News
Get the latest news happening at your alma mater, along with fascinating stories about alumni success, donor impact, scholarship recipients and more. Our collective legacy is woven by Golden Flashes around the world who inspire and transform communities far beyond Kent State’s campuses.
Featured Stories
Aligning Kent State’s Academic Offerings for the Future
As the world of higher education evolves, Kent State University is committed to adapting thoughtfully and responsibly to continue providing exceptional learning experiences. Guided by that commitment, the Division of Academic Affairs has launched the Transformation 2028 (T28) initiative to strengthen our academic foundation and position the university for long‑term success.
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Alumnus Improves Care for Pediatric Imaging Patients
Kent State University at Salem alumnus Ryan Pavlak, ’14, has spent the past nine years improving pediatric care at Akron Children’s Boardman Campus. As radiology supervisor, he oversees the X-ray, CT, MRI and ultrasound departments, ensuring every child gets quality, compassionate care.
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A Mission Reclaimed: How One Veteran Earned His Kent State Degree
Alumnus Joshua Collins, ’10, returned to Kent State on a mission. A combat veteran, husband and new father, he was no longer approaching college as a vague next step in his life. He was focused on finishing what he started.
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Faces of Kent State
Alumni and Donor Stories
Helping Others Realize Their Potential
When Terrence J. “Chip” Bahn, ’75, M.Ed. ’77, Ed.D., was a high school senior he wanted to attend Kent State University after graduation, but he wasn’t ready and his counselor encouraged him to start at the local community college before moving on to Kent State. This experience inspired him to create the Dr. Terrence J. Bahn Endowed Scholarship to help students who studied at a Northeast Ohio community college to attend Kent State.
‘We were supposed to look like Betty Grable and play ball like Joe DiMaggio’
“We were supposed to look like Betty Grable and play ball like Joe DiMaggio.”
Silas Ashley ’74
Silas Ashley, ’74, was told by his high school guidance counselor that he “was not college material," but after applying and being accepted to Kent State, Silas immersed himself in student life. He was a senator in Undergraduate Student Government and became the president of Black United Students (BUS). Following graduation, Silas earned a master's degree in communications and a Juris Doctorate from Southern University at Baton Rouge and served as the president of Kent State's Black Alumni Chapter.
Kent State Alumna Renee Richard’s Decades-long Career in Public Service Recognized with Multiple Prestigious Awards
While some first-year students arrive at Kent State University undecided on their major and career choice, Renee Richard, ’76, had her path for the future mapped out. That steadfast resolve has led Renee to a successful, decades-long career in law and finance.
McNair Scholar Alumna Champions Mental Health Services in Black Appalachian Communities
During her junior year at Kent State University, Amanda Flowers, ’01, Ph.D., had an idea of what path she would pursue after earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology. She wanted to attend graduate school, and she wanted to help people. Through the McNair Scholars program, Amanda received guidance from psychology professors like Beth Wildman, Ph.D., who assisted her with her honors thesis, and Angela Neal-Barnett, Ph.D., who guided her through applying for graduate school.
John and Fonda Elliot Receive Honorary Degrees for Their Extraordinary Contributions
On Saturday, Dec. 14, both John and Fonda received their Doctor of Humane Letters in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to the healthcare field and to Kent State.
Professor Gives Back By Supporting Students In Need
This Giving Tuesday season, Daniel E. Palmer, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy at Kent State University, has pledged a matching gift for the Trumbull Campus Last Dollar Scholarship as a symbol of his appreciation for the people who work and study at Kent State Trumbull.
Kent State Alumna D’Andra Mull, Ph.D., on Giving Back to the University that Gave So Much to Her
“Were it not for what I learned from a student affairs professional at Kent State, this journey would not be the path I’m on today.”
Carl Walz, ’77
Carl Walz, ’77, has spent 231 days in space - and it all began with a physics degree and the Air Force ROTC program at Kent State. From a nuclear lab to the cockpit of a jet plane to the crew compartment in a rocket ship, Carl attests that his career has been “a wild ride.”
Kent State Celebrates Newest Graduates
The Kent State University alumni family grew by nearly 5,200 new graduates as the university held its 2024 Spring Commencement ceremonies. During a number of ceremonies, 5,182 degrees were conferred, consisting of 1,011 associate degrees, 3,092 bachelor’s degrees, 903 master’s degrees, 164 doctoral degrees and 12 educational specialist degrees.
From Passion to Purpose
Drawn to healthcare as a child, Athalia James pursued that passion all the way to a fulfilling career in nursing.
The Power of a Phone Call
The Kent State University Engagement Center, located in the Center for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement, has undergone a significant transformation, now focusing more on creating connections and relationships with alumni, friends and family through phone outreach from current Kent State students.
Rising Scholars Compete in NASA Challenge
A team of Columbiana County Rising Scholars students recently participated in the finals of the NASA HUNCH culinary competition at the Johnson Space Center in Houston to determine if their culinary creation would be a future meal for International Space Station astronauts.
Institute Explores Peace and Conflict
LaKaleb Bowen, ’24, is a criminology and justice studies major who admits to becoming captivated by Kent State’s education-abroad programs, noting that his most recent trip to Kigali, Rwanda, was an extraordinary experience focused on peace and conflict in the country.
Sharing Their Love of Education with Future Generations
Kent State University has held a special place in the hearts of Lynda Grieves and her husband George “Bill” Grieves Jr., ’58, who passed away in 2019. For their 60th wedding anniversary, Bill and Lynda chose to create a scholarship through a charitable gift annuity instead of having a party.
Rollie, ’64, and Frances Layfield Help Students Build Skills for Success
Hard work and discipline are a driving force for Rollie Layfield, ’64, and they have served him well throughout his life and his career in business. He credits both his degree program in business administration and his time in the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program at Kent State University for helping him develop the leadership, entrepreneurship and organizational skills to thrive after graduation.
Legacies Change Lives: Dylan Cahill
The moment Dylan Cahill stepped foot on the Kent Campus, he knew that Kent State University was the place for him.
Modern Humans Using Ancient Tools
Kent State anthropology professor Metin Eren, Ph.D., has a hands-on approach when teaching students about prehistoric stone tools that involves immersing themselves in a specially equipped lab in Lowry Hall that features everything from flint arrowheads to a ballistics station.
Dean Kahler’s 'One Bad Day' Fuels a Lifetime of Purpose
Dean Kahler, ’77, one of the nine wounded in the May 4, 1970, shootings, wasn’t supposed to be at Kent State that day.
Increasing Belonging for Graduate Students
A new program will foster a stronger sense of belonging to address research that demonstrates that graduate students are less likely to feel a sense of identity attached to their graduate school than those connections to undergraduate school experiences.
Alumni Support Global Education Experiences
Kent State has received two $1 million donations in support of Global Education experiences for students. These gifts will make education-abroad experiences available to more students through the Global Education Endowment fund that was created in 2022.
Grant Supports Black Mothers and Children
Kent State has received a grant from the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation for the Spirit of Motherhood Program, an innovative program with a goal of reducing trauma and stress symptoms experienced by its pregnant Black mother participants.
Making the Local Justice System Easier to Access
Summit County Domestic Relations Court Judge Kani H. Hightower is on a mission to make the justice system in Summit County, Ohio, more accessible for underprivileged and underrepresented citizens. Whether it’s related to transportation challenges or helping them sort through the red tape of documentation, Hightower, a Kent State University graduate, is creating solutions to streamline the process for Summit County residents.
Gaining International Business Experience
Business students who participate in an annual study abroad experience to Ireland gain awareness about Ireland’s culture and people while acquiring hands-on skills and learn about the country’s dynamic role in the European Union and global economy.
Mobile Flashes Wellness Unit Makes Its Debut
The brightly colored blue and gold Mobile Flashes Wellness Unit from Kent State University’s College of Public Health will be hitting the streets to help bring public health services to the people of northeast Ohio.
Propelling Future Aviation Professionals
Kent State University has received a significant grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to create an initiative to bolster the workforce for aircraft pilots and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operators in Northeast Ohio.
Ann Mariko Walter, ’96
Will Matthews, ’19, adds some flavor to Northeast Ohio’s food scene with Southern Comfort Kitchen, his New Orleans-inspired restaurant and food truck.
Daring Mighty Things - Lighter Than Air
First-year students in Kent State’s College of Aeronautics and Engineering were challenged to engineer and build propeller-driven aircraft suspended by helium balloons as part of the college’s “Lighter Than Air” competition.
Championing a Place for Women in Science
Aleisha Moore, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, is exploring how the brain can influence hormones and fertility. One area of research for Moore is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a condition that affects nearly 10 percent of women worldwide.
Celebrating KSU’s First Female President
Carol A. Cartwright, Ph.D., became Kent State’s first female president in 1991 and was the first female president of any Ohio public college or university then. She was also a driving force in the establishment of Kent State University Women’s Center.
Global Experience Fuels Alumna’s Career
McKenzie Morgan, ’22, appreciates the opportunities Kent State provided her that included completing her academic journey with the university’s education-abroad program in Florence, Italy. “Studying abroad was definitely my all-time highlight,” Morgan said.
Alumnus Brings Wild Animals (in Sunglasses) to Public Library
Black United Student Leader Thrives
Julian Grimes, a Kent State junior, is president of Black United Students (BUS) and is working to keep the organization thriving. BUS is one of Kent State’s oldest student organizations and is credited with starting the formal observance of Black History Month in 1970.
Community of Caring Supports Student
Shane Reese found a network of support and a community of caring at Kent State that surrounded him after his mother passed away during his freshman year. As a result, Reese became a resilient leader who is committed to giving back.
LaunchNET Supports Student Radio Program
Kent State architecture student Joel Semancik is the creator of Gulp Radio, a program and podcast that airs on Kent State’s Black Squirrel Radio. He and his guests discuss songs that have had an impact on their lives and discuss their favorite Kent State memories and life stories.
Will Matthews, ’19
Will Matthews, ’19, adds some flavor to Northeast Ohio’s food scene with Southern Comfort Kitchen, his New Orleans-inspired restaurant and food truck.
