Mandel School honors 2025 Alumni Award winners during Homecoming and Reunion Weekend

As members of the Case Western Reserve University community celebrated Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2025, the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences took time for a more personalized celebration: recognizing exemplary alumni. 

More than 60 Mandel School alumni attended the Oct. 10 Alumni Celebration where organizers presented the 2025 Alumni Award winners, whose leadership, service and impact exemplify the school’s mission of advancing social justice and strengthening communities. Take a look at this year’s award recipients, who inspire others through their professional achievements and commitments to creating positive change.

Donovan Young (SAS ’21, MNO ’21) 

Early Career Success Award

Donovan Young is a program officer for the Thriving Families and Social Justice and Public Education program areas at the George Gund Foundation. Previously, he served for four years as program associate for social impact and strategy at The Char and Chuck Fowler Family Foundation. In both roles, Young has presented nationally on how philanthropy can leverage financial, social, and intellectual capital to support grantee partners and create lasting impact. Since entering the philanthropic sector in 2020, he has championed serving nonprofits beyond grant dollars, cultivating authentic relationships and strengthening community efficacy as a catalyst for change. Donovan earned his Master of Science in Social Administration and Master of Nonprofit Organizations from Case Western Reserve University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Humanities from Azusa Pacific University.

"Receiving the Early Career Success Award is a huge honor. I am humbled and view this achievement as a reflection of the love, time and support so many others have poured into me to help get me to where I am today." —Donovan Young (SAS ’21, MNO ’21) 

Cecil Lipscomb (MGT ’06) 

Professional Achievement Award

Cecil Lipscomb has been executive director of the United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland, one of Cleveland’s premier grantmaking organizations, since 2011. He previously held leadership roles at Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University, following a decade in corporate management and sales with Verizon. Lipscomb is deeply engaged in community service, having served as a board member for The Center for Community Solutions, vice president of the board for Eliza Bryant Village and advisor to numerous civic organizations. He earned his MBA from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management, his undergraduate degree from Ursuline College and a certificate in nonprofit management from the Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations. He and his wife, Erica, are proud parents of three daughters.

Oliver L. Gross (SAS ’06) 

Louis Stokes Community Service Leadership Award

Oliver Gross is president and CEO of New Urban Development, LLC, an affiliate of the Urban League of Greater Miami. With more than 25 years of experience in real estate development, public administration and commercial banking, he has overseen more than $100 million in housing and community projects. Gross serves as board chair of PLACE, Inc. and the 79th Street Corridor CRA, and has held leadership roles with the South Florida Community Development Coalition and Urban Land Institute. A Louis Stokes Fellow at the Mandel School, Gross earned his Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Florida A&M University. He also completed the Achieving Excellence Executive Training Program at Harvard Kennedy School.

"Being recognized by CWRU and the Mandel School is not as much about me, as it is about the efficacy of the vision of congressman, Louis Stokes and the unique platform CWRU affords its students. I congratulate my fellow honorees, and this was one of the most humbling and prodigious honors I’ve ever received." —Oliver L. Gross (SAS ’06)

Ellen Coleman (SAS ’85)

Distinguished Alumna Award

Ellen Coleman is retired but remains a consultant to VOZ, a company that brings the patient’s voice into the drug development process. She has considerable experience working with patients with life-threatening and chronic illnesses. She spent 11 years as associate executive director of CancerCare, a national nonprofit providing counseling, education, and financial assistance, and two years as a hospital social worker at Westchester Medical Center. During the height of the AIDS crisis, she worked at Johnson & Johnson’s HIV home testing center, at Cleveland Clinic and at the Royal London Hospital—all while volunteering in sub-Saharan Africa to support AIDS hospice programs. Coleman has received multiple honors, including the Ohio Department of Health’s Director’s AIDS Service Award. She holds a Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University, a Master of Public Health from Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Miami University in Ohio. She now lives outside of Tucson, Arizona, with her husband, Loren Sherman, and their beloved dog, Lina.

Rebecca Kodysh (MNO ’05)

Nonprofit Leadership Award

Rebecca Kodysh is an accomplished nonprofit leader whose career spans education, youth development, advocacy and philanthropy. From 2013 to 2024, she served as executive director of Cleveland Guardians Charities, where she oversaw strategy, partnerships and major capital projects, including MLB’s 2019 All-Star Legacy initiative and the José Ramírez Field in Cleveland’s Clark-Fulton neighborhood. She also cofounded the Larry Doby Youth Fund at the Cleveland Foundation and served as vice president of programs at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland. Earlier in her career, Kodysh worked in Hawaii as a special education teacher and AmeriCorps parent advocate. She has also taught program evaluation at the Mandel School. Kodysh holds a Master of Nonprofit Organizations from Case Western Reserve University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Ohio University.

"This award is not just a reflection of past efforts—it’s a celebration of the communities, causes and people who’ve made this journey worthwhile. Thank you for this moment, and for believing in the power of purpose-driven work." —Rebecca Kodysh (MNO ’05)

To nominate alumni for the 2026 Alumni Awards, complete this online form.