The Department of Computer Science at Kent State University will host its annual open house on April 11, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The full day of events includes a talk by Ann Womer Benjamin, executive director of the Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education, who will discuss ways to bring businesses and higher education together for the benefit of each.

Benjamin’s speech takes place from 1–2 p.m. in Room 228, Mathematics and Computer Science Building, Kent campus.

A primary focus of the open house is to provide career information for program graduates. According to recent studies, thousands of open information technology jobs exist in Northeast Ohio — more than all of the students currently enrolled in IT or computer science programs in the region could fill. Yet the same studies claim that students and recent graduates are struggling to find employment, because they do not have enough experience.

Benjamin is a former member of Ohio's House of Representatives and a member of former Governor Taft's cabinet. 

For additional information about the event, go to http://www.cs.kent.edu/openhouse2008.