The notion of being "great" is an inward personal concept we seek to explore at this year's conference.Our intentions are to equip students with understanding how positive character can determine your life experiences.We will seek to explain how success is connected to "character" via three break out session topics a) Action b) Leadership and c) Engagement.

 Action: Sessions on deliberate efforts and personal strategies to impact the individual to adopt progressive habits towards positive social, economic and academic lifestyles.

 Leadership: Sessions on standards, practices and general guidance to improve professional acumen for collegiate, corporate or trade career environments.

 Engagement: Sessions on purposeful acts of civic responsibility, communal expectations and cultural sustainability that impact family, college environment, community.

Click HERE to register for the 2nd Annual M.A.L.E. Initiative Conference.  For inquiries, please contact committee chair, Trinidy Jeter via tjeter2@kent.edu or 330-672-8571.

PARKING IS FREE AT THE KENT STUDENT CENTER'S VISITOR LOT

500 FLASHperk Points

The President’s Ambassadorship, a one-year, part-time appointment beginning fall 2012, is designed to bring distinguished local minority professionals to share their professional knowledge and experience with the Kent State community. Sponsored by Kent State’s Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the President’s Ambassador is expected to help promote pluralistic understanding and mutual respect among diverse constituencies of students, staff, faculty and administrators at Kent State University; help address diversity challenges; implement diversity initiatives; engage students and assist with other responsibilities that advance university wide goals.

A respected attorney, Feliciano has more than 35 years’ experience in complex commercial and employment litigation, including business litigation, products liability, construction, shareholders’ derivative suits, contracts, eminent domain, and commercial and personal torts.  He has considerable experience as a first chair litigator in jury trials, having tried to verdict more than 70 civil and criminal trials in state and federal courts, and he has handled cases in many different jurisdictions and forums, including domestic and international arbitration tribunals and administrative bodies. He is a past president of the Cleveland Bar Association, and he was also named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men in America by the U.S. Jaycees in 1985, an award that had been given to President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert Kennedy, and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

Feliciano, who was born in Puerto Rico, became the first Hispanic public official in the history of Cleveland when he was named chief prosecuting attorney for the city in 1980. In 1984, he was appointed by President Ronald Reagan as a White House Fellow. He was recently inducted into the Cleveland Hall of Fame and also was recently named to Crain’s Cleveland Business’ “Who’s Who: 150 names to know in Northeast Ohio” list.

Feliciano is the founder and chairman of the Hispanic Roundtable. He is former chairman of the Hispanic Leadership Development Program and founder of the Hispanic Community Forum, for which he also served as president. He also was a founder of the Ohio Hispanic Bar Association and served as its vice president. As chairman of the Hispanic Roundtable, Feliciano is the host of a monthly talk show on El Sol Television, produced by El Sol de Cleveland Hispanic newspaper. He has received many recognitions and awards throughout the course of his career, including the 2008 Legacy Award for service and leadership by the Hispanic Business Association.

As President’s Ambassador, Feliciano plans to educate students on the importance of community service and help motivate them to get involved.

  Shannon LaNier is a TV correspondent for "Black Enterprise Business Report." He's also a senior producer of the program, and its sister show "Our World With Black Enterprise." Additionally, LaNier hosts the popular web series "Celebrity Hustle."LaNier loves doing a little bit of everything from health and wellness consulting and investing in real estate to mentoring and adventure sports. LaNier believes that all of his interests contribute to being a more effective communicator, allowing the flexibility to navigate a variety of topics with varied audiences. As an author, national TV show correspondent, senior producer, event host/emcee, and real estate agent, Shannon LaNier knows all too well the importance of being well-rounded.

The Kent State University 2004 graduate from the College of Communication and Information made his New York City Debut as a segment producer for the CBS2 Morning Show.

When LaNier is not on TV he's touring the country moderating discussions for a variety of organizations or speaking about his lineage as a 9th generation descendant of President Thomas Jefferson and his slave Sally Hemings. At Only 19 Years old, the Cincinnati Native co‐authored the Random House Book Jefferson's Children: The Story Of One American Family. He tours around the world speaking and living out his true passions of being a public figure and TV personality.

With those outlets, LaNier continues to empower and inspire others through international speaking engagements on a range of topics including multiculturalism, genealogy, entrepreneurship, TV/media, relationship--‐building and achieving your dreams.

Dr. Ronald J. Fowler, Special Assistant to the President for Community Engagement has been retained by the university to consult and offer assistance on such projects as advancing the university's relationships with the Akron and Cleveland public schools, improving the recruitment and retention of diverse background students, mentoring students, and he works with alumni and the Pan-African Faculty and Staff Association. Fowler holds a Bachelor of Science in education from Kent State University. he attended Anderson College of Theology, presently Anderson University School of Theology, where he graduated with a Master of Divinity Degree. He went on to pursue doctorate studies in theology at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Alchemy, Inc. was established as a non-profit organization in 2003 to assist males with developing a sense of purpose in life and successful members of their family, school and greater community. Their values are steeped in the character traits of "The Hero." "The Hero" inspires youth to persevere, learn to make necessary sacrifices, overcome obstacles and serve their community.