Larry and Sally Sears commit $1.5 million to advance experiential engineering education at Case Western Reserve University
Alumni’s latest gift to CWRU will establish an endowed instructor position focused on teaching
Case Western Reserve University has announced a $1.5 million gift from alumni and longtime philanthropic partners Larry M. Sears (CIT ’69) and Sally Zlotnick Sears (FSM ’72, LYS ’74) to establish the Larry Sears and Sally Zlotnick Sears Instructor in Electrical Engineering at Case School of Engineering. The endowment is among the first of its kind at the university to permanently support a position dedicated to experiential education—a role Larry Sears knows well after years as a university trustee, an adjunct faculty member and dedicated student mentor.
The endowed instructor will bring a professional background in industry roles, and will teach design-centered courses in electrical engineering featuring rigorous, experiential learning in the context of real-world projects.
”Larry and Sally’s commitment to providing purposeful opportunities to learn by doing has been transformative for so many of our students,” said Case Western Reserve University President and Morton L. Mandel Presidential Chair Eric W. Kaler. “Thanks to the Sears’ continued support, our engineering students will learn from highly skilled instructors with practical industry experience, enabling students to better connect classroom learning to the real world.”
Larry Sears’ belief in hands‑on learning is shaped by both his professional career and his experience at CWRU. After founding and leading a successful electronics company in Cleveland, Sears returned to campus as an adjunct faculty member, teaching the Department of Electrical Computer and Systems Engineering’s popular and impactful Applied Circuit Design class, fondly nicknamed “Larry Lab.”
“Immersive, hands-on learning inside and outside the classroom defines the engineering student experience at Case Western Reserve,” said Susan C. Hagness, PhD, the Charles H. Phipps Dean of Case School of Engineering. “In the age of AI, experiential engineering education is more critical than ever. Through courses taught by the Sears Instructor, our electrical engineering students will be better prepared for the demands of professional practice and will graduate confident, capable, and ready to lead in this rapidly changing world.”
“This gift significantly strengthens the experiential components of our electrical engineering undergraduate curriculum in the hands-on learning in circuits,” said Case School of Engineering Senior Associate Dean for Research and Innovation Christian A. Zorman, who worked closely with the Searses to create the endowment while serving as interim dean over the past year. “This unique position will enable us to expand our curricular offerings in areas that reflect the evolving needs of the field and the students we serve.”
Together, Larry and Sally Sears have invested more than $20 million in Case Western Reserve University, including nearly $11 million to foster the creation, expansion, and ongoing support of the Larry Sears and Sally Zlotnick Sears think[box]. Their philanthropy also includes a $1 million gift to support the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building, advancing interdisciplinary collaboration and experiential learning.
In recognition of their extraordinary philanthropy, Larry and Sally Sears have been inducted into Case Western Reserve University’s newly established Hudson and Case Society. Created as part of the university’s bicentennial celebration, the society honors individuals, families, and organizations whose lifetime giving of $20 million or more has had a transformative impact on the university’s mission and future.
“I believe our undergraduates have unparalleled opportunities to enhance their education through research and project‑based learning,” said Sears. “I’ve confirmed that by speaking with students who’ve compared their experience here with peers at other universities, and by hearing how well our graduates perform in industry.”
For the alumni couple, the motivation to give back is deeply personal.
“The university provided me with undergraduate learning opportunities I don’t believe I could have found elsewhere,” said Larry Sears. “That education led to a wonderful, productive, fulfilling career. Sally and I want to make sure others have the same chance.”
