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About SOTC

Summer on the Cuyahoga (SOTC) is Northeast Ohio’s premier summer internship program for a select group of regional colleges and universities from Ohio, the East Coast, and the greater Midwest. Home to the Cuyahoga River, Cleveland is the focal point and gathering place each summer for 70-80 students from our eleven partner schools.

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Our mission

Recruiting talented students for unique experiences through paid summer internships that lead to lasting networks in the Greater Cleveland Area.

Our vision

To inspire and empower future leaders by bridging the gap between academic excellence and professional success, all while showcasing the unique opportunities and vibrant culture of Northeast Ohio.

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Our process

We partner with leading regional colleges and universities, along with Northeast Ohio nonprofits, startups, and businesses of all sizes to offer students valuable paid internships and immersive experiences. By providing seamless group housing, professional networking, and cultural events, we ensure each participant gains not only career opportunities but also a lifelong connection to the community.

Our Staff

Eric Image
Eric McGarvey | Executive Director

Eric earned his Master's of Nonprofit Organizations at Case Western Reserve University and graduated from Western Carolina University with degrees in Business Administration/Law and Economics/Entrepreneurial Studies. Eric is a native of Northeast Ohio and a champion for Cleveland through various recreational and volunteer activities. Eric can be reached at emcgarvey@summeronthecuyahoga.com.
Tanya Img
Tanya Kaiser | Assistant Director

Tanya earned her MFA in Studio Art from Stony Brook University and holds a BFA from Mount St. Joseph University. She has over a decade of experience in nonprofit programming, arts leadership, and community engagement and is a recipient of the 2025-2026 Creative Impact Fund grant. Tanya can be reached at tkaiser@summeronthecuyahoga.com.
Board Of d
Board of Directors

The SOTC Board of Directors is composed of alumnae/i from each participating school and at-large board members representing the Cleveland and Northeast Ohio (NEO) community.

Officers

Role Name School Organization
Board President Michael Schoop University of Chicago
 Greater Cleveland Partnership
Board Vice President Rosemary Mudry
 Oberlin Cleveland Public Market Corporation
Board Treasurer Chris Litzler Ohio Wesleyan Marcus & Millichap Capital Corporation
Board Secretary Jennifer Cosma
 Denison Benjamin Rose

Members

Name School Organization
Chad Anderson UChicago American Greetings
Krissy Bodnar Colgate U.S. Dept. Housing and Urban Development
Scott Chapin Allegheny Marcus Thomas
Shelia Cherry Washington & Jefferson CareerVolt, LLC
Dan Cook Oberlin Solarstone
Evan Cooper Cornell growU
David Curfman Case Western Reserve Dealer Tire
Kylie Fisher Smith, At-Large Furman University
Lynn-Ann Gries Smith, Ex Officio Gries Consulting
Abby Henry Denison City of Cleveland
Matthew Liebson Denison Trico Group, LLC
Monica Lloyd Member-at-Large Shoes and Clothes for Kids
Emily Matz Smith STERIS Endoscopy
Chris Millen Miami Jefferson Wells
Heidi Geiger Milosovic Oberlin, Ex Officio Waverly Partners
Kristin Morrison Allegheny Jones Day
Alexis Paredes University of Chicago HFLA
Sarah Cate Pfister Case Western Reserve Amazon Solar
Katherine Readey Oberlin Level 20
Lauren Rudman Miami GNCO
Kirby Suntala CSU Mandel Honors The Cleveland Foundation
Martha Woerner Smith Breakthrough Schools

 

SOTC in Media

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Cleveland struggles to attract talent. Here’s a look at one program aiming to help fix that – Crain’s Cleveland Business

2022-07-14-2
“Postcards From The Pandemic: Interning On The Cuyahoga And All That Jazz” – Ideastream Public Media

2022-07-14
‘Summer on the Cuyahoga’ helping college students find internships, jobs during pandemic summer – News 5 Cleveland

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“Young professionals like Cleveland area but leave; local groups aim to keep them” – cleveland.com