Longtime philanthropic partner is namesake for one of Cleveland State’s newly formed colleges

Mort Levin, his wife Judy and his entire family made yet another transformational philanthropic donation to Cleveland State University which names the newly formed college “The Levin College of Public Affairs and Education.” The college brings together programs of the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, a significant portion of the university’s former College of Education, and other strategically aligned social sciences programs.
The agreement with the Levin family honors two generations of philanthropic giving and other support from the family and builds upon the national reputation of the Maxine Goodman Levin College, named in honor of Mort’s aunt. The school of Urban Affairs situated within the newly formed and expanded college will continue to bear her name.
“We enthusiastically support the vision of President Bloomberg bringing together these important disciplines in to one college,” Mort Levin said on behalf of the family.
“We believe that this new college alignment preserves Maxine’s original vision and intent, and allows for synergy and growth in addressing societal challenges both locally and nationally.”
According to CSU President Laura Bloomberg, the new Levin College of Public Affairs and Education – which will include scholars from teacher education, curriculum, counseling, urban affairs, sociology, communication, and criminology – will enhance CSU’s national reputation in these fields.
“By bringing these disciplines together, we are positioning the Levin College of Public Affairs and Education to help address the most significant public affairs issues facing our city, state, region and country,” she said. “In the near term, our students and faculty will be the real winners. The innovative work that will come from this alignment, coupled with the incredibly generous gift from the Levin family, has the potential to benefit all of society.”
Mort Levin founded the Levin Group, Inc. in 1977. A highly successful Cleveland real estate development firm, it specializes in the development and management of multi-family housing units, warehouses, and shopping centers. Levin served as a member of the CSU Board of Trustees from 2008-2017. He is also an Emeritus Director of the CSU Foundation Board. He and his wife, Judy, also support a number of student scholarship funds at the University.
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