Kent State Today

For many students at Kent State University, talking about mental health or wellness can feel intimidating. But for those who connect with Certified Peer Educators, those conversations often start with something simple: another student who understands.

Motorcycle Ohio, a program of the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, is celebrating the opening of its newest motorcycle rider training site at the Kent State Stark campus in North Canton. The new location was launched in partnership with the Stark County Sheriff's Office and will expand access to motorcycle safety education for residents in the region.

When Matthew E. Likens, ‘75, returned to Kent State University April 15 for the Michael D. Solomon Entrepreneurship Series, he brought students a candid look at the realities of leading a startup. Students got to see the highs, the failures and the lessons learned across decades in global business.

The Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation has awarded $1.75 million to Kent State University’s College of Public Health that will support students and programs, such as the Mobile Flashes program.

When Kent State University President Todd Diacon took the stage at spring 2026 Commencement, he didn't open with statistics or institutional milestones. He opened with a potato peeler.

Kent State University celebrated Earth Day with a campus-wide series of events that blended hands-on education, student research and community partnerships. From the Earth Fest on Risman Plaza to the scientific posters at the Environmental Science and Design Research Institute Research Showcase and the Electric Vehicle Showcase, the day’s activities highlighted how sustainability is woven into academic life.

Kent State University students had the opportunity to reflect on the impact of philanthropy during Flashes Give Back Week in April, including Thank-A-Giver (TAG) Day, an annual event designed to highlight the role of donor support across campus.

Kent State University’s VA Work-Study Program has been working to expand its reach, servicing military-affiliated students to help them turn their service experience into academic credit, while providing meaningful hands-on opportunities for student workers.  

The CARES Center celebrated its 5-year anniversary on Tuesday, April 14 with an open house that highlighted the accomplishments of the center over the last five years while providing opportunities for tours of the center, complete with birthday cake, refreshments and CARES Center swag.  

Laurie Ann Moennich, Ph.D., didn't arrive at Kent State University planning to change healthcare. She came to study graphic design. But Kent State had a way of opening doors she didn't even know existed.

Kent State University graduate Emma Sherrie, '09, always had a feeling she would study anthropology, but still she took the time to check out all the other options available before finally settling on her original plan. Kent State’s Exploratory Program, which helps undecided students sample different disciplines before committing to a major, was a key part of Sherrie’s experience, and the main reason she chose Kent State in the first place.

Kent State University is partnering with Osh State University in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, to help reduce rising cancer rates in the Central Asian nation.

Kent State University and the Civil Aviation Academy in Almaty, Kazakhstan, have signed an agreement to be strategic partners in establishing a joint international aviation university in Kazakhstan, to support the rapid growth of aviation throughout Central Asia.

Kent State graduate Luana Johnson highlights how the American Academy partnership and the university's elite design labs provided the professional access needed to launch a global career.

Two Kent State University undergraduates brought national-level research experience to campus this year as featured presenters at the 2026 Exercise Science Summit. Liliana St. Germain and Olivia Snedeker delivered their work after using performance and biometric data collected from the Kent State women’s soccer team.

Kent State University's research impact continues to expand, with many faculty members recognized among the top 2% of the most-cited scientists worldwide, according to research metrics compiled by Stanford University scholars.

Allyson Tessin, Ph.D., assistant professor in Kent State University’s Department of Earth Sciences, has received a National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) Award to support her research on how the seafloor and ocean interact in rapidly changing Arctic environments.

Kent State University Grounds Manager Rebekkah "Bekkah" Berryhill came to Kent State to get a teaching degree. What she learned while working as a student groundskeeper helped her find her passion and lasting happiness in the outdoors. 

When Sydney Brown arrived at Kent State University as a first-year student from Avon, Ohio, she didn't wait to get started. She walked into the TV2 newsroom — now Kent Stater TV — and introduced herself. That instinct to show up, dive in and tell stories has defined every semester since.

Jared Brown doesn’t just build schedules; he builds confidence. His ability to turn academic stress into actionable solutions has made him more than just an advisor; it has made him the latest recipient of Kent State University's Distinguished Advising Award.  

Kent State marked Arbor Day with tree plantings at multiple locations across campus, bringing together students, staff and local children for a day focused on sustainability.

Campus grounds leaders are working to salvage trees removed due to storm damage, disease, the Main Street construction and other causes, transforming them into a resource for future academic and beautification projects.  

The spotlight shone on Kent State University's nationally ranked School of Fashion Friday night as the Awards Night Annual Fashion Show and School of Fashion Marketplace took the runway in Crawford Hall.

The Kent State Dr. Paula Treckel women's golf team claimed its 27th consecutive Mid-American Conference championship Tuesday at Firestone Country Club's Fazio Course — and junior Veronika Kedronová made sure there was no suspense about who led the way. 

Kent State University football has added one of the most accomplished players in the history of both the program and the National Football League to its coaching staff, naming Josh Cribbs as a special teams analyst for the 2026 season,

Delrecco Gillespie, senior professional studies major and member of Kent State’s men's basketball team, was recently featured in a recent NCAA article that detailed how setbacks like injury and grief fueled Gillespie’s drive to play as if it were his last chance to be on the court.