Honors College alumna Jessica Maisano, ’94, B.A., started her career at Kent State as a fashion merchandising student before realizing her passion for dinosaurs and dirt was a viable career option. One Kent State professor would show Maisano that childhood dreams are actually within reach.

In her junior year, Maisano wrote a term paper about what killed the dinosaurs for her earth history course taught by Don Palmer, now Professor Emeritus of Geology.

Image

“I always wanted to be a paleontologist, like every child in the world,” Maisano said. “Most people outgrow that, and those of us who are paleontologists never outgrew it. I prefaced the whole paper with, when I was little, I wanted to be a paleontologist, but then I realized I would be poor all my life digging in the dirt and never find anything.”

Palmer rebutted her comment in her grading and instead presented Maisano with opportunities in the field. In her senior year, Maisano changed her career path to vertebrate paleontology.

“I just decided to go for it,” Maisano said. “I mean, I liked fashion, but at that point, I was feeling bored and not challenged, so Dr. Palmer helped me switch that fall semester into geology. I didn't know anything about the geology department when I switched, and I just happened to fall into a wonderful, small but warm and inviting and supportive department that I think is a real asset to the university.”

While many of her fashion courses did not transfer to vertebrate paleontology, Maisano was grateful to have taken a variety of courses.

“A lot of those classes still benefited me tremendously,” Maisano said. “Like public speaking; you wouldn't believe how many scientists don't know how to speak in public at talks and meetings.”

Maisano also took economics classes and accounting, which she found applicable in the course of her career. 

In the late ’90s, CT scanners were introduced to the world of natural history. The University of Texas received a grant to build an online library of vertebrates based on CT scans. With no prior knowledge of CT scanning, Maisano helped to establish CT scanning in her field.

“At the time, nobody was really trained in it,” Maisano said. “It's something you would just learn by doing. It really was the beginning of this technology in the field.”

Now, Maisano manages a research lab with industrial-strength CT scanners. Unlike medical CT scanners, Maisano’s lab scans “everything but people.” 

“We scan meteorites, fossils, Apollo moon rocks – anything and everything that a scientist would want to look inside of non-destructively,” Maisano said.

Maisano has most recently scanned and analyzed volcanic rocks, manufactured foams, an iPhone battery and a mouse embryo. Her team has 75 years of experience between them.

“Knowing what kind of energy you want to use, how long it's going to take to get the data, what scanner to use ... all of those things are based on experience,” Maisano said. “You get really good at looking through the data and understanding what it is you're seeing, and then helping the client understand what it is they're seeing.”

Maisano’s favorite part of her job comes from helping other scientists reach their research objectives.

“Every time we scan something, what we're seeing inside is new, so it's a real learning experience,” Maisano said. “It's interesting all the time, and I really enjoy being in this kind of environment, working with other scientists and helping them get the data that they need.”

Maisano advises current college students to stay flexible and be open to new opportunities as they present themselves.

For more information about majors available in the Department of Geology, visit www.kent.edu/geology.

Honors College alumna Jessica Maisano, ’94, B.A., started her career at Kent State as a fashion merchandising student before realizing her passion for dinosaurs and dirt was a viable career option. One Kent State professor would show Maisano that childhood dreams are actually within reach.

In her junior year, Maisano wrote a term paper about what killed the dinosaurs for her earth history course taught by Don Palmer, now Professor Emeritus of Geology.

Image

“I always wanted to be a paleontologist, like every child in the world,” Maisano said. “Most people outgrow that, and those of us who are paleontologists never outgrew it. I prefaced the whole paper with, when I was little, I wanted to be a paleontologist, but then I realized I would be poor all my life digging in the dirt and never find anything.”

Palmer rebutted her comment in her grading and instead presented Maisano with opportunities in the field. In her senior year, Maisano changed her career path to vertebrate paleontology.

“I just decided to go for it,” Maisano said. “I mean, I liked fashion, but at that point, I was feeling bored and not challenged, so Dr. Palmer helped me switch that fall semester into geology. I didn't know anything about the geology department when I switched, and I just happened to fall into a wonderful, small but warm and inviting and supportive department that I think is a real asset to the university.”

While many of her fashion courses did not transfer to vertebrate paleontology, Maisano was grateful to have taken a variety of courses.

“A lot of those classes still benefited me tremendously,” Maisano said. “Like public speaking; you wouldn't believe how many scientists don't know how to speak in public at talks and meetings.”

Maisano also took economics classes and accounting, which she found applicable in the course of her career. 

In the late ’90s, CT scanners were introduced to the world of natural history. The University of Texas received a grant to build an online library of vertebrates based on CT scans. With no prior knowledge of CT scanning, Maisano helped to establish CT scanning in her field.

“At the time, nobody was really trained in it,” Maisano said. “It's something you would just learn by doing. It really was the beginning of this technology in the field.”

Now, Maisano manages a research lab with industrial-strength CT scanners. Unlike medical CT scanners, Maisano’s lab scans “everything but people.” 

“We scan meteorites, fossils, Apollo moon rocks – anything and everything that a scientist would want to look inside of non-destructively,” Maisano said.

Maisano has most recently scanned and analyzed volcanic rocks, manufactured foams, an iPhone battery and a mouse embryo. Her team has 75 years of experience between them.

“Knowing what kind of energy you want to use, how long it's going to take to get the data, what scanner to use ... all of those things are based on experience,” Maisano said. “You get really good at looking through the data and understanding what it is you're seeing, and then helping the client understand what it is they're seeing.”

Maisano’s favorite part of her job comes from helping other scientists reach their research objectives.

“Every time we scan something, what we're seeing inside is new, so it's a real learning experience,” Maisano said. “It's interesting all the time, and I really enjoy being in this kind of environment, working with other scientists and helping them get the data that they need.”

Maisano advises current college students to stay flexible and be open to new opportunities as they present themselves.

For more information about majors available in the Department of Geology, visit www.kent.edu/geology.

Honors College alumna Jessica Maisano, ’94, B.A., started her career at Kent State as a fashion merchandising student before realizing her passion for dinosaurs and dirt was a viable career option. One Kent State professor would show Maisano that childhood dreams are actually within reach.

In her junior year, Maisano wrote a term paper about what killed the dinosaurs for her earth history course taught by Don Palmer, now Professor Emeritus of Geology.

Image

“I always wanted to be a paleontologist, like every child in the world,” Maisano said. “Most people outgrow that, and those of us who are paleontologists never outgrew it. I prefaced the whole paper with, when I was little, I wanted to be a paleontologist, but then I realized I would be poor all my life digging in the dirt and never find anything.”

Palmer rebutted her comment in her grading and instead presented Maisano with opportunities in the field. In her senior year, Maisano changed her career path to vertebrate paleontology.

“I just decided to go for it,” Maisano said. “I mean, I liked fashion, but at that point, I was feeling bored and not challenged, so Dr. Palmer helped me switch that fall semester into geology. I didn't know anything about the geology department when I switched, and I just happened to fall into a wonderful, small but warm and inviting and supportive department that I think is a real asset to the university.”

While many of her fashion courses did not transfer to vertebrate paleontology, Maisano was grateful to have taken a variety of courses.

“A lot of those classes still benefited me tremendously,” Maisano said. “Like public speaking; you wouldn't believe how many scientists don't know how to speak in public at talks and meetings.”

Maisano also took economics classes and accounting, which she found applicable in the course of her career. 

In the late ’90s, CT scanners were introduced to the world of natural history. The University of Texas received a grant to build an online library of vertebrates based on CT scans. With no prior knowledge of CT scanning, Maisano helped to establish CT scanning in her field.

“At the time, nobody was really trained in it,” Maisano said. “It's something you would just learn by doing. It really was the beginning of this technology in the field.”

Now, Maisano manages a research lab with industrial-strength CT scanners. Unlike medical CT scanners, Maisano’s lab scans “everything but people.” 

“We scan meteorites, fossils, Apollo moon rocks – anything and everything that a scientist would want to look inside of non-destructively,” Maisano said.

Maisano has most recently scanned and analyzed volcanic rocks, manufactured foams, an iPhone battery and a mouse embryo. Her team has 75 years of experience between them.

“Knowing what kind of energy you want to use, how long it's going to take to get the data, what scanner to use ... all of those things are based on experience,” Maisano said. “You get really good at looking through the data and understanding what it is you're seeing, and then helping the client understand what it is they're seeing.”

Maisano’s favorite part of her job comes from helping other scientists reach their research objectives.

“Every time we scan something, what we're seeing inside is new, so it's a real learning experience,” Maisano said. “It's interesting all the time, and I really enjoy being in this kind of environment, working with other scientists and helping them get the data that they need.”

Maisano advises current college students to stay flexible and be open to new opportunities as they present themselves.

For more information about majors available in the Department of Geology, visit www.kent.edu/geology.

Kent State University student Sean Fitzgerald shares what it’s like being a resident assistant (RA), co-hosting a sports radio show and living on the autism spectrum.

Sean Fitzgerald traces the beginning of his love of sports and talking about sports to car rides with his father in his hometown of Strongsville, Ohio. Together, they talked sports while listening to Northeast Ohio sports personality Kenny Roda on the radio. Fast forward a decade or so and now, in his junior year, Fitzgerald is beginning his fifth semester co-hosting his own popular sports radio program on Kent State’s Black Squirrel Radio.

Fitzgerald is currently half of the duo of “Fitz and Enzo” (Enzo Orlando) on Black Squirrel Radio. Last fall, when he was partnered with Mitch Spinell, their program was named the second-highest-rated sports program on the station and was the third highest ranked overall. Spinell since graduated and now works on Cleveland’s 92.3 “The Fan” sports radio station.

In his time with Black Squirrel Radio, Fitzgerald has interviewed well-known sports personalities, including NBA analyst Chris Broussard, Cleveland sports broadcasters Bruce Drennan and Mark “Munch” Bishop as well as Cleveland Browns linebacker Joe Schobert. The opportunity to be on-air, even as a freshman, is part of what drew Fitzgerald to choose Kent State.

Finding Kent State

Kent State was one of five schools on Fitzgerald’s “short list.” In the summer after his junior year of high school, Fitzgerald visited Kent State with his family. “It was really beautiful,” Fitzgerald said. “The campus caught my eye like a gemstone – perfect. I felt really good.”

In addition to having the kind of accredited journalism program Fitzgerald was looking for, Kent State offered him the chance to get on-air in his first year. “I know that (in) some other schools in Ohio, you can’t jump right into student media,” Fitzgerald said. “I could jump into anything I wanted to right off the bat.”

Fitzgerald also found something else he really liked at Kent State: its people. “What I like best about Kent State is the people,” he said. “There are a lot of really helpful, great people, may they be professor or people in other programs here on campus. They’re just the people who make the experience here so good. I don’t think I could have chosen a better place to come with how welcoming this campus is and how inclusive it is as well.”

Sharing a Message of Success

As a young sports fan, Fitzgerald had envisioned himself attending college, maybe as a baseball player or an Ohio State Buckeye. He admits, however, that his sixth, seventh or eighth grade self might be “incredulous” at his achievements now. “He would have told me ‘You’re kidding,’” Fitzgerald said. “And I’d be like, ‘Nope. All this amazing stuff has happened to you and it’s because you worked hard, and you did everything you needed to do.’” Thinking back, Fitzgerald said, “I didn’t initially think I’d end up here all those years ago, but I’m here now and I’m glad. I’m really happy here. “

Asked what advice he might give to a high school student who is on the spectrum and thinking about attending Kent State, Fitzgerald offered this advice: “Kent State is very supportive. You should definitely come here because this is where a lot of people – whether or not they know it – once they get here and get that help, they’re just going to just hit the ground running and be able to just take off.” He said that he would recommend the support groups he has interacted with on campus, such as Student Accessibility Services (SAS). Fitzgerald said, “I would refer them to those folks and be like ‘Hey, these people can help you out. I know them. Trust me, they are great!’”

A Personal Perspective on Autism and Identity

When asked about what he would like people to know about people with autism and him personally, Fitzgerald said he knows that people have misconceptions about autism. “I think a stereotype that is out there is that people with autism are dumb; they don’t know how to speak,” he said. “There are people who are smart who have it and it’s not like everyone is going to be the same. Not everyone has the same challenges. Some people may have more, some people less.”

“You don’t really know until you go through it. It’s a roller coaster ride,” Fitzgerald continued. “And once you’re on it you just learn where the hiccups are and then just figure out the rest from there. It’s not something ever set in stone.”

Fitzgerald calls himself “a sports guy.” He said that he also has hobbies outside of sports but jokes that “others may think otherwise.” He wants people to know that he is a kind person who is willing to help out. In his role as an RA, Fitzgerald says he wants to be honest and fair and give back to others whenever he can.

In speaking about his personal perspective on autism, Fitzgerald said, “I don’t think people would ask me this: ‘Would you ever get rid of it?’ I don’t think I’d ever want to get rid of who I am because I feel like I’d be a totally different person if I weren’t on the spectrum,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s something that once you accept it and you learn how to deal with it… sure, you’ll have stuff that maybe pops up every now and then, or you saw those struggles every day going through your certain challenges, but really for me – I wouldn’t change anything for the world.”

Being Part of a Campus Community

As an RA in Stopher and Johnson halls, Fitzgerald is part of the honors living-learning community there. He says that in being an RA there’s a challenge in living where you work. However, being an honors student himself, Fitzgerald feels that he’s a perfect fit for the job. He understands the challenges that honors students have in maintaining a healthy balance in their academic studies and social lives. “I just love helping people,” Fitzgerald said. “Staff members welcomed me and made me feel welcome. I want to give back what others have given to me. That’s part of my mantra.”

His positive feelings about the people are mirrored in his feelings about the campus environment. “It’s kind of like a homey place; it’s not too small, it’s not too big. It’s somewhere where I feel like anyone can find their niche and it’s somewhere where I think anyone, if they’re willing to be open minded, can feel comfortable and feel safe and at home,” Fitzgerald said.

Kent State University student Sean Fitzgerald shares what it’s like being a resident assistant (RA), co-hosting a sports radio show and living on the autism spectrum.

Sean Fitzgerald traces the beginning of his love of sports and talking about sports to car rides with his father in his hometown of Strongsville, Ohio. Together, they talked sports while listening to Northeast Ohio sports personality Kenny Roda on the radio. Fast forward a decade or so and now, in his junior year, Fitzgerald is beginning his fifth semester co-hosting his own popular sports radio program on Kent State’s Black Squirrel Radio.

Fitzgerald is currently half of the duo of “Fitz and Enzo” (Enzo Orlando) on Black Squirrel Radio. Last fall, when he was partnered with Mitch Spinell, their program was named the second-highest-rated sports program on the station and was the third highest ranked overall. Spinell since graduated and now works on Cleveland’s 92.3 “The Fan” sports radio station.

In his time with Black Squirrel Radio, Fitzgerald has interviewed well-known sports personalities, including NBA analyst Chris Broussard, Cleveland sports broadcasters Bruce Drennan and Mark “Munch” Bishop as well as Cleveland Browns linebacker Joe Schobert. The opportunity to be on-air, even as a freshman, is part of what drew Fitzgerald to choose Kent State.

Finding Kent State

Kent State was one of five schools on Fitzgerald’s “short list.” In the summer after his junior year of high school, Fitzgerald visited Kent State with his family. “It was really beautiful,” Fitzgerald said. “The campus caught my eye like a gemstone – perfect. I felt really good.”

In addition to having the kind of accredited journalism program Fitzgerald was looking for, Kent State offered him the chance to get on-air in his first year. “I know that (in) some other schools in Ohio, you can’t jump right into student media,” Fitzgerald said. “I could jump into anything I wanted to right off the bat.”

Fitzgerald also found something else he really liked at Kent State: its people. “What I like best about Kent State is the people,” he said. “There are a lot of really helpful, great people, may they be professor or people in other programs here on campus. They’re just the people who make the experience here so good. I don’t think I could have chosen a better place to come with how welcoming this campus is and how inclusive it is as well.”

Sharing a Message of Success

As a young sports fan, Fitzgerald had envisioned himself attending college, maybe as a baseball player or an Ohio State Buckeye. He admits, however, that his sixth, seventh or eighth grade self might be “incredulous” at his achievements now. “He would have told me ‘You’re kidding,’” Fitzgerald said. “And I’d be like, ‘Nope. All this amazing stuff has happened to you and it’s because you worked hard, and you did everything you needed to do.’” Thinking back, Fitzgerald said, “I didn’t initially think I’d end up here all those years ago, but I’m here now and I’m glad. I’m really happy here. “

Asked what advice he might give to a high school student who is on the spectrum and thinking about attending Kent State, Fitzgerald offered this advice: “Kent State is very supportive. You should definitely come here because this is where a lot of people – whether or not they know it – once they get here and get that help, they’re just going to just hit the ground running and be able to just take off.” He said that he would recommend the support groups he has interacted with on campus, such as Student Accessibility Services (SAS). Fitzgerald said, “I would refer them to those folks and be like ‘Hey, these people can help you out. I know them. Trust me, they are great!’”

A Personal Perspective on Autism and Identity

When asked about what he would like people to know about people with autism and him personally, Fitzgerald said he knows that people have misconceptions about autism. “I think a stereotype that is out there is that people with autism are dumb; they don’t know how to speak,” he said. “There are people who are smart who have it and it’s not like everyone is going to be the same. Not everyone has the same challenges. Some people may have more, some people less.”

“You don’t really know until you go through it. It’s a roller coaster ride,” Fitzgerald continued. “And once you’re on it you just learn where the hiccups are and then just figure out the rest from there. It’s not something ever set in stone.”

Fitzgerald calls himself “a sports guy.” He said that he also has hobbies outside of sports but jokes that “others may think otherwise.” He wants people to know that he is a kind person who is willing to help out. In his role as an RA, Fitzgerald says he wants to be honest and fair and give back to others whenever he can.

In speaking about his personal perspective on autism, Fitzgerald said, “I don’t think people would ask me this: ‘Would you ever get rid of it?’ I don’t think I’d ever want to get rid of who I am because I feel like I’d be a totally different person if I weren’t on the spectrum,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s something that once you accept it and you learn how to deal with it… sure, you’ll have stuff that maybe pops up every now and then, or you saw those struggles every day going through your certain challenges, but really for me – I wouldn’t change anything for the world.”

Being Part of a Campus Community

As an RA in Stopher and Johnson halls, Fitzgerald is part of the honors living-learning community there. He says that in being an RA there’s a challenge in living where you work. However, being an honors student himself, Fitzgerald feels that he’s a perfect fit for the job. He understands the challenges that honors students have in maintaining a healthy balance in their academic studies and social lives. “I just love helping people,” Fitzgerald said. “Staff members welcomed me and made me feel welcome. I want to give back what others have given to me. That’s part of my mantra.”

His positive feelings about the people are mirrored in his feelings about the campus environment. “It’s kind of like a homey place; it’s not too small, it’s not too big. It’s somewhere where I feel like anyone can find their niche and it’s somewhere where I think anyone, if they’re willing to be open minded, can feel comfortable and feel safe and at home,” Fitzgerald said.

Kent State University student Sean Fitzgerald shares what it’s like being a resident assistant (RA), co-hosting a sports radio show and living on the autism spectrum.

Sean Fitzgerald traces the beginning of his love of sports and talking about sports to car rides with his father in his hometown of Strongsville, Ohio. Together, they talked sports while listening to Northeast Ohio sports personality Kenny Roda on the radio. Fast forward a decade or so and now, in his junior year, Fitzgerald is beginning his fifth semester co-hosting his own popular sports radio program on Kent State’s Black Squirrel Radio.

Fitzgerald is currently half of the duo of “Fitz and Enzo” (Enzo Orlando) on Black Squirrel Radio. Last fall, when he was partnered with Mitch Spinell, their program was named the second-highest-rated sports program on the station and was the third highest ranked overall. Spinell since graduated and now works on Cleveland’s 92.3 “The Fan” sports radio station.

In his time with Black Squirrel Radio, Fitzgerald has interviewed well-known sports personalities, including NBA analyst Chris Broussard, Cleveland sports broadcasters Bruce Drennan and Mark “Munch” Bishop as well as Cleveland Browns linebacker Joe Schobert. The opportunity to be on-air, even as a freshman, is part of what drew Fitzgerald to choose Kent State.

Finding Kent State

Kent State was one of five schools on Fitzgerald’s “short list.” In the summer after his junior year of high school, Fitzgerald visited Kent State with his family. “It was really beautiful,” Fitzgerald said. “The campus caught my eye like a gemstone – perfect. I felt really good.”

In addition to having the kind of accredited journalism program Fitzgerald was looking for, Kent State offered him the chance to get on-air in his first year. “I know that (in) some other schools in Ohio, you can’t jump right into student media,” Fitzgerald said. “I could jump into anything I wanted to right off the bat.”

Fitzgerald also found something else he really liked at Kent State: its people. “What I like best about Kent State is the people,” he said. “There are a lot of really helpful, great people, may they be professor or people in other programs here on campus. They’re just the people who make the experience here so good. I don’t think I could have chosen a better place to come with how welcoming this campus is and how inclusive it is as well.”

Sharing a Message of Success

As a young sports fan, Fitzgerald had envisioned himself attending college, maybe as a baseball player or an Ohio State Buckeye. He admits, however, that his sixth, seventh or eighth grade self might be “incredulous” at his achievements now. “He would have told me ‘You’re kidding,’” Fitzgerald said. “And I’d be like, ‘Nope. All this amazing stuff has happened to you and it’s because you worked hard, and you did everything you needed to do.’” Thinking back, Fitzgerald said, “I didn’t initially think I’d end up here all those years ago, but I’m here now and I’m glad. I’m really happy here. “

Asked what advice he might give to a high school student who is on the spectrum and thinking about attending Kent State, Fitzgerald offered this advice: “Kent State is very supportive. You should definitely come here because this is where a lot of people – whether or not they know it – once they get here and get that help, they’re just going to just hit the ground running and be able to just take off.” He said that he would recommend the support groups he has interacted with on campus, such as Student Accessibility Services (SAS). Fitzgerald said, “I would refer them to those folks and be like ‘Hey, these people can help you out. I know them. Trust me, they are great!’”

A Personal Perspective on Autism and Identity

When asked about what he would like people to know about people with autism and him personally, Fitzgerald said he knows that people have misconceptions about autism. “I think a stereotype that is out there is that people with autism are dumb; they don’t know how to speak,” he said. “There are people who are smart who have it and it’s not like everyone is going to be the same. Not everyone has the same challenges. Some people may have more, some people less.”

“You don’t really know until you go through it. It’s a roller coaster ride,” Fitzgerald continued. “And once you’re on it you just learn where the hiccups are and then just figure out the rest from there. It’s not something ever set in stone.”

Fitzgerald calls himself “a sports guy.” He said that he also has hobbies outside of sports but jokes that “others may think otherwise.” He wants people to know that he is a kind person who is willing to help out. In his role as an RA, Fitzgerald says he wants to be honest and fair and give back to others whenever he can.

In speaking about his personal perspective on autism, Fitzgerald said, “I don’t think people would ask me this: ‘Would you ever get rid of it?’ I don’t think I’d ever want to get rid of who I am because I feel like I’d be a totally different person if I weren’t on the spectrum,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s something that once you accept it and you learn how to deal with it… sure, you’ll have stuff that maybe pops up every now and then, or you saw those struggles every day going through your certain challenges, but really for me – I wouldn’t change anything for the world.”

Being Part of a Campus Community

As an RA in Stopher and Johnson halls, Fitzgerald is part of the honors living-learning community there. He says that in being an RA there’s a challenge in living where you work. However, being an honors student himself, Fitzgerald feels that he’s a perfect fit for the job. He understands the challenges that honors students have in maintaining a healthy balance in their academic studies and social lives. “I just love helping people,” Fitzgerald said. “Staff members welcomed me and made me feel welcome. I want to give back what others have given to me. That’s part of my mantra.”

His positive feelings about the people are mirrored in his feelings about the campus environment. “It’s kind of like a homey place; it’s not too small, it’s not too big. It’s somewhere where I feel like anyone can find their niche and it’s somewhere where I think anyone, if they’re willing to be open minded, can feel comfortable and feel safe and at home,” Fitzgerald said.

Kent State University student Sean Fitzgerald shares what it’s like being a resident assistant (RA), co-hosting a sports radio show and living on the autism spectrum.

Sean Fitzgerald traces the beginning of his love of sports and talking about sports to car rides with his father in his hometown of Strongsville, Ohio. Together, they talked sports while listening to Northeast Ohio sports personality Kenny Roda on the radio. Fast forward a decade or so and now, in his junior year, Fitzgerald is beginning his fifth semester co-hosting his own popular sports radio program on Kent State’s Black Squirrel Radio.

Fitzgerald is currently half of the duo of “Fitz and Enzo” (Enzo Orlando) on Black Squirrel Radio. Last fall, when he was partnered with Mitch Spinell, their program was named the second-highest-rated sports program on the station and was the third highest ranked overall. Spinell since graduated and now works on Cleveland’s 92.3 “The Fan” sports radio station.

In his time with Black Squirrel Radio, Fitzgerald has interviewed well-known sports personalities, including NBA analyst Chris Broussard, Cleveland sports broadcasters Bruce Drennan and Mark “Munch” Bishop as well as Cleveland Browns linebacker Joe Schobert. The opportunity to be on-air, even as a freshman, is part of what drew Fitzgerald to choose Kent State.

Finding Kent State

Kent State was one of five schools on Fitzgerald’s “short list.” In the summer after his junior year of high school, Fitzgerald visited Kent State with his family. “It was really beautiful,” Fitzgerald said. “The campus caught my eye like a gemstone – perfect. I felt really good.”

In addition to having the kind of accredited journalism program Fitzgerald was looking for, Kent State offered him the chance to get on-air in his first year. “I know that (in) some other schools in Ohio, you can’t jump right into student media,” Fitzgerald said. “I could jump into anything I wanted to right off the bat.”

Fitzgerald also found something else he really liked at Kent State: its people. “What I like best about Kent State is the people,” he said. “There are a lot of really helpful, great people, may they be professor or people in other programs here on campus. They’re just the people who make the experience here so good. I don’t think I could have chosen a better place to come with how welcoming this campus is and how inclusive it is as well.”

Sharing a Message of Success

As a young sports fan, Fitzgerald had envisioned himself attending college, maybe as a baseball player or an Ohio State Buckeye. He admits, however, that his sixth, seventh or eighth grade self might be “incredulous” at his achievements now. “He would have told me ‘You’re kidding,’” Fitzgerald said. “And I’d be like, ‘Nope. All this amazing stuff has happened to you and it’s because you worked hard, and you did everything you needed to do.’” Thinking back, Fitzgerald said, “I didn’t initially think I’d end up here all those years ago, but I’m here now and I’m glad. I’m really happy here. “

Asked what advice he might give to a high school student who is on the spectrum and thinking about attending Kent State, Fitzgerald offered this advice: “Kent State is very supportive. You should definitely come here because this is where a lot of people – whether or not they know it – once they get here and get that help, they’re just going to just hit the ground running and be able to just take off.” He said that he would recommend the support groups he has interacted with on campus, such as Student Accessibility Services (SAS). Fitzgerald said, “I would refer them to those folks and be like ‘Hey, these people can help you out. I know them. Trust me, they are great!’”

A Personal Perspective on Autism and Identity

When asked about what he would like people to know about people with autism and him personally, Fitzgerald said he knows that people have misconceptions about autism. “I think a stereotype that is out there is that people with autism are dumb; they don’t know how to speak,” he said. “There are people who are smart who have it and it’s not like everyone is going to be the same. Not everyone has the same challenges. Some people may have more, some people less.”

“You don’t really know until you go through it. It’s a roller coaster ride,” Fitzgerald continued. “And once you’re on it you just learn where the hiccups are and then just figure out the rest from there. It’s not something ever set in stone.”

Fitzgerald calls himself “a sports guy.” He said that he also has hobbies outside of sports but jokes that “others may think otherwise.” He wants people to know that he is a kind person who is willing to help out. In his role as an RA, Fitzgerald says he wants to be honest and fair and give back to others whenever he can.

In speaking about his personal perspective on autism, Fitzgerald said, “I don’t think people would ask me this: ‘Would you ever get rid of it?’ I don’t think I’d ever want to get rid of who I am because I feel like I’d be a totally different person if I weren’t on the spectrum,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s something that once you accept it and you learn how to deal with it… sure, you’ll have stuff that maybe pops up every now and then, or you saw those struggles every day going through your certain challenges, but really for me – I wouldn’t change anything for the world.”

Being Part of a Campus Community

As an RA in Stopher and Johnson halls, Fitzgerald is part of the honors living-learning community there. He says that in being an RA there’s a challenge in living where you work. However, being an honors student himself, Fitzgerald feels that he’s a perfect fit for the job. He understands the challenges that honors students have in maintaining a healthy balance in their academic studies and social lives. “I just love helping people,” Fitzgerald said. “Staff members welcomed me and made me feel welcome. I want to give back what others have given to me. That’s part of my mantra.”

His positive feelings about the people are mirrored in his feelings about the campus environment. “It’s kind of like a homey place; it’s not too small, it’s not too big. It’s somewhere where I feel like anyone can find their niche and it’s somewhere where I think anyone, if they’re willing to be open minded, can feel comfortable and feel safe and at home,” Fitzgerald said.

From snow-capped mountains in Alaska to the tropical beaches of Hawaii to the South Korean countryside and palatial modern architecture in Oman, a diverse collage of students from around the country and the world has descended on campus. Together, they make up Kent State University’s robust student body, comprising more than 38,000 students from all 50 states and 100 countries.

The 2018 freshman class arrives as the largest for the Kent Campus in university history. With 4,363 students, this class has 100 more students than a year ago and topped the previous record high from in 2016.

The academic quality of this new class also reached record highs with an average 3.4 high school grade point averages (GPA) and an average ACT score score of 23.5. Nearly half of these new freshmen arrive with more than 16 college credits -- the equivalent of a full semester -- from courses they completed in high school.

This high-achieving class follows a record year for Kent State’s graduates who earned 5,758 baccalaureate degrees for the 2017-18 academic year, surpassing the previous  year’s record and nearly doubling the number of baccalaureate degrees awarded in 2000.

Freshman Katie Applequist chose Kent State for many reasons, including following in the footsteps of a special family member.

“I initially looked into Kent State because of the good reputation I’d heard and the fact that my great grandmother graduated from Kent Normal School in 1930,” Ms. Applequist said. “Once I toured a few times and saw that the reputation of a nice campus, good food, a good honors and education program, and nice people wasn’t just talk, I was excited to begin my journey as a Golden Flash.”

In addition to the growing number of freshman students, the number of out-of-state students rose nearly 10 percent this year. The number of first-generation students also rose, up nearly 7 percent compared to last year.

Elijah Kirkland-Boyce, from the Pittsburgh area, is the first in his family to attend college. Now in his junior year, Mr. Kirkland-Boyce is pursuing a degree in athletic training in Kent State’s College of Education, Health and Human Services.

“I fell in love with the campus because it is so beautiful,” Mr. Kirkland-Boyce said. “Kent State wasn’t far away from home, but it was just far enough.”

The class size for underrepresented freshmen is also setting records as one of the largest in history, and the success gap between underrepresented and non-underrepresented is closing with the help of improved retention rates, up nearly a percentage point. Kent State’s University College offers academic diversity outreach and student support programs to help students explore majors, engage in the campus community, receive academic assistance and ultimately graduate.

Jordan Wilkins took part in Academic STARS, a six-week cultural transition and retention program designed for newly admitted African-American, Latin American, Hispanic, Native American and multiracial freshmen.

“The program helped me understand the significance of being African-American and my history,” said Mr. Wilkins, who graduated in May. “I never lost sight of why I was at Kent State in the first place.”

This year’s freshman class is also seeing an increase in international students. Students on the Kent Campus come from countries such as China, Saudi Arabia, India, Oman, Nepal, South Korea, Bangladesh, Canada and Nigeria – to name a few. The number of students enrolled at Kent State Florence in Italy is also trending up, just as classes get underway at the American Academy, a new partnership between Kent State and Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR), a major university in Brazil, for students who want a global experience while earning their degree.

Additional areas of enrollment growth include a spike in undergraduate and graduate students in Kent State’s College of Architecture and Environmental Design and the College of Public Health.

Enrollment on the campuses of Kent State University at Ashtabula, Kent State University at Trumbull and Kent State University at Tuscarawas also improved.

                                                                                                                                      # # #

Media Contacts:
Kristin Anderson, kander63@kent.edu, 330-672-7907

 

From snow-capped mountains in Alaska to the tropical beaches of Hawaii to the South Korean countryside and palatial modern architecture in Oman, a diverse collage of students from around the country and the world has descended on campus. Together, they make up Kent State University’s robust student body, comprising more than 38,000 students from all 50 states and 100 countries.

The 2018 freshman class arrives as the largest for the Kent Campus in university history. With 4,363 students, this class has 100 more students than a year ago and topped the previous record high from in 2016.

The academic quality of this new class also reached record highs with an average 3.4 high school grade point averages (GPA) and an average ACT score score of 23.5. Nearly half of these new freshmen arrive with more than 16 college credits -- the equivalent of a full semester -- from courses they completed in high school.

This high-achieving class follows a record year for Kent State’s graduates who earned 5,758 baccalaureate degrees for the 2017-18 academic year, surpassing the previous  year’s record and nearly doubling the number of baccalaureate degrees awarded in 2000.

Freshman Katie Applequist chose Kent State for many reasons, including following in the footsteps of a special family member.

“I initially looked into Kent State because of the good reputation I’d heard and the fact that my great grandmother graduated from Kent Normal School in 1930,” Ms. Applequist said. “Once I toured a few times and saw that the reputation of a nice campus, good food, a good honors and education program, and nice people wasn’t just talk, I was excited to begin my journey as a Golden Flash.”

In addition to the growing number of freshman students, the number of out-of-state students rose nearly 10 percent this year. The number of first-generation students also rose, up nearly 7 percent compared to last year.

Elijah Kirkland-Boyce, from the Pittsburgh area, is the first in his family to attend college. Now in his junior year, Mr. Kirkland-Boyce is pursuing a degree in athletic training in Kent State’s College of Education, Health and Human Services.

“I fell in love with the campus because it is so beautiful,” Mr. Kirkland-Boyce said. “Kent State wasn’t far away from home, but it was just far enough.”

The class size for underrepresented freshmen is also setting records as one of the largest in history, and the success gap between underrepresented and non-underrepresented is closing with the help of improved retention rates, up nearly a percentage point. Kent State’s University College offers academic diversity outreach and student support programs to help students explore majors, engage in the campus community, receive academic assistance and ultimately graduate.

Jordan Wilkins took part in Academic STARS, a six-week cultural transition and retention program designed for newly admitted African-American, Latin American, Hispanic, Native American and multiracial freshmen.

“The program helped me understand the significance of being African-American and my history,” said Mr. Wilkins, who graduated in May. “I never lost sight of why I was at Kent State in the first place.”

This year’s freshman class is also seeing an increase in international students. Students on the Kent Campus come from countries such as China, Saudi Arabia, India, Oman, Nepal, South Korea, Bangladesh, Canada and Nigeria – to name a few. The number of students enrolled at Kent State Florence in Italy is also trending up, just as classes get underway at the American Academy, a new partnership between Kent State and Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR), a major university in Brazil, for students who want a global experience while earning their degree.

Additional areas of enrollment growth include a spike in undergraduate and graduate students in Kent State’s College of Architecture and Environmental Design and the College of Public Health.

Enrollment on the campuses of Kent State University at Ashtabula, Kent State University at Trumbull and Kent State University at Tuscarawas also improved.

                                                                                                                                      # # #

Media Contacts:
Kristin Anderson, kander63@kent.edu, 330-672-7907

 

From snow-capped mountains in Alaska to the tropical beaches of Hawaii to the South Korean countryside and palatial modern architecture in Oman, a diverse collage of students from around the country and the world has descended on campus. Together, they make up Kent State University’s robust student body, comprising more than 38,000 students from all 50 states and 100 countries.

The 2018 freshman class arrives as the largest for the Kent Campus in university history. With 4,363 students, this class has 100 more students than a year ago and topped the previous record high from in 2016.

The academic quality of this new class also reached record highs with an average 3.4 high school grade point averages (GPA) and an average ACT score score of 23.5. Nearly half of these new freshmen arrive with more than 16 college credits -- the equivalent of a full semester -- from courses they completed in high school.

This high-achieving class follows a record year for Kent State’s graduates who earned 5,758 baccalaureate degrees for the 2017-18 academic year, surpassing the previous  year’s record and nearly doubling the number of baccalaureate degrees awarded in 2000.

Freshman Katie Applequist chose Kent State for many reasons, including following in the footsteps of a special family member.

“I initially looked into Kent State because of the good reputation I’d heard and the fact that my great grandmother graduated from Kent Normal School in 1930,” Ms. Applequist said. “Once I toured a few times and saw that the reputation of a nice campus, good food, a good honors and education program, and nice people wasn’t just talk, I was excited to begin my journey as a Golden Flash.”

In addition to the growing number of freshman students, the number of out-of-state students rose nearly 10 percent this year. The number of first-generation students also rose, up nearly 7 percent compared to last year.

Elijah Kirkland-Boyce, from the Pittsburgh area, is the first in his family to attend college. Now in his junior year, Mr. Kirkland-Boyce is pursuing a degree in athletic training in Kent State’s College of Education, Health and Human Services.

“I fell in love with the campus because it is so beautiful,” Mr. Kirkland-Boyce said. “Kent State wasn’t far away from home, but it was just far enough.”

The class size for underrepresented freshmen is also setting records as one of the largest in history, and the success gap between underrepresented and non-underrepresented is closing with the help of improved retention rates, up nearly a percentage point. Kent State’s University College offers academic diversity outreach and student support programs to help students explore majors, engage in the campus community, receive academic assistance and ultimately graduate.

Jordan Wilkins took part in Academic STARS, a six-week cultural transition and retention program designed for newly admitted African-American, Latin American, Hispanic, Native American and multiracial freshmen.

“The program helped me understand the significance of being African-American and my history,” said Mr. Wilkins, who graduated in May. “I never lost sight of why I was at Kent State in the first place.”

This year’s freshman class is also seeing an increase in international students. Students on the Kent Campus come from countries such as China, Saudi Arabia, India, Oman, Nepal, South Korea, Bangladesh, Canada and Nigeria – to name a few. The number of students enrolled at Kent State Florence in Italy is also trending up, just as classes get underway at the American Academy, a new partnership between Kent State and Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR), a major university in Brazil, for students who want a global experience while earning their degree.

Additional areas of enrollment growth include a spike in undergraduate and graduate students in Kent State’s College of Architecture and Environmental Design and the College of Public Health.

Enrollment on the campuses of Kent State University at Ashtabula, Kent State University at Trumbull and Kent State University at Tuscarawas also improved.

                                                                                                                                      # # #

Media Contacts:
Kristin Anderson, kander63@kent.edu, 330-672-7907