Kent State University recently welcomed home a living legacy of its past when Ellen Engleman Conners, former chair of the National Transportation Safety Board and great-granddaughter of Kent State’s third president, visited campus for the first time.

When Emily Rider walked into her first in-person class after the COVID-19 shutdown — “How the Earth Works” at Kent State University’s Stark Campus — she didn’t know it would set her on a path that would take her across the country, deep into fossil beds and high into the mountains.

Meet LaTaesia Snyder, a junior criminology and justice studies major with a minor in pre-law from Akron, Ohio, who’s making the most of her opportunities to learn about the American justice system.

Kent State University is celebrating another five years of federal funding for its TRIO Student Support Services program that helps propel first-generation college students, students from limited-income backgrounds and students with disabilities to academic success.

Kent State University will host its Aeronautics and Engineering Expo from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, at the Kent State University Airport. The family friendly event offers a full day of aviation excitement and STEM inspiration for all ages.

Named in honor of regional architect Thomas Schroth, whose global perspective framed creativity as a “window onto human experience,” the series has featured acclaimed guests including Tony Award winner Stephen Schwartz, the Grammy-winning Emerson String Quartet, minimalist icon Richard Tuttle, and fashion visionaries Ruben and Isabel Toledo.

Kent State University is a place where unique traditions and memorable moments shape the student experience. The scurry of squirrels, late-night food trips and the adrenaline rush of finals week are just a few things only Kent State students understand. Here are 10 things every Golden Flash knows all too well.

Filled-to-the-brim plastic totes, computers, desk lamps, excited students and harried parents – it’s the first day of move-in for Kent State University’s 2025 Fall Semester. The annual arrival of students to their residence halls began on Wednesday, Aug. 13, on the Kent Campus.

Copley High School senior Grant Hyne developed Hammock Hangout on the Kent Campus as part of an Eagle Scout service project.

Jaime Shuster, Ph.D., blends psychology, public health and research to improve patient care at Cleveland Clinic.

Kent State University alumna Emily Clark discusses her journey from an English degree to her high-tech career, where she solves business challenges using artificial intelligence. Clark credits much of her success to her education at Kent State.

Kent State’s College of Aeronautics and Engineering thoroughly prepares graduates for successful careers in aviation – whether that means piloting a fixed-wing airplane or one of America’s most beloved aircraft. 

A group of school administrators from Brazil recently completed the 10-day Design Innovation Change Agent Workshop at Kent State University’s Design Innovation Hub, where they immersed themselves in design innovation techniques as they endeavor to innovate their school system at home.

Kent State University has signed a new international partnership with Bennett University in India that will establish a 2+2 Dual Degree Program in Fashion Design to provide students with a unique educational opportunity.

If you look into the stands of the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center during a Kent State women's basketball game, you’ll find a mother-daughter pair of students from Brazil cheering with all their might. Five thousand miles from home, Hetty and Fernanda have found new activities and friends in the United States.

The Kent State University Museum has received an award from the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation to fund a comprehensive energy audit of its historic 1928 building, Rockwell Hall. The audit will evaluate the building’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems and provide recommendations for sustainable facility improvements.

The Summer Undergraduate Research Experience is a great opportunity for undergraduate researchers such as Ethan Wenk to work directly with a faculty mentor, gain valuable experience to clarify career and educational goals, enhance research skills and gain academic insight.

Kent State University is taking a big step forward in its ecological and evolutionary research with the establishment of its new on-campus Outdoor Vivarium for Oviparous Microbiomes – a dynamic new aviary facility located on the eastern edge of the Kent Campus near a thriving wetland.

As a child growing up in New Philadelphia, Ohio, Molly McKnight never imagined her path would one day lead her to the lush landscapes of Panama as a Peace Corps volunteer. The youngest in her family, McKnight was grateful to have an older brother and sister who were both role models and close friends. 

Meet Jordan Caraway, a senior biochemistry major from New Lenox, Illinois, whose passion for chemistry has shaped her Kent State experience and future goals. 

Olivia Jákli earned a master's degree in computer science in 2024 after initially earning a bachelor's degree in fashion merchandising in 2015. She recently encouraged others to embrace calculated risks by sharing insights from her career transition journey.

A collaboration between Kent State University’s School of Fashion, School of Theatre and Dance and Focus Features will bring the final Downton Abbey movie to Kent for an early screening and period fashion show. The movie, “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” will have a preview showing on Friday, Sept. 5, at the Kent Plaza Cinema, a week before it opens in theaters nationwide. 

Kent State University’s unofficial mascot is getting love from Northeast Ohioans far and wide.

The Kent State University Museum presents its fall exhibition, “A Meeting of Cultures: Fashioning North Africa,” from Sept. 5, 2025, through May 10, 2026. Displayed in the museum’s Broadbent Gallery, the exhibition features works by 25 contemporary North African designers and artists.

Da'Realyst Clark's 100-yard kickoff return touchdown with 5:28 remaining lifted Kent State to a thrilling 21-17 victory over Merrimack on Saturday afternoon at Dix Stadium. The dramatic win marked Kent State's first victory since September 16, 2023, when they defeated Central Connecticut State 38-10.

Kent State University alumnus Antonio Gates was officially enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 2, delivering an emotional speech that highlighted his years as a Golden Flash and thanked the coaches who helped launch his improbable journey from college basketball to NFL stardom.

Mary Kay Cabot's career covering Cleveland sports began with a simple internship at The Plain Dealer while she was a student at Kent State University. More than 40 years later, that internship has led to the highest honor in professional football journalism.