Known as a strong leader whose hard work and relationship-building have forged a strong path for his constituents within the city, Berea Mayor Cyril Kleem ‘96 is being welcomed to campus as the keynote speaker for Commencement on Saturday, May 9.
Kleem will provide remarks to BW's 648 graduating students and their families for the 176th Commencement Ceremony in Ursprung Gymnasium (Lou Higgins Recreation Center) at 2 p.m.
His role as keynote speaker is of special significance to the university, as it reflects an ongoing partnership between BW and Berea, the university's home, that has spanned 181 years.
Kleem's role as Berea's longest-serving mayor spans five consecutive four-year terms, a remarkable tenure of voter support that speaks to his ongoing commitment to the leadership role.
Under his administration, Berea has flourished as a vibrant community lauded as one of the most beautiful college towns in Ohio, as well as one of the safest college towns in the state and in the U.S. He has overseen the development of retail, housing and other projects that have brought added foot traffic and economic growth to the city.
Most recently, his popular Live at the Lake Concert Series has infused Coe Lake Park with music and guests from across Northeast Ohio.
In addition, Kleem and the City of Berea have been a welcoming face to tens of thousands of sports enthusiasts who visit the Cleveland Browns training camp, located within the city, and the Cuyahoga County Fair, which can draw upwards of 200,000 visitors annually to its Berea home.
Kleem was the first mayor elected to the original Board of the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation and was elected to the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission. He is the founder of the Berea Community Development Corporation, a non-profit that supports low-income earners in Berea and surrounding communities.
He also founded the Northern Ohio Veterans Association (NOVA), a non-profit that provides spiritual care and counseling to veterans, active-duty personnel and their families. Because of NOVA's work with veterans in hospices, Berea is the only city in Ohio recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs as a "We Honor Veterans Community."
In 2025, Kleem was awarded the "Freedom Award" from the American Nationalities Movement.
Kleem, who was born and raised in Berea, is a 1996 BW graduate. He majored in political science. He also holds three master's degrees in political science, urban planning and pastoral theology and is nearing completion of a public leadership credential at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.
"Having Mayor Kleem as our keynote speaker is a special opportunity for our graduates to hear from an alumnus who earned a BW degree and then went on to have a successful career," said BW President Lee Fisher.
"The University is proud to be a contributing presence that enhances Berea's reputation as a city where its historic roots are celebrated in being the 'Grindstone Capital of the World' but also as a place where residents and students can come together at events like Live at the Lake or to peruse the many quaint shops and eateries downtown," added Fisher.
"Since moving into our home on campus this past summer, my wife, Peggy, and I can easily see why the people of Berea take pride in their hometown and why our students are so happy to be here. This wonderful community has welcomed us, and I look forward to having many more opportunities to unite the goals of BW with the City of Berea, so that for decades to come we can continue on a flourishing path of success," he emphasized.
Kleem speaking at the Inauguration of BW President Lee Fisher.
