Diversity and internationalization were among the key issues covered in Forward Thinking, and the university moved quickly to act on each.

• President Barbara R. Snyder appointed the university’s first vice president for Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity in December 2008.

• Provost and Executive Vice President W.A. “Bud” Baeslack appointed the campus’s first associate provost for international affairs in May 2009.

• Baeslack also launched an alliance investment plan to help catalyze interdisciplinary collaborations.

• The plan called for the university to stabilize finances and launch a capital campaign.
  Since 2007 the university has eliminated its nearly $20 million deficit and in Fiscal Year 2012 posted a $6.4 million surplus.

• Meanwhile, Snyder announced the public launch of Forward Thinking: The Campaign for Case Western Reserve University in October 2011. As of June 30 2012, the campaign has raised $717.5 million toward its $1 billion goal.