A national expert in fiscal policy and public administration, Dr. Lu brings bold vision and deep experience to one of the nation’s most respected schools of urban affairs.

When Dr. Elaine Yi Lu stepped into her role as Director of the Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University (CSU) in January 2026, she did so with both urgency and history. As part of CSU’s Levin College of Public Affairs and Education, the School of Urban Affairs carries forward a 50-year tradition of preparing city planners, policy analysts, nonprofit executives, and public managers who make meaningful change in Ohio and beyond.  

Now, with Dr. Lu’s arrival, a new chapter begins — one that leverages that legacy, looks toward the future, and brings with it her mission to bridge academic excellence with real-world impact.  

“The mission of education is to enable people to live to their potential,” Dr. Lu says. “It can also enable communities to live to their potential as well. That’s where we can make a bridge.”  

That philosophy has guided Dr. Lu’s career for more than two decades — a career built on research, leadership, and tireless public service. From her tenure at the City University of New York-John Jay College, where she led the Public Policy and Administration program to become the top-ranked MPA program at a public university in New York City, to her international work on fiscal policy, Dr. Lu has made it clear: she is a builder.  

And now, she’s ready to build something new in Cleveland.

A Career of Firsts  

Dr. Lu isn’t just a seasoned academic. She’s a trailblazer. She is a first-generation college-goer. Twenty-five years ago, she came to the States for the first time in pursuit of public services. Now, she’s known nationally and internationally for her scholarship and her service. She was the first minority woman elected to lead the Association for Budgeting and Financial Management (ABFM).   

Also under her leadership, John Jay earned a seven-year NASPAA reaccreditation with no monitoring and was awarded the NASPAA Inclusivity Badge — a testament to her focus on high-quality public higher education for all. Her co-authored book, Public Performance Budgeting: Principles and Practice, received the inaugural Best Book Award from ABFM, and her editorial stewardship at the International Journal of Public Administration saw the journal rise to a Q1 ranking and global influence.  

Dr. Lu credits much of her journey to the guidance of key mentors: the late Dr. Tom Lauth, founding dean of the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Georgia, and Dr. Barton Wechsler, Dean Emeritus of the Truman School of Public Affairs and Director Emeritus of the Institute of Public Policy at the University of Missouri. The encouragement she received over two decades ago not only shaped her own path but also inspired her to do the same for others.  

For Dr. Lu, success isn’t about rankings. It’s about meaningful relationships and meaningful work. “I’d give anything to work alongside talented, dedicated people who share a common vision,” she says.

Cleveland Calling  

Dr. Lu's introduction to Cleveland wasn’t just a campus visit, it was a glimpse into a community full of possibility.  During ABFM's 36th Annual Research Conference, hosted by the Levin College of Public Affairs and Education, she connected with CSU’s talented faculty and engaged with local public service leaders. That experience opened her eyes to the depth of CSU’s civic mission and the role Levin College plays in the region.  

Those early impressions stayed with her. Dr. Lu spoke with Joyce Pan Huang, a proud Levin alumna and former director of city planning for Cleveland, who now serves as chief impact officer at the Cleveland Foundation, the world’s first community foundation.  

It was in that exchange that Dr. Lu shared her own reflection on the City of Cleveland: “The mountain is high, but the people are kind,” Dr. Lu recalls.  It was a sentiment that struck her, acknowledging the city’s challenges but also the warmth, resilience, and leadership she saw, particularly among the Levin alumni she has met. “I feel good about the people here in Cleveland,” Dr. Lu added, noting how welcomed and inspired she felt by the community.  

What ultimately drew her to Levin and CSU, Dr. Lu says, was the college’s deep-rooted commitment to collaboration, engagement and public impact.

A Builder’s Blueprint  

Dr. Lu’s vision for CSU is grounded in purpose. She wants to advance CSU’s role as a civic anchor, a space where community needs and academic inquiry intersect. Whether it’s through creating a pipeline for public service leaders, expanding community partnerships, or motivating the next generation of scholars, her focus is clear: impact.  

“Building an impactful organization is like finding the sweet spot in how performance information is integrated into budgetary decisions,” she says, referencing one of her research projects. “It requires political acumen, partnership building, and technical expertise.” Her vision is to bring that complexity into the classroom—and beyond—with integrity, compassion, and excellence. “Engaged scholarship allows us to partner with communities to tackle real-world challenges together.”   

“I want to live a life that serves others,” she says. “My mission is to deliver value for the people that I care deeply about.”