Five alumni recognized with top honors at Homecoming and Reunion Weekend
At the 2025 Alumni Association Awards Luncheon—a centerpiece event of Homecoming and Reunion Weekend—guests celebrated a quintet of Case Western Reserve alumni making a difference in Cleveland, on campus and beyond. President Eric W. Kaler presented this year's awards, which recognized graduates from across six decades.
Read on to learn more about the honorees.
Distinguished Alumni Award
Terrence J. Sejnowski (CIT '68)
The awards ceremony culminated with the Alumni Association's most prestigious award, honoring Terrence J. Sejnowski with the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award.
Sejnowski’s journey from a physics undergraduate at Case Institute of Technology to a renowned neuroscientist and AI pioneer exemplifies a path of interdisciplinary exploration and innovation.
Originally fascinated by astrophysics, his exposure to computer science at CWRU laid a foundation for groundbreaking contributions to computational neuroscience, merging physics, math, biology and computer science to unravel the workings of the brain. He is one of only three living individuals elected to all four major U.S. National Academies.
Learn more about Sejnowki's distinguished career.
Professional Achievement Award
William J. Chiego (GRS ’68, ’74, art history)
William Chiego’s career in museum leadership began at CWRU, where he earned both his master’s and doctorate in art history. After prestigious fellowships and curatorial roles at major museums, he gained national recognition as director of Oberlin College’s Allen Memorial Art Museum, before leading a transformational reimagining of the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio.
His exceptional career success earned him Case Western Reserve University Alumni Association's Professional Achievement Award.
Newton D. Baker Distinguished Service Award
Jeffrey T. Verespej (CWR ’07, MGT ’11)
After earning his second degree from CWRU, Jeffrey Verespej was surprised to find no local alumni chapter existed, so he took the initiative and helped launch the Cleveland Alumni Chapter in 2011—eventually serving as president of the Alumni Association.
His commitment to community extends to his professional life, leveraging his role at PNC Bank to promote economic equity and local development.
Learn more about Verespej and his commitment to service at CWRU and beyond.
Daniel T. Clancy Alumni Service Award
Judy Strauss-Schwartz (WRC ‘74)
Judy Strauss-Schwartz became deeply involved with the CWRU alumni community after graduating, taking on leadership roles in the New York City Alumni Chapter and later serving as president.
She helped foster engagement among alumni who hadn’t previously participated, and continued her volunteerism with two terms on the Alumni Association board of directors.
Read more about Strauss-Schwartz's commitment to Case Western Reserve's alumni association.
Young Alumni Award
Kevin Russell (CWR ‘14)
Kevin Russell’s experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer sparked a passion for financial access and education, which shaped his commitment to equity and service throughout his career.
He went on to work in international development and finance before founding The Zillennial Advisors, an AI-powered platform aimed at democratizing financial advice for Gen Z and Millennials.
Find out more about Russell's work and how it's impacting generations to come.
Learn more about the Case Western Reserve University Alumni Association's awards.
