Beverly Warren, EdD, PhD, President Emerita, served as the 12th president of Kent State University from 2014 to 2019. She was known for her “Students First” focus and her dedication to the well-being of all members of the university community.
Born in North Carolina, Warren was a first-generation student when she earned a Bachelor of Science in health and physical education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She went on to earn three advanced degrees: a Master of Science in health and physical education from Southern Illinois University, an EdD in higher education administration from the University of Alabama and a PhD in exercise physiology from Auburn University.
She was an associate professor and director of graduate programs at Appalachian State University in North Carolina, a professor and chair at Lander University in South Carolina, and provost and senior vice president for academic affairs of Virginia Commonwealth University before coming to Kent State.
At VCU, her research interests focused on issues in urban education, including access and success for urban youth, the preparation of teachers for urban environments and coordination of education through P-20 initiatives. Warren's work in the areas of childhood obesity and the impact of physical activity on metabolic health earned her the title of Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine. She is also a fellow of the Research Consortium of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. She was elected to the Board of Trustees of the American College of Sports Medicine in 2004 and is a former president of the Southeast Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine.
As president-elect of Kent State University, she said, “It is my goal to be a collaborative leader who is instrumental and inspirational in clearly defining a shared vision and a sense of community that brings new meaning to our own lives while we strive to improve the lives of those we serve.”
Under Warren’s leadership, Kent State produced an ambitious five-year strategic plan. It focused on putting students first and raising the profile of Kent State as one of the top public research universities in the nation, through a distinctive blend of teaching, research and creative excellence.
“It is my goal to be a collaborative leader who is instrumental and inspirational in clearly defining a shared vision and a sense of community that brings new meaning to our own lives while we strive to improve the lives of those we serve.”
Through her personal philanthropy, Warren established two funds to support students in their pursuit of research participation: the Beverly J. Warren Summer Undergraduate Research Experience fund and the Beverly J. Warren Graduate Scholarship fund.
She also led the university in the development of a 10-year facilities master plan, a $1 billion transformative journey to better serve the needs of students and the blended communities of the Kent Campus and the city of Kent. The plan highlighted the welcoming feel of the university’s iconic Front Campus and genuine sense of place, elevated inclusive healthy living-learning environments, linked a campus-wide series of spaces focused on innovation and expanded the dynamic synergy with the city of Kent.
Warren continued to expand the process of honoring and commemorating May 4 as one community, preparing the way for the 50th commemoration in 2020. On Aug. 15, 2018, she addressed a large audience at the Chautauqua Institution—including KSU alumni, witnesses and victims of the shootings—to reflect on the pain and promise of remembering May 4, 1970. Her speech, “Kent State Beyond the Shootings: Journey of the Wounded Healer,” gained a national audience when Vital Speeches magazine selected it as its Speech of the Week.
She embraced the Regional Campuses, visiting all of them on a presidential listening tour during her first year at Kent State. She also established a One University Commencement Ceremony in 2017—the first time all graduates from the eight-campus system were convened and honored in one ceremony.
Warren was often seen around the campuses, talking with students and cheering on Golden Flashes at sports events. With the ubiquitous presence of cell phones during her tenure—and her popularity with students—catching a selfie with President Warren became something of a bucket list item for many Kent State students.
Upon her departure from the university, Warren received 600 farewell letters from students. At her last Board of Trustees meeting, the trustees surprised her with a large selfie, created as a mosaic of hundreds of smaller selfies sent in by the Kent State community. They also announced the renaming the recreation and wellness center.
