CANR alum recognized by MSUAA
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EmailAlbert R. Ratner, forestry, received the MSU Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award in October.
Albert R. Ratner, ’51, forestry, received the MSU Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award in October. He was recognized during an event at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center.
Since 1955, Ratner has been co-chairman of the board of Forest City Enterprises, a nationwide developer of major real estate projects that owns more than $4.5 billion in completed properties and is active in 20 states and the District of Columbia. Forest City’s signature Cleveland project, Tower City Center, is indicative of its philosophy of developing projects that seek to revitalize urban centers, thereby improving quality of life. He joined Forest City in 1951, and he was named secretary of the company in 1960, executive vice president in 1968, president and CEO 1971 and vice chairman of the board in 1993, remaining CEO of the company as well. Currently, he is co-chairman emeritus.
Ratner is an MSU alumnus who, through the Land Policy Institute, has given to MSU in many ways. He is an internationally renowned urban economic developer who has leveraged an MSU education in shaping the future of many communities in the United States.
“We at MSU are fortunate to have captured the mind and imagination of Al Ratner over the past few years as a visiting scholar and executive in residence at the Land Policy Institute,” said Scott Witter, director of the Land Policy Institute and the School of Planning, Design and Construction. “He has dedicated his valuable time and worked tirelessly to advocate for the LPI.”
Ratner has helped bring vision to the LPI and has been a major promoter of both its urban and energy agendas, Witter said.
Ratner has consistently given his time and money in support of MSU. He is a member of the Alumni Club of Northeast Ohio and was instrumental in establishing the endowed scholarship fund for MSU students from the area. He is a member of the Frank S. Kedzie Giving Society and has been a generous supporter of the MSU Jewish Studies Program, the Eli Broad College of Business and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources with a gift to the president’s office for discretionary use.
