Kent State University’s partnership with the African nation of Rwanda continues to blossom with the School of Fashion, the College of Aeronautics and Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences all working to add program partnerships in Rwanda.

Rwandan Minister of State for Education Claudette Irere is visiting the Kent Campus this week to meet with officials from the Office of Global Education, various colleges and Rwandan students currently studying at Kent State. Irere’s visit aims to deepen the African nation’s educational partnerships with Kent State, hoping to see the university eventually open a formal office there.

Fashion forward

On Jan. 22, Kent State Today was on hand when Irere and Executive Vice President and Provost Melody Tankersley, Ph.D., signed a letter of intent for Kent State to bring its fashion program to Rwanda.

Irere said that while Rwanda and Africa in general already excel in fashion design, there are areas of expertise that Kent State’s nationally renowned school can bring to help elevate the field in Africa, particularly in fashion merchandising.

Tankersley said the partnership with Rwanda has brought great enrichment to Kent State and its students.

“It’s quite an honor to be able to partner with the University of Rwanda and the Ministry of Education to come together to offer this fashion program,” Tankersley said. “Kent State is really proud of what we do in fashion design and merchandising and to be able to work with you and all the Rwandans in bringing this together is an honor few people get to experience.”

Irere thanked Kent State for its confidence in Rwanda, noting that the university could have partnered with any other country, and she was grateful they selected Rwanda. The minister also noted how the program would benefit not only Rwandans but students throughout Africa who would come to the Rwandan capital of Kigali for the proposed program.

Marcello Fantoni, Ph.D., Kent State’s vice president for global education, said Irere was spending several days touring various colleges at Kent State, including the College of Aeronautics and Engineering, where work is ongoing to bring Kent State’s aeronautics program to the University of Rwanda. 

Soaring partnership 

Christina Bloebaum, Ph.D., dean of the college, said details of the program are nearly complete; it will be a traditional two-plus-two program in which students would take courses in Rwanda for two years and then come to the Kent Campus to complete their degrees.

“The hope is it will be approved sometime in the spring,” she said, noting that it will likely formally begin during the 2026 Fall Semester.

Bloebaum said Rwandan students currently working on their doctorate degrees in aeronautics at Kent State are likely to return home to teach in the program.

Fantoni added that RwandAir, the flag carrier airline of Rwanda, also has reached out to Kent State for training of pilots and other airport management professionals.

A dual master’s degree program between Kent State’s School of Peace and Conflict Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences and the University of Rwanda’s Centre for Conflict Management also is nearing fruition.  

Rwandan Student Success

The first stop on Minister Irere’s visit was the Office of Global Education in Van Campen Hall, where all 28 Rwandan students at Kent State braved Wednesday morning’s frigid temperatures to have coffee and doughnuts with Irere.

A graduate of Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond, Oklahoma, Irere said she was pleased to see how the Rwandan students were creating a community at Kent State, just as they had in Oklahoma, where she earned her master’s degree in computer engineering.

Soon, Irere predicted, there would be 50 or 100 Rwandans studying at Kent State. She expressed her gratitude to Fantoni and the Office of Global Education for allowing the Rwandan students “to call Kent State home.”

She also emphasized the country’s desire for Kent State to open a physical location in Rwanda.

Kent State began working with the University of Rwanda and the Rwandan government in 2022 to create educational partnerships. The university also opened its base of operations for African recruitment in the Rwandan capital of Kigali. That same year, the first 12 Rwandan students came to Kent State to begin their studies.

Fantoni said the Rwandan students have been a pleasure to have at Kent State.

“I think you really make your country proud,” he said. “You are humble, you are here to honestly learn, and you have a heart, doing something that you can honestly share when you go back.”

Fantoni said the students are eager to return home to bring their knowledge back to Rwanda to help build up their country and make it a better place. Over the past three years, Fantoni said he has learned just how important the government of Rwanda believes that education is for the development of the country.

“I have been to many countries and in some places it is technology, at other places, it is industrialization, and in other places it is building roads. I think building people is really good,” Fantoni said. “And I am honored to represent Kent State in being part of this plan and you are a beautiful example that it’s a successful plan.”

Rwandan student population growing

The original 12 students have since been joined by 16 others, including Kundwa Sisi, one of the newest Rwandan students to begin her studies at Kent State.  

Sisi, 19, a first-year political science major in the Honors College, met Fantoni when she was working as an intern for Arise Rwanda, a non-profit organization in Kigali, that works to transform the community, by lifting residents from extreme poverty through education, clean water sources, healthcare, economic development and pastoral care.  

Sisi was present when about a dozen Kent State student-athletes visited Rwanda in January 2024 for a service trip and toured a new hospital under construction in the town of Boneza. One of her duties was to help serve as a guide for the group, which included Fantoni, and the pair began chatting about Kent State. Fantoni encouraged Kundwa to apply and she began her first year in the 2024 Fall Semester.

“It’s so diverse, that’s what I like about Kent State,” she said. “It’s a very engaging environment, I feel like you can learn so much here.”

Sisi hopes to one day work for the United Nations, representing Rwanda, working to give the underserved access to housing, education and health care.

“I want to be a voice for people,” she said. 

Kent State University’s partnership with the African nation of Rwanda continues to blossom with the School of Fashion, the College of Aeronautics and Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences all working to add program partnerships in Rwanda.

Rwandan Minister of State for Education Claudette Irere is visiting the Kent Campus this week to meet with officials from the Office of Global Education, various colleges and Rwandan students currently studying at Kent State. Irere’s visit aims to deepen the African nation’s educational partnerships with Kent State, hoping to see the university eventually open a formal office there.

Fashion forward

On Jan. 22, Kent State Today was on hand when Irere and Executive Vice President and Provost Melody Tankersley, Ph.D., signed a letter of intent for Kent State to bring its fashion program to Rwanda.

Irere said that while Rwanda and Africa in general already excel in fashion design, there are areas of expertise that Kent State’s nationally renowned school can bring to help elevate the field in Africa, particularly in fashion merchandising.

Tankersley said the partnership with Rwanda has brought great enrichment to Kent State and its students.

“It’s quite an honor to be able to partner with the University of Rwanda and the Ministry of Education to come together to offer this fashion program,” Tankersley said. “Kent State is really proud of what we do in fashion design and merchandising and to be able to work with you and all the Rwandans in bringing this together is an honor few people get to experience.”

Irere thanked Kent State for its confidence in Rwanda, noting that the university could have partnered with any other country, and she was grateful they selected Rwanda. The minister also noted how the program would benefit not only Rwandans but students throughout Africa who would come to the Rwandan capital of Kigali for the proposed program.

Marcello Fantoni, Ph.D., Kent State’s vice president for global education, said Irere was spending several days touring various colleges at Kent State, including the College of Aeronautics and Engineering, where work is ongoing to bring Kent State’s aeronautics program to the University of Rwanda. 

Soaring partnership 

Christina Bloebaum, Ph.D., dean of the college, said details of the program are nearly complete; it will be a traditional two-plus-two program in which students would take courses in Rwanda for two years and then come to the Kent Campus to complete their degrees.

“The hope is it will be approved sometime in the spring,” she said, noting that it will likely formally begin during the 2026 Fall Semester.

Bloebaum said Rwandan students currently working on their doctorate degrees in aeronautics at Kent State are likely to return home to teach in the program.

Fantoni added that RwandAir, the flag carrier airline of Rwanda, also has reached out to Kent State for training of pilots and other airport management professionals.

A dual master’s degree program between Kent State’s School of Peace and Conflict Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences and the University of Rwanda’s Centre for Conflict Management also is nearing fruition.  

Rwandan Student Success

The first stop on Minister Irere’s visit was the Office of Global Education in Van Campen Hall, where all 28 Rwandan students at Kent State braved Wednesday morning’s frigid temperatures to have coffee and doughnuts with Irere.

A graduate of Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond, Oklahoma, Irere said she was pleased to see how the Rwandan students were creating a community at Kent State, just as they had in Oklahoma, where she earned her master’s degree in computer engineering.

Soon, Irere predicted, there would be 50 or 100 Rwandans studying at Kent State. She expressed her gratitude to Fantoni and the Office of Global Education for allowing the Rwandan students “to call Kent State home.”

She also emphasized the country’s desire for Kent State to open a physical location in Rwanda.

Kent State began working with the University of Rwanda and the Rwandan government in 2022 to create educational partnerships. The university also opened its base of operations for African recruitment in the Rwandan capital of Kigali. That same year, the first 12 Rwandan students came to Kent State to begin their studies.

Fantoni said the Rwandan students have been a pleasure to have at Kent State.

“I think you really make your country proud,” he said. “You are humble, you are here to honestly learn, and you have a heart, doing something that you can honestly share when you go back.”

Fantoni said the students are eager to return home to bring their knowledge back to Rwanda to help build up their country and make it a better place. Over the past three years, Fantoni said he has learned just how important the government of Rwanda believes that education is for the development of the country.

“I have been to many countries and in some places it is technology, at other places, it is industrialization, and in other places it is building roads. I think building people is really good,” Fantoni said. “And I am honored to represent Kent State in being part of this plan and you are a beautiful example that it’s a successful plan.”

Rwandan student population growing

The original 12 students have since been joined by 16 others, including Kundwa Sisi, one of the newest Rwandan students to begin her studies at Kent State.  

Sisi, 19, a first-year political science major in the Honors College, met Fantoni when she was working as an intern for Arise Rwanda, a non-profit organization in Kigali, that works to transform the community, by lifting residents from extreme poverty through education, clean water sources, healthcare, economic development and pastoral care.  

Sisi was present when about a dozen Kent State student-athletes visited Rwanda in January 2024 for a service trip and toured a new hospital under construction in the town of Boneza. One of her duties was to help serve as a guide for the group, which included Fantoni, and the pair began chatting about Kent State. Fantoni encouraged Kundwa to apply and she began her first year in the 2024 Fall Semester.

“It’s so diverse, that’s what I like about Kent State,” she said. “It’s a very engaging environment, I feel like you can learn so much here.”

Sisi hopes to one day work for the United Nations, representing Rwanda, working to give the underserved access to housing, education and health care.

“I want to be a voice for people,” she said. 

Kent State Today will follow a group of six Golden Flashes for the 2024-25 academic year chronicling their efforts and successes during the fall and spring semesters. The group of students are at various places in their Kent State University academic careers and will share their experiences throughout the year as they take part in our distinctive programs, research and global experiences.

Rebecca Stratton, a senior chemistry and math major, does not shy away from a challenge.

Stratton spent the summer of 2024 in Kent State’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE), in which she participated for the first time when she was still in high school.

In the SURE program she worked with mentor Hao Shen, Ph.D., assistant professor in Kent State’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Shen Research Group, assisting with his work on DNA as a catalyst.

And soon after the SURE program ended, the Ravenna resident boarded an airplane to Tawain to study abroad at Tamkang University’s Tamsui campus in New Taipei City. Stratton is minoring in Chinese and international relations.

Once she arrived in Taiwan, Stratton was totally immersed in the culture and language. She and her peers were required to speak solely in Mandarin except for communications with loved ones at home or professional encounters that required English correspondence. Or when she and her friends mixed English slang into their speech to make it easier or funnier.

“I would say that roughly 80% of the time I am maintaining solely Mandarin input and output,” Stratton said. “The exhaustion it creates is unlike any other mental tiredness I have experienced, and I often need to allow myself a little bit of English media and music at the end of my day just to rest my brain a bit. It also keeps me up to date with current happenings at home. Strangely enough, I find myself struggling to remember English words sometimes.”

Stratton told Kent State Today that she hopes to meld her love of natural science and research to her desire to communicate her work to those around her. Becoming bilingual is a necessity she says because “a communication-focused approach to science is the only way science can be worthwhile.”

During the SURE program Stratton said she learned about DNA catalysts that are not combined with other structures such as metals. In a paper she wrote about how the discovery of DNAzymes has been optimized for our current needs and how they can be combined with metals and soft matter to create a more effective catalyst.

DNAzymes were first discovered in 1994. Their creation marked a great breakthrough in therapeutics and biocatalysis, according to an article in the scientific journal Advanced Materials.

Increasingly, Stratton has been considering how linguistics and language are essential to understanding research because the desire to understand and to be understood is “one of the greatest motivators for progress, scientific and otherwise.”

“Without the ability and desire to share our results and collaborate, even the greatest discoveries would not have any tangible value,” Stratton said. “In the future, I know that I want to use both; but to be honest, I don't know what that looks like yet. Throughout this program, I have become painfully aware of how frustrating language barriers can be. I hope someday I can successfully help to navigate those barriers and contribute to the international scientific community.”

Learn about the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience.

Learn about Education-Abroad Programs. 

Kent State Today will follow a group of six Golden Flashes for the 2024-25 academic year chronicling their efforts and successes during the fall and spring semesters. The group of students are at various places in their Kent State University academic careers and will share their experiences throughout the year as they take part in our distinctive programs, research and global experiences.

Rebecca Stratton, a senior chemistry and math major, does not shy away from a challenge.

Stratton spent the summer of 2024 in Kent State’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE), in which she participated for the first time when she was still in high school.

In the SURE program she worked with mentor Hao Shen, Ph.D., assistant professor in Kent State’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Shen Research Group, assisting with his work on DNA as a catalyst.

And soon after the SURE program ended, the Ravenna resident boarded an airplane to Tawain to study abroad at Tamkang University’s Tamsui campus in New Taipei City. Stratton is minoring in Chinese and international relations.

Once she arrived in Taiwan, Stratton was totally immersed in the culture and language. She and her peers were required to speak solely in Mandarin except for communications with loved ones at home or professional encounters that required English correspondence. Or when she and her friends mixed English slang into their speech to make it easier or funnier.

“I would say that roughly 80% of the time I am maintaining solely Mandarin input and output,” Stratton said. “The exhaustion it creates is unlike any other mental tiredness I have experienced, and I often need to allow myself a little bit of English media and music at the end of my day just to rest my brain a bit. It also keeps me up to date with current happenings at home. Strangely enough, I find myself struggling to remember English words sometimes.”

Stratton told Kent State Today that she hopes to meld her love of natural science and research to her desire to communicate her work to those around her. Becoming bilingual is a necessity she says because “a communication-focused approach to science is the only way science can be worthwhile.”

During the SURE program Stratton said she learned about DNA catalysts that are not combined with other structures such as metals. In a paper she wrote about how the discovery of DNAzymes has been optimized for our current needs and how they can be combined with metals and soft matter to create a more effective catalyst.

DNAzymes were first discovered in 1994. Their creation marked a great breakthrough in therapeutics and biocatalysis, according to an article in the scientific journal Advanced Materials.

Increasingly, Stratton has been considering how linguistics and language are essential to understanding research because the desire to understand and to be understood is “one of the greatest motivators for progress, scientific and otherwise.”

“Without the ability and desire to share our results and collaborate, even the greatest discoveries would not have any tangible value,” Stratton said. “In the future, I know that I want to use both; but to be honest, I don't know what that looks like yet. Throughout this program, I have become painfully aware of how frustrating language barriers can be. I hope someday I can successfully help to navigate those barriers and contribute to the international scientific community.”

Learn about the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience.

Learn about Education-Abroad Programs. 

Kent State Today will follow a group of six Golden Flashes for the 2024-25 academic year chronicling their efforts and successes during the fall and spring semesters. The group of students are at various places in their Kent State University academic careers and will share their experiences throughout the year as they take part in our distinctive programs, research and global experiences.

Rebecca Stratton, a senior chemistry and math major, does not shy away from a challenge.

Stratton spent the summer of 2024 in Kent State’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE), in which she participated for the first time when she was still in high school.

In the SURE program she worked with mentor Hao Shen, Ph.D., assistant professor in Kent State’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Shen Research Group, assisting with his work on DNA as a catalyst.

And soon after the SURE program ended, the Ravenna resident boarded an airplane to Tawain to study abroad at Tamkang University’s Tamsui campus in New Taipei City. Stratton is minoring in Chinese and international relations.

Once she arrived in Taiwan, Stratton was totally immersed in the culture and language. She and her peers were required to speak solely in Mandarin except for communications with loved ones at home or professional encounters that required English correspondence. Or when she and her friends mixed English slang into their speech to make it easier or funnier.

“I would say that roughly 80% of the time I am maintaining solely Mandarin input and output,” Stratton said. “The exhaustion it creates is unlike any other mental tiredness I have experienced, and I often need to allow myself a little bit of English media and music at the end of my day just to rest my brain a bit. It also keeps me up to date with current happenings at home. Strangely enough, I find myself struggling to remember English words sometimes.”

Stratton told Kent State Today that she hopes to meld her love of natural science and research to her desire to communicate her work to those around her. Becoming bilingual is a necessity she says because “a communication-focused approach to science is the only way science can be worthwhile.”

During the SURE program Stratton said she learned about DNA catalysts that are not combined with other structures such as metals. In a paper she wrote about how the discovery of DNAzymes has been optimized for our current needs and how they can be combined with metals and soft matter to create a more effective catalyst.

DNAzymes were first discovered in 1994. Their creation marked a great breakthrough in therapeutics and biocatalysis, according to an article in the scientific journal Advanced Materials.

Increasingly, Stratton has been considering how linguistics and language are essential to understanding research because the desire to understand and to be understood is “one of the greatest motivators for progress, scientific and otherwise.”

“Without the ability and desire to share our results and collaborate, even the greatest discoveries would not have any tangible value,” Stratton said. “In the future, I know that I want to use both; but to be honest, I don't know what that looks like yet. Throughout this program, I have become painfully aware of how frustrating language barriers can be. I hope someday I can successfully help to navigate those barriers and contribute to the international scientific community.”

Learn about the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience.

Learn about Education-Abroad Programs. 

Kent State Today will follow a group of six Golden Flashes for the 2024-25 academic year chronicling their efforts and successes during the fall and spring semesters. The group of students are at various places in their Kent State University academic careers and will share their experiences throughout the year as they take part in our distinctive programs, research and global experiences.

Rebecca Stratton, a senior chemistry and math major, does not shy away from a challenge.

Stratton spent the summer of 2024 in Kent State’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE), in which she participated for the first time when she was still in high school.

In the SURE program she worked with mentor Hao Shen, Ph.D., assistant professor in Kent State’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Shen Research Group, assisting with his work on DNA as a catalyst.

And soon after the SURE program ended, the Ravenna resident boarded an airplane to Tawain to study abroad at Tamkang University’s Tamsui campus in New Taipei City. Stratton is minoring in Chinese and international relations.

Once she arrived in Taiwan, Stratton was totally immersed in the culture and language. She and her peers were required to speak solely in Mandarin except for communications with loved ones at home or professional encounters that required English correspondence. Or when she and her friends mixed English slang into their speech to make it easier or funnier.

“I would say that roughly 80% of the time I am maintaining solely Mandarin input and output,” Stratton said. “The exhaustion it creates is unlike any other mental tiredness I have experienced, and I often need to allow myself a little bit of English media and music at the end of my day just to rest my brain a bit. It also keeps me up to date with current happenings at home. Strangely enough, I find myself struggling to remember English words sometimes.”

Stratton told Kent State Today that she hopes to meld her love of natural science and research to her desire to communicate her work to those around her. Becoming bilingual is a necessity she says because “a communication-focused approach to science is the only way science can be worthwhile.”

During the SURE program Stratton said she learned about DNA catalysts that are not combined with other structures such as metals. In a paper she wrote about how the discovery of DNAzymes has been optimized for our current needs and how they can be combined with metals and soft matter to create a more effective catalyst.

DNAzymes were first discovered in 1994. Their creation marked a great breakthrough in therapeutics and biocatalysis, according to an article in the scientific journal Advanced Materials.

Increasingly, Stratton has been considering how linguistics and language are essential to understanding research because the desire to understand and to be understood is “one of the greatest motivators for progress, scientific and otherwise.”

“Without the ability and desire to share our results and collaborate, even the greatest discoveries would not have any tangible value,” Stratton said. “In the future, I know that I want to use both; but to be honest, I don't know what that looks like yet. Throughout this program, I have become painfully aware of how frustrating language barriers can be. I hope someday I can successfully help to navigate those barriers and contribute to the international scientific community.”

Learn about the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience.

Learn about Education-Abroad Programs. 

When it comes to our collective understanding of the Northeast Ohio region, some Kent State University faculty in the Department of History feel that professional historians have too often ignored or marginalized Ohio and the Great Lakes region as a whole.

To address that, Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS) and Kent State have announced a cooperation agreement enabling unique access and real-world experiences for students and faculty in the Department of History.

“The partnership between WRHS and the Department of History has numerous benefits, but one of the most important is bolstering our collective understanding of the history of the region,” said Kevin Adams, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of Kent State’s Department of History. “By pooling resources and expertise, our institutions look forward to uncovering new facets of our past for the benefit of scholars and the public alike.”

The agreement, in the form of a memorandum of understanding signed Feb. 17 at the Library at the WRHS Cleveland History Center, formalizes the mutual interaction and strengthens the existing relationship between WRHS staff members and Kent State faculty.

Kent State students will gain access to archival research materials for research projects, internships and jobs as well as research assistantships for graduate level students. One of the first student projects will be an oral history project focused on African American history in our region.

“This partnership provides a direct pathway by which Kent State history students at all levels can acquire essential knowledge and skills for careers in public history,” Adams said. “The experiences our students will have and the professional connections they will develop will prove invaluable as they transition into their lives after graduation.”

“The relationship between WRHS and Kent State has been long and fruitful, resulting in publications, exhibits and student internship projects, thanks to Kent State’s commitment to excellent scholarship and public history,” said Kelly Falcone-Hall, president and CEO of WRHS. “This agreement formalizes and builds upon a long tradition of working together for the benefit of students and our community.”

For Kent State faculty and WRHS staff, this agreement will bring unique teaching opportunities and collaborative research, including a focus on our industrial past and the history of the Rust Belt.

“Not only will the content expertise possessed by Kent State’s faculty enhance WRHS exhibits and events, but this partnership plays an important role in the history department’s development of a Center for Rust Belt Studies,” Adams said.

Founded in 1867, WRHS is a regional history organization with seven properties across Northeast Ohio. Included in its collections are 39 historic structures – seven of which are on the National Register of Historic Places – as well as more than 100,000 objects in its museum collections, an expansive library of published and primary source materials, an auto-aviation collection, a costume and textile collection, and more. WRHS presents exhibitions, programs and experiences that tell the dynamic stories of the people of Northeast Ohio through art, documents and artifacts from a variety of collections. Through its Heritage Management Program, WRHS is a resource for corporations and organizations. WRHS is a Smithsonian Affiliate and is a member of the America 250-Ohio Commission commemorating the semiquincentennial of the United States in 2026.

To learn more about WRHS, visit www.wrhs.org.

To learn more about Kent State’s Department of History, visit www.kent.edu/history.

# # #

Photo Caption:
Pictured on the Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel at Western Reserve Historical Society are (from left to right) Kevin Adams, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of Kent State University’s Department of History; Mandy Munro-Stasiuk, Ph.D., dean of Kent State’s College of Arts and Sciences; and Kelly Falcone-Hall, president and CEO of Western Reserve Historical Society.

Media Contacts:
Jim Maxwell, Kent State University, jmaxwel2@kent.edu, 330-672-8028
Kelly Falcone-Hall, Western Reserve Historical Society, kfalcone@wrhs.org, 216-721-5722, ext. 1507

When it comes to our collective understanding of the Northeast Ohio region, some Kent State University faculty in the Department of History feel that professional historians have too often ignored or marginalized Ohio and the Great Lakes region as a whole.

To address that, Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS) and Kent State have announced a cooperation agreement enabling unique access and real-world experiences for students and faculty in the Department of History.

“The partnership between WRHS and the Department of History has numerous benefits, but one of the most important is bolstering our collective understanding of the history of the region,” said Kevin Adams, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of Kent State’s Department of History. “By pooling resources and expertise, our institutions look forward to uncovering new facets of our past for the benefit of scholars and the public alike.”

The agreement, in the form of a memorandum of understanding signed Feb. 17 at the Library at the WRHS Cleveland History Center, formalizes the mutual interaction and strengthens the existing relationship between WRHS staff members and Kent State faculty.

Kent State students will gain access to archival research materials for research projects, internships and jobs as well as research assistantships for graduate level students. One of the first student projects will be an oral history project focused on African American history in our region.

“This partnership provides a direct pathway by which Kent State history students at all levels can acquire essential knowledge and skills for careers in public history,” Adams said. “The experiences our students will have and the professional connections they will develop will prove invaluable as they transition into their lives after graduation.”

“The relationship between WRHS and Kent State has been long and fruitful, resulting in publications, exhibits and student internship projects, thanks to Kent State’s commitment to excellent scholarship and public history,” said Kelly Falcone-Hall, president and CEO of WRHS. “This agreement formalizes and builds upon a long tradition of working together for the benefit of students and our community.”

For Kent State faculty and WRHS staff, this agreement will bring unique teaching opportunities and collaborative research, including a focus on our industrial past and the history of the Rust Belt.

“Not only will the content expertise possessed by Kent State’s faculty enhance WRHS exhibits and events, but this partnership plays an important role in the history department’s development of a Center for Rust Belt Studies,” Adams said.

Founded in 1867, WRHS is a regional history organization with seven properties across Northeast Ohio. Included in its collections are 39 historic structures – seven of which are on the National Register of Historic Places – as well as more than 100,000 objects in its museum collections, an expansive library of published and primary source materials, an auto-aviation collection, a costume and textile collection, and more. WRHS presents exhibitions, programs and experiences that tell the dynamic stories of the people of Northeast Ohio through art, documents and artifacts from a variety of collections. Through its Heritage Management Program, WRHS is a resource for corporations and organizations. WRHS is a Smithsonian Affiliate and is a member of the America 250-Ohio Commission commemorating the semiquincentennial of the United States in 2026.

To learn more about WRHS, visit www.wrhs.org.

To learn more about Kent State’s Department of History, visit www.kent.edu/history.

# # #

Photo Caption:
Pictured on the Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel at Western Reserve Historical Society are (from left to right) Kevin Adams, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of Kent State University’s Department of History; Mandy Munro-Stasiuk, Ph.D., dean of Kent State’s College of Arts and Sciences; and Kelly Falcone-Hall, president and CEO of Western Reserve Historical Society.

Media Contacts:
Jim Maxwell, Kent State University, jmaxwel2@kent.edu, 330-672-8028
Kelly Falcone-Hall, Western Reserve Historical Society, kfalcone@wrhs.org, 216-721-5722, ext. 1507

When it comes to our collective understanding of the Northeast Ohio region, some Kent State University faculty in the Department of History feel that professional historians have too often ignored or marginalized Ohio and the Great Lakes region as a whole.

To address that, Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS) and Kent State have announced a cooperation agreement enabling unique access and real-world experiences for students and faculty in the Department of History.

“The partnership between WRHS and the Department of History has numerous benefits, but one of the most important is bolstering our collective understanding of the history of the region,” said Kevin Adams, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of Kent State’s Department of History. “By pooling resources and expertise, our institutions look forward to uncovering new facets of our past for the benefit of scholars and the public alike.”

The agreement, in the form of a memorandum of understanding signed Feb. 17 at the Library at the WRHS Cleveland History Center, formalizes the mutual interaction and strengthens the existing relationship between WRHS staff members and Kent State faculty.

Kent State students will gain access to archival research materials for research projects, internships and jobs as well as research assistantships for graduate level students. One of the first student projects will be an oral history project focused on African American history in our region.

“This partnership provides a direct pathway by which Kent State history students at all levels can acquire essential knowledge and skills for careers in public history,” Adams said. “The experiences our students will have and the professional connections they will develop will prove invaluable as they transition into their lives after graduation.”

“The relationship between WRHS and Kent State has been long and fruitful, resulting in publications, exhibits and student internship projects, thanks to Kent State’s commitment to excellent scholarship and public history,” said Kelly Falcone-Hall, president and CEO of WRHS. “This agreement formalizes and builds upon a long tradition of working together for the benefit of students and our community.”

For Kent State faculty and WRHS staff, this agreement will bring unique teaching opportunities and collaborative research, including a focus on our industrial past and the history of the Rust Belt.

“Not only will the content expertise possessed by Kent State’s faculty enhance WRHS exhibits and events, but this partnership plays an important role in the history department’s development of a Center for Rust Belt Studies,” Adams said.

Founded in 1867, WRHS is a regional history organization with seven properties across Northeast Ohio. Included in its collections are 39 historic structures – seven of which are on the National Register of Historic Places – as well as more than 100,000 objects in its museum collections, an expansive library of published and primary source materials, an auto-aviation collection, a costume and textile collection, and more. WRHS presents exhibitions, programs and experiences that tell the dynamic stories of the people of Northeast Ohio through art, documents and artifacts from a variety of collections. Through its Heritage Management Program, WRHS is a resource for corporations and organizations. WRHS is a Smithsonian Affiliate and is a member of the America 250-Ohio Commission commemorating the semiquincentennial of the United States in 2026.

To learn more about WRHS, visit www.wrhs.org.

To learn more about Kent State’s Department of History, visit www.kent.edu/history.

# # #

Photo Caption:
Pictured on the Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel at Western Reserve Historical Society are (from left to right) Kevin Adams, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of Kent State University’s Department of History; Mandy Munro-Stasiuk, Ph.D., dean of Kent State’s College of Arts and Sciences; and Kelly Falcone-Hall, president and CEO of Western Reserve Historical Society.

Media Contacts:
Jim Maxwell, Kent State University, jmaxwel2@kent.edu, 330-672-8028
Kelly Falcone-Hall, Western Reserve Historical Society, kfalcone@wrhs.org, 216-721-5722, ext. 1507

When it comes to our collective understanding of the Northeast Ohio region, some Kent State University faculty in the Department of History feel that professional historians have too often ignored or marginalized Ohio and the Great Lakes region as a whole.

To address that, Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS) and Kent State have announced a cooperation agreement enabling unique access and real-world experiences for students and faculty in the Department of History.

“The partnership between WRHS and the Department of History has numerous benefits, but one of the most important is bolstering our collective understanding of the history of the region,” said Kevin Adams, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of Kent State’s Department of History. “By pooling resources and expertise, our institutions look forward to uncovering new facets of our past for the benefit of scholars and the public alike.”

The agreement, in the form of a memorandum of understanding signed Feb. 17 at the Library at the WRHS Cleveland History Center, formalizes the mutual interaction and strengthens the existing relationship between WRHS staff members and Kent State faculty.

Kent State students will gain access to archival research materials for research projects, internships and jobs as well as research assistantships for graduate level students. One of the first student projects will be an oral history project focused on African American history in our region.

“This partnership provides a direct pathway by which Kent State history students at all levels can acquire essential knowledge and skills for careers in public history,” Adams said. “The experiences our students will have and the professional connections they will develop will prove invaluable as they transition into their lives after graduation.”

“The relationship between WRHS and Kent State has been long and fruitful, resulting in publications, exhibits and student internship projects, thanks to Kent State’s commitment to excellent scholarship and public history,” said Kelly Falcone-Hall, president and CEO of WRHS. “This agreement formalizes and builds upon a long tradition of working together for the benefit of students and our community.”

For Kent State faculty and WRHS staff, this agreement will bring unique teaching opportunities and collaborative research, including a focus on our industrial past and the history of the Rust Belt.

“Not only will the content expertise possessed by Kent State’s faculty enhance WRHS exhibits and events, but this partnership plays an important role in the history department’s development of a Center for Rust Belt Studies,” Adams said.

Founded in 1867, WRHS is a regional history organization with seven properties across Northeast Ohio. Included in its collections are 39 historic structures – seven of which are on the National Register of Historic Places – as well as more than 100,000 objects in its museum collections, an expansive library of published and primary source materials, an auto-aviation collection, a costume and textile collection, and more. WRHS presents exhibitions, programs and experiences that tell the dynamic stories of the people of Northeast Ohio through art, documents and artifacts from a variety of collections. Through its Heritage Management Program, WRHS is a resource for corporations and organizations. WRHS is a Smithsonian Affiliate and is a member of the America 250-Ohio Commission commemorating the semiquincentennial of the United States in 2026.

To learn more about WRHS, visit www.wrhs.org.

To learn more about Kent State’s Department of History, visit www.kent.edu/history.

# # #

Photo Caption:
Pictured on the Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel at Western Reserve Historical Society are (from left to right) Kevin Adams, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of Kent State University’s Department of History; Mandy Munro-Stasiuk, Ph.D., dean of Kent State’s College of Arts and Sciences; and Kelly Falcone-Hall, president and CEO of Western Reserve Historical Society.

Media Contacts:
Jim Maxwell, Kent State University, jmaxwel2@kent.edu, 330-672-8028
Kelly Falcone-Hall, Western Reserve Historical Society, kfalcone@wrhs.org, 216-721-5722, ext. 1507