From the Deans' Suite - 11/13/25 - Celebrating What Our Hall of Fame Represents

Last Friday, we welcomed more than 500 friends, alumni, students, faculty, and staff to CSU’s Glasscock Ballroom for our annual CSU Law Hall of Fame Celebration. It was a night filled with pride and gratitude—a celebration not just of individual achievement, but of the collective impact of our community.

This year, we inducted Dean Emeritus Lee Fisher into our nearly 200-member Hall of Fame—a distinguished group of graduates and friends whose accomplishments have shaped our law school, our city, and the broader legal community. Recognizing our inductees is always special. But what’s even more meaningful is celebrating what the Hall of Fame represents: the reach, influence, and enduring legacy of CSU Law.

I was reminded of that legacy the morning after the event. In a completely different setting—outside the law school—I met someone who, upon learning I was connected to CSU Law, immediately shared that she had attended our Hall of Fame celebration in the past. She mentioned it because of her connection to alumnus and Hall of Fame member Judge Michael Ryan ’96.

Judge Ryan’s story is remarkable. From foster care to law school, to more than 20 years on the bench—beginning with his first judgeship on the Cleveland Municipal Court in 2006—and now serving on Ohio’s Eighth District Court of Appeals, his journey reflects resilience, purpose, and the transformative power of education. His path from adversity to achievement embodies the spirit of our Hall of Fame.

Judge Ryan’s story is just one among many. Each inductee reminds us that the work we do as educators and professionals extends far beyond the walls of our school. And for every inductee, there are thousands of alumni carrying our mission forward in ways both visible and unseen—in courtrooms and classrooms, in public service and private practice, across the country and around the world.

Our Hall of Fame Celebration is more than an annual tradition. It’s a moment to pause and reflect on who we are as a law school community—and why our work matters. It’s a reminder that our greatest strength lies not only in the achievements we honor, but in the shared values that inspire them.

Thank you to everyone who joined us last Friday—and to all who continue to make CSU Law a place where learning and justice live side by side.

Warmly,

Carolyn