Leaders

The current leadership of the Center for Healthcare Leadership and Management are:

Dean Robertson 

Dean Robertson serves as Executive Director of the Undergraduate and Graduate Healthcare Management Programs at Cleveland State University's Monte Ahuja College of Business. With more than 20 years of healthcare executive leadership experience, he brings a combination of industry expertise, academic leadership, and a strong commitment to preparing the next generation of healthcare leaders.

As Executive Director, Professor Robertson provides leadership and strategic direction for both programs, which prepare students for careers in healthcare leadership and administration. The programs emphasize the business, financial, and operational aspects of managing healthcare organizations, combining foundational business principles with healthcare-specific coursework in finance, operations, strategy, and organizational leadership. This approach provides students with the knowledge and practical skills needed to succeed in today's complex healthcare environment.

Professor Robertson is committed to connecting classroom learning with real-world healthcare experience. Under his leadership, the programs continue to expand partnerships with regional hospitals, health systems, and other healthcare organizations. He has developed opportunities for student internships, mentorships, and site visits, and established the Healthcare Executive Speaker Series, which brings experienced healthcare leaders into direct conversation with students.

As founder of CSU's Center for Healthcare Leadership, Professor Robertson also works to create meaningful opportunities for healthcare organizations and industry professionals to collaborate with the university. These partnerships provide opportunities for executive engagement, workforce development, student recruitment, mentorship, and collaboration on emerging healthcare management challenges. His goal is to strengthen the relationship between academia and the healthcare industry, creating value for students, employers, and the broader healthcare community.

In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Professor Robertson teaches courses in healthcare finance, operations, and management. Drawing on his extensive executive experience, his teaching emphasizes practical application, critical thinking, and understanding the relationship between organizational decisions, financial performance, and patient care.

Professor Robertson is a two-time recipient of Cleveland State University's Golden Apple Award for Teaching Excellence, receiving the honor in both 2025 and 2026. His approach to academic leadership reflects a commitment to student success, continuous program improvement, and building meaningful connections between education and the healthcare profession.

Nicholas Messina

Nick Messina, DBA received his doctorate from Cleveland State University in 2024. He is an Assistant College Lecturer at Cleveland State University and has taught at the University of Saint Franics. Nick has substantial career experience from various roles in the healthcare field including patient care, administration, executive leadership, and healthcare research. He has held these roles across multiple settings including hospitals, long term care facilities, and outpatient practices. Nick’s research focus is on healthcare, and he has been published in multiple peer-reviewed journals and conferences. His dissertation examined the relationship between non-professional caregiver burden and workplace outcomes. Dr. Messina also received his MBA from Cleveland State University.