50th Planning Committees

The 50th Commemoration of May 4, 1970 is being planned through a number of university-wide committees. The diverse members of these committees represent a number of academic areas, departments, faculty and students throughout the university. If you are interested in being considered for a committee or want to volunteer, please contact the 50th Commemoration at May4KSU@kent.edu.

Advisory Committee

First Name Last Name Title
Ken Burhanna Dean, University Libraries
Alan Canfora Wounded in 1970, Alumnus, Activist
Chic Canfora Eyewitness, Alumnus Activist, CCO Cleveland Schools
Laura Davis Emeritus Professor of English
Marcello Fantoni Associate Provost, Office of Global Education
Mindy Farmer Director, May 4 Visitor's Center
Rod Flauhaus Project Manager, 50th Commemoration May 4
Tom Grace Wounded on May 4, 1970, Author, PhD History
Amoaba Gooden Chair Academic Dept. Pan-African Studies
Paul Haridakis Professor, Communication Studies
Brianna Foraker May 4 Task Force Faculty Advisor
Nick Kollar Undergraduate Student Trustee
Jerry Lewis Emeritus Professor of Sociology
Chris Post Associate Professor Geography, Kent State University at Stark
Amy Reynolds Dean, College of Communication and Information
Melody Tankersley Interim Senior Vice President and Provost
Ethan  Lower May 4 Task Force Chair
Uma   Krishnan May 4 Task Force Advisor

View summaries of the Advisory Committee meetings.


Programming Committee

First Name Last Name Title
Alan Canfora Wounded on May 4, 1970
Carrie Circosta Director, Alumni Outreach & Engagement, Alumni Relations
Ele Ellis Program Director, WKSU Radio
Mindy Farmer Director, May 4 Visitors Center
Rod Flauhaus Project Manager, 50th Commemoration May 4
David Hassler Director, Wick Poetry Center
Adam Hirsh Executive Director, Hillel at Kent State University
Shay Little Special Assistant to the President
Dan Nadon Associate School Director, School of Theatre and Dance; Professor, Theater
Cassie Pegg-Kirby Director, Women's Center
Swathi Ravichandran Associate Professor, Foundation, Leadership and Administration
Nate Ritchie Vice President, Kent State System Integration and Interim Regional College Dean
Mark Seeman Professor emeritus, Spearheaded application for National Register of Historic Places
Lashonda Taylor Executive Director, University Events and Protocol
Thomas Beeler Student
Ethan Lower Student
James Mueller Task Force Community member
Cara Gilgenbach Head, Special Collections & Archives

Education Committee

First Name Last Name Title
Ken Bindas Professor, History
Lori Boes Assistant Director, May 4 Visitors Center
Chic Canfora Alumni
Karen Cunningham Associate Professor, School of Peace & Conflict Studies
Rod Flauhaus Project Manager, 50th Commemoration May 4
Todd Hawley Associate Professor, School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies
Annette Kratcoski Director, Research Center for Educational Technology
Jennifer Kulics Associate Vice President, Student Affairs
Erin Lafargue Graduate Student, Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Special Projects and Initiatives
Jerry Lewis Emeritus Professor
Wendy  Tietz Professor, Accounting
Stephanie Vincent Faculty, History; Former May 4 Task Force Chair
Cara Gilgenbach Head, Special Collections & Archives

Communications Committee

First Name Last Name Title
Rod Flauhaus Project Manager, 50th Commemoration May 4
Tom Grace Wounded on May 4, 1970
Leigh Greenfelder Assistant Vice President, Advancement Communications
Barb Hipsman Former Faculty, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Lamar Hylton Interim Vice President, Student Affairs
Bill Kist Professor, Teaching, Learning Studies
Sara Koopman Assistant Professor, School of Peace and Conflict Studies
David  Middleton Professor, Visual Communication Design
Rebecca Murphy Senior Associate Vice President, Strategic Communications and External Affairs
Natalie Pillsbury Associate Director of Advancement, WKSU Radio
Sonya Williams Project Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion