Case Western Reserve University announced earlier this month that it received a $25 million gift from the Weatherhead Foundation to establish the Celia Scott Weatherhead Leadership Institute. The new institute, housed in the Weatherhead School of Management, is designed to broaden leadership training across undergraduate, graduate and executive programs, with its first initiatives scheduled for fall 2026.
The institute builds on the President’s Leadership Development Program, which currently provides leadership training for a select group of undergraduates. Made possible by the gift, the program will expand into a four-year undergraduate track that includes experiential projects, mentorship opportunities and community engagement. Graduate and professional students will gain access to interdisciplinary leadership offerings, while executive education programs are expected to serve working professionals in Cleveland and beyond.
“As president of the Weatherhead Foundation, Celia has proven she is a strategic, impactful leader, changing the lives of so many through her vision and philanthropy,” President Eric W. Kaler said in an announcement. “We are grateful for her continued commitment to Case Western Reserve, so we can develop leaders who are ready to be a force for good in the world.”
Scott Cowen, former dean of the Weatherhead School of Management and interim president of CWRU, has been appointed the inaugural chair of the institute. Cowen called the gift “an incredible honor and opportunity” and said it would help expand leadership training across disciplines, preparing students to become impactful leaders both on campus and beyond.
The Weatherhead Foundation has had a long philanthropic relationship with the university. A $20 million gift in 1989 helped establish the Weatherhead School of Management, named in honor of the Weatherhead family. This latest contribution continues Celia Scott Weatherhead’s record of higher education philanthropy, which also includes major donations outside of Cleveland .
Planning for the Celia Scott Weatherhead Leadership Institute will continue over the next academic year, with programs expected to roll out in phases beginning in fall 2026. University leaders say the $25 million gift not only builds on decades of Weatherhead support but also positions CWRU alongside peer institutions investing heavily in leadership education. For students, the institute represents new opportunities to connect coursework with mentorship and applied leadership experience, resources aimed at preparing the next generation to lead across fields.