Kent State University at Ashtabula will livestream the inauguration of Todd Diacon as Kent State's 13th president at 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1. There ceremony will be held in the Memorial Athletic and Convocation (MAC) Center on the Kent Campus, with livestream viewing in the Main Hall Auditorium here in Ashtabula.
Kent State alumna Danielle Wiggins will serve as the chief of ceremonies. The program will feature performances from the drumline of the Marching Golden Flashes, the School of Music and the School of Theatre and Dance. The program will include remarks from Kent City Manager Dave Ruller, Chancellor Randy Gardner of the Ohio Department of Higher Education and alumnus Wayne Dawson. Remarks on behalf of the students, faculty and staff of Kent State will also be given. A reception will immediately follow the ceremony in the Kent Student Center Ballroom.
Diacon became Kent State’s president in July 2019. A tireless advocate for student success, Diacon has more than 30 years of experience in higher education leadership. He joined Kent State as provost in 2012 and has been at the forefront of expanding the university’s international presence, has led the charge to recruit and promote more diverse faculty, and has helped the university attract world-renowned leaders in the fields of aviation, engineering, brain health, liquid crystals, and peace and conflict studies.