Points of Pride

Kaila Griffin

Kaila GriffinKaila Griffin is not only the Spring 2019 University Valedictorian, she is a double major in Criminology and Accounting with three minors in Statistics, Sociology and Governance, Risk Management and Compliance.

“I’m really excited that at Cleveland State I had the opportunity to bond two things that I love to help realize my dream,” she said.

Kaila has dreamed of working with the FBI since she was a 15-year old student at Medina High School. While at Cleveland State, she was able to take the first step in realizing that dream as an honors intern for the FBI Cleveland Field Office. 

During her time as an undergraduate student at CSU, Kaila has interned at Oriana House, the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Justice Center and Northwestern Mutual. She works as an Agency Enrollment Specialist for DrugHelp.care, a web application created by CSU professors Dr. Miyuki Tedor (Criminology) and Dr. Patricia Stoddard Dare (Social Work) that helps match clients to individualized drug abuse treatment programs.

Active in student life on campus, Kaila helped to found the FBI Student Academy at CSU, is acting as a chair for the Future Agents in Training Alumni Group’s Law Enforcement Youth Forum, served as the Gleim Study Materials Campus Representative, is a member of Alpha Kappa Delta, Beta Gamma Sigma, the Accounting Association, the Ohio Society of CPAs and vice president of Beta Alpha Psi.

Kaila has also been an active volunteer with the Law Enforcement Youth Forum (2017, 2018), the Juvenile Justice Center Probation Office (2018) and through Beta Alpha Psi. 

Academically, Kaila has been on the Dean’s List and President’s List each semester during her undergraduate career.  “Each of my professors have brought something different or interesting to the classroom where I have walked out better for it,” she added.

“Kaila is a shining example of success and exemplifies the value that Cleveland State has in the community," said Dr. Heidi Meier, Chair of the Accounting Department. "She came to CSU with a dream, designed her own curriculum to academically prepare herself to follow that dream and has taken advantage of every opportunity to not just pursue her dream but to exceed all expectations.” 

Kaila will return to Cleveland State in the Fall 2019 as a Master of Business Administration and Business Analytics student. She plans to continue in her internship with the FBI and earn a permanent staff position.