at every stage of their careers—helping them navigate leadership transitions, organizational dynamics and work-life integration with compassion and insight. As a board-certified coach in executive leadership and career coaching and a licensed professional counselor, her involvement in the National Science Foundation Organizational Change for Gender Equity in STEM Academic Professions (ADVANCE) grant helped establish Case Western Reserve's first formal coaching model, which continues to shape how the university supports faculty success today.
Prior to joining the School of Medicine, Freimark served as senior associate director of the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women, where she created and facilitated numerous professional and leadership development programs for women faculty, staff and students. She also conceptualized and launched Women in Science and Humanities Earning Doctorates, creating a supportive community for women pursuing doctoral degrees. In addition, she spearheaded an initiative to provide free access to feminine hygiene products in women’s restrooms across campus—a simple but powerful reflection of her care for others and her commitment to meaningful action.
Throughout her career, Freimark has been a trusted advisor, a thoughtful coach and a tireless advocate for faculty and staff alike. Her contributions have left a lasting imprint on the campus community, and her legacy will continue to shape the culture of development and leadership at the School of Medicine for years to come.
“Susan’s presence, as well as her hearing faculty needs, has been most appreciated in the past few years,” said Dean Stan Gerson, MD. “She expanded our faculty development offering to include REFRAME, a professional development program for mid- to late-career School of Medicine faculty, and worked with our basic science faculty to help create Steps to Success.”
Mary T. Quinn Griffin, PhD, RN
Associate Dean for Global Affairs and Climate Change
Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing
Mary T. Quinn Griffin, PhD, RN (NUR ’93; GRS ’01, nursing), joined CWRU in 1994 as a lecturer at Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing. Over 31 years, Quinn Griffin has become a leading figure at the school, retiring at the end of 2025 as the associate dean for global affairs and climate change, a role she’s held since 2018. Quinn Griffin, a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, also previously held the May L. Wykle Endowed Professorship.
Under her leadership, the school has elevated its global presence, reflected most recently in the QS World Rankings, earning the No. 35 spot among more than 1,500 schools of nursing worldwide.
Quinn Griffin expanded the school's international partnerships, championed the study abroad program and also served the broader university as assistant provost for outcome assessment and accreditation—playing a pivotal role in maintaining institutional accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission.
Her research focus has been on genetics, climate change, leadership and workforce issues.
Cindy Young
Graphic Designer
University Marketing and Communications
For 33 years as a graphic designer in University Marketing and Communications, Cindy Young has been behind many of the university’s print pieces, from magazines to brochures.
Among her most notable achievements was the creation of the former Case Western Reserve University logo and the accompanying branding materials. Some of Young’s other favorite design projects included the Office of Undergraduate Recruitment’s “Get Serious” campaign and supporting suite of materials; Case School of Engineering annual reports; production materials for the dance and theater departments; the College of Arts and Sciences’ art/sci magazine; and Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing's Forefront magazine.
Young also was behind many of the materials used for major university events, including Think Forum.
Young earned numerous national awards for her designs, including one from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Even still, her favorite memory at CWRU was receiving the news she was pregnant with her daughter while at work.
In retirement, she plans to continue pursuing creative endeavors in fine art, serving as a volunteer at the Cleveland Museum of Art and working on freelance graphic design projects.
Susette Ziats
Assistant Director in Space and Facilities Planning
School of Medicine
Susette Ziats had a hand in helping CWRU’s most iconic building—the Peter B. Lewis Building—come to life. As she closes out nearly 30 years of service to the university, her experiences contributing to the project remains among Ziats’s most memorable.
Under the direction of Professor Emeritus Richard Boland, Ziats filled a planning and move management role at Weatherhead School of Management. That role took her to meetings in Santa Monica, San Francisco and Los Angeles to work alongside famed architect Frank Gehry’s team to approve furniture and color choices. As a result, Ziats watched the building transform from blueprints to reality.
Ziats transitioned to the School of Medicine in 2006, now retiring as assistant director in space and facilities planning at the school.
For the past 20 years, her work has included coordinating relocations, managing aspects of building access, processing scheduling requests, facilitating upkeep needs, and many other tasks that came her way.
Ziats’s last day is scheduled for Jan. 16.
