message

Celebrating our Legacy of Excellence in Education and Research

The opportunity to celebrate a bicentennial comes around only once, which is why we've made it a priority for 2026 to honor Case Western Reserve University in a way befitting our history—and our future—of excellence.

In fact, the planning is well underway, and the celebrating has already begun.

To honor the day the charter for Western Reserve College was signed in 1826, we launched our "bicentennial eve" celebrations with a campus-wide Bicentennial Kickoff event on Feb. 7. The Tinkham Veale University Center ballroom was packed with 700 faculty, students and staff who came for an afternoon of fun, food, CWRU giveaways and a chance to indulge in a scoop of "Cake Western Reserve 200," a special edition flavor made just for us by our friends at Mitchell's Ice Cream. The enthusiasm in the room was a positive sign for our celebrations ahead.

Photo by Esterly Photography Case Western Reserve President Eric W. Kaler and his wife, Karen F. Kaler, serving a special flavor from Mitchell's Ice Cream created to mark the university's bicentennial kickoff.

With the bicentennial in mind, we invite you, as members of our university family, to reflect on your own histories with Case Western Reserve and how this institution has impacted the trajectory of your personal and professional lives. Certainly, the last 200 years have been transformative for Case Western Reserve. What started as a college in Hudson, Ohio, and a school of applied science in downtown Cleveland, has metamorphosed into one of the country's leading research institutions.

Importantly, each of you has played a part in the sea change of this university. We will share information in the months ahead about how you can join in our bicentennial events. In the meantime, we can't wait to celebrate with you in 2026.

Sincerely,

Eric W. Kaler
President