Success Stories

The Kent State University community will be treated to a week of welcome-back festivities to kick off the spring semester.

From getting deployed to Afghanistan, to being unable to pay for classes, to starting a family, and even accepting a job at a winery in southern Germany. The reasons for leaving Kent State University, before completing a bachelor’s degree, fall across a wide spectrum for some students. For student Andrew Sonnanstine, it was an easy choice to trade in the last few classes his senior year for a professional baseball contract.

Scholar of the Month Cassandra Storlie Assistant Professor   College of Education, Health and Human Services 2013-present Cassandra Storlie is an assistant professor in the School of Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences at the College of Education, Health and Human Services. She has built a research program that addresses important diversity issues.

Watch this video of Kent State University President Beverly Warren offering a holiday message to the Kent State community while the Kent Clarks singing group performs its version of “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”    

They’re back! Kent State University Libraries invites all Kent State University students, faculty and staff to take a break and relax with therapy dogs on Monday, Dec. 14, and Tuesday, Dec. 15, from 3-5 p.m. There will be free popcorn and beverages for attendees.

Kent State University congratulates its newest graduates. The university held its Fall 2015 Commencement ceremonies for the Kent Campus on Dec. 18 and 19 at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center (MAC Center). Kent State conferred 2,154 degrees, including 1,565 bachelor’s degrees, 526 master’s degrees, 60 doctoral degrees and three educational specialist degrees. Across the university’s eight-campus system, 2,489 students graduated from Kent State this fall, including those receiving associate degrees.

Scholar of the Month Danielle Sarver Coombs Associate Professor   College of Communication and Information 2007-present Danielle Sarver Coombs is an associate professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the College of Communication and Information. Her research focuses on sports, politics and the politics of sport.

The Kent State University community gave generously on Giving Tuesday this Dec. 1, far exceeding expectations. As promised, President Beverly Warren personally matched $25,000 in a gift to the Distinctive Kent State Fund, a fund that will support the university’s five priorities for a distinctive Kent State.  

Kent State University’s Fraternity and Sorority Life recently hosted Songfest, its largest annual philanthropic event. After totaling ticket sales, fundraising efforts and some last-minute donations, the Greek community was able to raise $56,500 for the King Kennedy Community Center.    This breaks the record previously set in 2013 when Kent State’s Greek community raised $49,027 for RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network).   

Happy Thanksgiving! Watch this video to find out what members of the Kent State University community, including President Beverly Warren, are thankful for this year.