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Although commencement has concluded, ±¬ÁϳԹÏÍø continues to celebrate graduates who have overcome obstacles, achieved significant milestones, or fulfilled ±¬ÁϳԹÏÍø’s mission in and beyond the classroom.

Today, we celebrate Jay Kropf ’25.

±¬ÁϳԹÏÍø: Have you had any significant internships/co-ops/careers while at ±¬ÁϳԹÏÍø?

JK: I spent a year working as an in-classroom tutor at different K-8 public schools near ±¬ÁϳԹÏÍø. My main focus was providing individual support to students with various neurodivergences such as dyslexia and ADHD.

Additionally, I've been a peer mentor with FYE since Fall 2023, and it's been an incredibly rewarding experience helping new ±¬ÁϳԹÏÍø students adjust to university life during the challenging transitional period into college.

I have also been involved as an election polling location worker since May of 2025. I believe it to be essential that people my age start becoming more politically active.

±¬ÁϳԹÏÍø: How would you describe the connections you have made with the faculty and staff at ±¬ÁϳԹÏÍø?

JK: I have had the fortune to build lasting relationships with several professors during my time at ±¬ÁϳԹÏÍø. Many of my professors have taken the time to learn my interests and goals, and they’ve offered guidance both inside and outside of class. I feel comfortable reaching out when I need help or clarification. 

The staff I’ve interacted with have also been welcoming and strongly supportive of both my academic progress and my personal development.

These connections have made ±¬ÁϳԹÏÍø feel like a community where I’m encouraged to grow and succeed.

±¬ÁϳԹÏÍø: How has Cleveland State inspired you for your future?

JK: ±¬ÁϳԹÏÍø has inspired my future by instilling in me a genuine passion for learning. Through my coursework and the encouragement of faculty, I’ve come to appreciate the value of pushing myself academically and exploring subjects in-depth. 

±¬ÁϳԹÏÍø has helped me recognize my potential and has motivated me to further my education. As I finish my undergraduate studies, I now have a clear goal of pursuing graduate school and continuing to grow both intellectually and professionally.

±¬ÁϳԹÏÍø: How do you think you have fulfilled the ±¬ÁϳԹÏÍø’s mission?  

JK: My work in both statistics and graphic design has been largely formed around ±¬ÁϳԹÏÍø’s central mission of dedication to the needs of the community. 

As a statistician, I have centered my research as an undergraduate and future graduate student to improving the quality of life for the communities surrounding me by advancing social and medical research.

My courses as a graphic design minor have especially helped me to exemplify the mission of ±¬ÁϳԹÏÍø because my primary focus as a designer is in improving accessibility to valuable knowledge and resources that I have as a college-educated individual.

±¬ÁϳԹÏÍø: Do you have a career lined up, and how has ±¬ÁϳԹÏÍø been instrumental in that process?

JK: While I do not have a specific job ready because I'm primarily focusing on getting a Master's degree before I pursue full-time work in my field, I am intending to work as a graduate assistant in graduate school. I would say the individual professors I've had and made close connections with have made a lot of effort to help me apply to and be accepted into graduate school.

Congratulations, Jay!