The annual CSU|LAW Hall of Fame was established in 2017 to honor the outstanding contributions to the success and prestige of our law school by distinguished alumni, faculty, staff, friends and community leaders.

2024 INDUCTION CEREMONY

Friday, November 1, 2024 | 5:30 – 8:30 PM

CSU Student Center Ballroom
2121 Euclid Avenue | Cleveland, Ohio 44115

2023 Hall of Fame Inductees

ANN ABER
Class of 2003

Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer & Secretary, JOANN Stores

TONY ASHER
Class of 1963

Founder, Weston, Inc.

STEVE AUVIL
Class of 1993

Office Managing Partner, Cleveland, Squire Patton Boggs

JOYCE E. BARRETT
Class of 1971

Former Adjunct Professor, CSU College of Law

KAY E. BENJAMIN

Former CSU|LAW Staff Member

TERRY BILLUPS
Class of 2005

Chief General Counsel, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority

DAVID P. BURKE
Class of 1980

Shareholder, Carlton Fields, P.A.; General Counsel, Amalie Oil Company

HON. PATRICK CARROLL
Class of 1977

Retired Judge, Lakewood Municipal Court

JOHN S. CIPOLLA
Class of 1989

Firm Vice Chair, Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP

HON. JOHN J. DONNELLY
Class of 1969

Former Judge, Cuyahoga County Probate Court

ARTHUR ELK
Class of 1973

Elk + Elk, Managing Partner

PROFESSOR JOEL JAY FINER

Former CSU|LAW Faculty Member (Deceased)

GUS FRANGOS
Class of 1982

President and General Counsel, Cuyahoga Land Bank

TOM GREEN
Class of 2002

Shareholder, Kastner Westman & Wilkins, LLC.

Hon. LINDSAY JENKINS
Class of 2002

United States District Judge, Northern District of Illinois

HON. DIANE J. KARPINSKI
Class of 1980

Former Judge, 8th District Court of Appeals of Ohio (Deceased)

ERICA LAZZARO
Class of 2004

Executive Vice President of Publisher Services & General Counsel, OverDrive, Inc.

JENNIFER MOUNTCASTLE
Class of 2000

Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, and Corporate Insurance Director, The Huntington National Bank

HON. CLIFTON NEWMAN
Class of 1976

Judge, South Carolina Circuit Court

SUSAN PETERSEN
Class of 1997

Partner, Petersen & Petersen

WILLIAM T. PLESEC
Class of 1971

Partner (retired), Jones Day

RENEE TRAMBLE RICHARD
Class of 1988

President, Corporate College; Vice President Legal Services & Risk Management; General Counsel, Cuyahoga Community College

HON. MICHAEL J. RYAN
Class of 1996

Judge, 8th District Court of Appeals of Ohio

JAMES SAMMON
Class of 1994

Corporate Counsel, Jenne, Inc.

MICHAEL SCHWARTZ

Former President, Cleveland State University and Kent State University  (Community Member)

MARIA SPANGLER
Class of 2006

Director, Community Engagement, The Sherwin-Williams Company; Director, The Sherwin-Williams Foundation

Leader on the Rise

DELANTÉ SPENCER THOMAS
Class of 2016

Chief Ethics Officer, City of Cleveland



Can’t attend? Consider contributing your sponsorship directly to student scholarships and other critically important student-focused needs at csulaw.org/donate
or text JUSTICE23 to 216-400-5145

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