By day, Will Kalkhoff, Ph.D., is a professor in Kent State's Department of Sociology and Criminology, teaching courses on criminal justice, researching police officer performance and mentoring students on their path to careers in sociology, law enforcement and public safety. On weekends and evenings, he's a Reserve Sergeant with the Stow Police Department, working side-by-side with commissioned officers, designing training scenarios and helping shape the next generation of law enforcement professionals. And at any hour—day or night—he might get the call to respond as a member of the Portage Co...

 Many students walk past the Pepsi Leadership Center without thinking twice about it, unaware that inside, Fridays are more than just a celebration of the end of the week; they're being redefined. No business attire. No speeches. Just music and meaningful conversations defining what leadership looks like on campus.  “The main goal for Flash Fridays is just engagement and getting our center recognized,” Trinity Chapman, junior journalism major, told Kent State Today.Through its Flash Fridays events, the Pepsi Leadership Center aims to increase student engagement while breaking down th...

 On a November afternoon in Merrill Hall, six women walk into a Kent State University classroom. They're not guest lecturers with advanced degrees. They're currently incarcerated at the Northeast Reintegration Center (NERC) in downtown Cleveland. And for the next couple hours, they'll share their stories—unfiltered, unflinching and deeply human—with students who are beginning to imagine careers in law, corrections, social work and justice reform. It's the kind of learning experience you can't get from a textbook. And for Professor Susan Kunkle, Ph.D., who spent 35 years working insid...