Ours is a dynamic, intellectual community with more than 184,000 alumni worldwide and with many proud traditions. Chief among these is a commitment to excellence in teaching and learning that fosters the success of all students - traditional-age students, working adults and lifelong learners of all kinds. In addition, Kent State is building on its strong foundation of path-breaking research - research with the potential to solve problems and spark economic development. The university has earned national attention for faculty, staff and student innovations in learning technologies, liquid-crystal materials, biomedicine and many other 21st-century fields. Both workers needing to upgrade job skills and businesses hunting for a partner that can enhance their organization's knowledge base, operations and global reach seek out Kent State.

With outstanding academic programs and faculty on the leading edge of their fields, undergraduate and graduate students from around the globe turn to Kent State for a world-class education. In doing so, they make Kent State a truly multicultural community and a microcosm of our global society. Most important, they enrich the lives of our students and our entire region.

I invite you to visit a Kent State campus to see for yourself how much our university community has to offer. In the meantime, I encourage you to explore our user-friendly Web site. Once you do, you will understand my belief that Kent State is one of the best-kept secrets in Ohio!

Lester A. Lefton
President