2025 Alumni Award Winners
Distinguished Undergraduate Alumni Award
Ellen Feldman (WRC ’75) graduated from Western Reserve College in 1975, completing bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and economics. She later went on to earn her MBA from Columbia Business School. She retired from Northwestern University after a 15-year career in research and grant administration, most recently serving as Director of Administration for the University Research Centers.
Feldman has maintained a longstanding commitment to Case Western Reserve University, serving for over a decade on the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Visiting Committee, where she currently serves as chair. Feldman and her husband support an annual summer internship for CWRU students pursuing degrees in the humanities or social sciences.
In retirement, Feldman has continued her dedication to service. She is completing her term as Vice President of the Board and Chair of the Donor Engagement Committee for The People’s Music School, the largest tuition-free music school serving children in the Chicago area. She also successfully co-chaired the school’s two most recent fundraising galas.
An engaged civic volunteer, Feldman is active in her synagogue and a committed supporter of Books and Breakfast, a program providing nutritional and academic support to Evanston students. Her career and ongoing community involvement reflect her commitment to education, equity, and the arts.
Distinguished Undergraduate Alumni Award
Matt Feldman (WRC ’75) received his Bachelor of Arts from Western Reserve College in 1975 in history. He later earned a master’s of management from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He currently serves as Chair of the Board of Managers of U.S. Financial Technology, a technology and operations company, where he also serves as Chair of the Audit and Risk Oversight Committees.
Feldman was President and CEO of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago for over a decade, and throughout his career has held roles across banking, capital markets, technology, and consulting.
Deeply committed to public service, Feldman is a trustee and Audit Committee Chair for the Evanston Community Foundation and a member of its Investment Council. He is a board member and Treasurer of First Repair, a nonprofit advancing local reparations efforts across the United States, and also serves on the boards of Forefront and the Beth Emet Foundation.
Feldman is a life member of Kellogg’s Dean’s Global Advisory Board and serves on its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Group. Feldman has previously served on the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Visiting Committee and currently partners with CWRU as a guest lecturer to undergraduate students on career options and readiness.
Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award
Kimberly Wiefling (GRS ’86, physics) earned her master’s degree in physics in 1986 from CWRU and holds dual bachelor’s degrees in physics and chemistry from Wright State University. Wiefling is a physicist, consultant, and author with over four decades of experience spanning scientific research, engineering, product development, and organizational leadership.
Wiefling began her career with technical and engineering roles at Hewlett-Packard, where she was one of the first women service engineers in the Analytical Products Division. Wiefling led the redesign of the HP 5989B Mass Spectrometer and later transitioned into positions in Silicon Valley startups. In the wake of the 2001 tech downturn, she launched a consulting practice advising startups and multinational corporations on innovation, team effectiveness and leadership.
Wiefling is the author of Scrappy Project Management and executive editor of five additional “Scrappy Guides” books. She lectures internationally and collaborates with organizations around the world on both technical and management challenges, with a particular focus on global sustainability initiatives.
Having studied physics and held engineering and technical roles when few women did, her career reflects her grit, creativity, and technical and business acumen. To ensure future CWRU students are encouraged to study the sciences as she did, she established the Kimberly M. Wiefling Endowed Scholarship Fund.
Distinguished Professional Achievement Award
James McAleese (WRC ’88, GRS ’88, political science) holds both a BA and MA from Case Western Reserve University in political science and earned his JD and LLM from The George Washington University. McAleese is a leading defense industry strategist and expert analyst. He currently serves as Principal at McAleese & Associates, P.C. where he applies his in-depth knowledge of defense policy, budgeting, and programmatic decision-making to help clients navigate the intricacies of government contracting.
He founded McAleese and Associates in 1992 where he focuses on strengthening relations between the Department of Defense and the contracting community. He is the creator of The McAleese Analysis, a widely respected resource offering insight into key defense priorities, programmatic trade-offs, and financial analysis for defense contractors and policymakers.
He is a multi-year recipient of the prestigious Wash100 Award, which recognizes the top 100 changemakers across government and industry. McAleese is actively involved in many professional organizations that support the defense and intelligence interests of the United States, as both a member and board leader. McAleese is a frequent media commentator, with his insights featured in Reuters, The Wall Street Journal and Politico.
Distinguished Service Award
Timothy O’Brien (WRC ’74) is a senior member of RSR Partners, a leading executive search and board advisory firm, where he opened the firm’s Cleveland office and currently works within the Industrial Technology practice.
With more than 30 years in executive search, O’Brien began his career at Booz, Allen & Hamilton before holding senior roles at Russell Reynolds Associates and Heidrick & Struggles. He also led his own firm, O’Brien & Company, for nearly two decades.
A dedicated community and university volunteer, O’Brien has served as Treasurer and President of his condominium association and is a board member of the Bratenahl Community Foundation. He is an active supporter of the Cleveland Museum of Art, serving on its Campaign Committee with his spouse, Breck Platner.
He previously served on the foundation board of the Cuyahoga County Public Library system. He has held a variety of volunteer positions throughout the university and is currently a member of the Dean’s Visiting Committee for the College of Arts and Sciences at Case Western Reserve University.
O’Brien’s professional leadership is matched by his deep and ongoing commitment to civic service, arts philanthropy, and educational advancement.
Distinguished Young Alumni Award
Shayna Brathwaite, MD, MS (CWR ’07, MED ’12), is a vascular surgeon at the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Healthcare System and Assistant Professor of Surgery at Morehouse School of Medicine. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Case Western Reserve University in 2007 and her MD from CWRU School of Medicine in 2012. She completed her general surgery residency at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, where she also earned a Master of Science, followed by a Vascular Surgery Fellowship at Emory University.
As a funded surgeon-scientist, Brathwaite’s clinical and research work focuses on improving outcomes for patients undergoing hemodialysis, particularly in veteran populations. A strong advocate for diversity in medicine, Brathwaite mentors students and trainees, working to increase representation of underrepresented minorities in surgical specialties. She also participates in community outreach to raise awareness of vascular disease in high-risk populations.
As an undergraduate, Brathwaite was active in student leadership, serving on the boards of the African American Society and the Student National Medical Association Chapter. Her career reflects a steadfast commitment to health equity, education, and service.
Nominations for 2026 will open in November.
About the Awards Program
The purpose of these awards is to recognize graduates of the college and its predecessor schools (Adelbert College, Cleveland College, Flora Stone Mather College, Western Reserve College, and the math and science programs of the Case Institute of Technology) to:
- Celebrate their achievements
- Honor the legacy of excellence
- Encourage and inspire future alumni
Watch the 2024 award announcement here.
The College’s Awards
Distinguished Undergraduate Alumni Award
This is the highest honor bestowed upon an undergraduate alumnus or alumna of the College of Arts and Sciences or its predecessor schools. It recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves with distinct achievements in their professions or community service and have made significant contributions through demonstrated leadership.
Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award
This is the highest honor bestowed upon an alumnus or alumna with a graduate degree from the College of Arts and Sciences or its predecessor schools. It recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves with distinct achievements in their professions or community service and have made significant contributions through demonstrated leadership.
Distinguished Service Award
This award recognizes a dedicated alumnus or alumna for his or her outstanding volunteer service and/or impact to the community since graduation.
Distinguished Professional Achievement Award
This award recognizes alumni who have had outstanding achievements and accomplishments during their career.
Distinguished Young Alumni Award
This award recognizes alumni (graduates of the last decade and/or age 40 or younger) who have had outstanding achievements and accomplishments early in their career.