News
Get the latest news happening at your alma mater, along with fascinating stories about alumni success, donor impact, scholarship recipients and more. Our collective legacy is woven by Golden Flashes around the world who inspire and transform communities far beyond Kent State’s campuses.
Featured Stories
25 Years Later: Kent State Alumni Remember 9/11
For College of Aeronautics and Engineering alumni Brian Hodor, Richard "Reb" Benson, Jim Sebastian and Dan Wolfe, Sept. 11, 2001, is more than a moment in history — it is a day they experienced firsthand and one that forever changed the aviation profession.
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A Century of Stories
For 100 years, The Kent Stater has chronicled the people, events and moments that have transformed Kent State and the world beyond its campus.
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Find Your Kent State Community
Graduation may mark the end of a student’s time on campus, but it doesn’t have to be the end of their Kent State story. Across the country — and through shared interests and experiences — Kent State alumni are finding ways to stay connected through alumni chapters and groups.
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Faces of Kent State
Alumni and Donor Stories
Event Planning Her Way Toward a Magical Future
Ana Hasselbusch, ’26, first encountered Kent State University at a college fair held at her high school in Pittsburgh. A few short years later, Hasselbusch would receive the 2026 Distinguished Senior Award at Kent State’s Student Leadership Awards for her impact during her time at the university.
What Makes a Strong Leader?
Mark Whitmore, Ph.D., an associate professor of management at Kent State University, whose research focuses on leadership, sees self-awareness as the foundation of true leadership.
Kent State University Research: An R1 University Driving Discovery, Innovation and Impact
Every day at Kent State, a student walks into a laboratory for the first time. A faculty member partners with a local school district to solve a community challenge. A researcher collaborates with NASA, healthcare providers or manufacturers to answer questions that matter beyond campus. Those moments may happen quietly, but they tell the story of what it means to be one of the nation's leading research universities.
Stay Curious: The Power of Lifelong Learning
For Marie Rader and Jim Angiulo, the continued pursuit of knowledge is part of their everyday lives. After years working first as a registered nurse and later as a professional fundraiser, Marie Rader began her third act: an artist who specializes in fabric dying. Eager to learn more, Rader took a few classes at Kent State University in marketing and textiles while her husband took courses to gain knowledge that would help him advance in his career in healthcare.
Passing the Wings: A Kent State Aviation Legacy
After serving in the United States Air Force as a crew chief and maintenance technician, Joshua Hummer came to Kent State University with his sights set sky-high. As he pursued his degree, Josh found himself looking for a mentor to guide him through the complexities of earning the necessary certificates and licenses. That’s where Matt Brait, ’94, another Kent State pilot stepped in.
A Century of Stories
For 100 years, The Kent Stater has chronicled the people, events and moments that have transformed Kent State and the world beyond its campus.
Immersive Experiences Help Fashion Student Find Her Unique Pattern
Joy is stitched into everything Leah Thompkins creates – by design. The Kent State University fashion design major and costume design minor describes her personal style as “anything that six-year-old me would think is really cool.”
25 Years Later: Kent State Alumni Remember the Day Aviation Changed Forever
For Kent State College of Aeronautics and Engineering alumni, Sept. 11, 2001, is more than a moment in history — it is a day they experienced firsthand and one that forever changed the aviation profession.
Small Acts of Generosity Create Lasting Impact Through Flashes Fighting Hunger
One can of soup. One hour of volunteering. One $10 donation.
On their own, those contributions may seem small. But at Kent State’s Flashes Fighting Hunger program, thousands of small acts of generosity have come together to create something extraordinary.
Ian Holt’s Breakthrough Season Built on Kent State Roots
Ian Holt, ’18, isn't trying to look too far ahead, even as everything in his career suggests he's on the verge of the next big step
The Timken Company Invests in the Future of Stark County through Rising Scholars
This summer, The Timken Company welcomed local high school seniors to their corporate headquarters in North Canton, Ohio, as part of the Kent State University at Stark Rising Scholars Summer Institute, led by Academic Program Coordinator LaTrese Sanders.
The Women’s Professional Baseball League Launches This Summer With Alumna Justine Siegal, M.A. ’00, at the Helm
Kent State alumna, baseball pioneer and co-founder of the Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) Justine Siegal, M.A. ’00, was selected to serve as its first commissioner, bringing more than two decades of experience and an unrelenting spirit to the league.
The Basford Family Kent State Legacy
For the Basford family, Kent State became more than a place to earn a degree. Across three generations, it served as a common thread connecting fathers and sons, shaping careers, creating lifelong memories and reinforcing values. The family's success story is measured not only in professional accomplishments, but also in the continuity of a tradition.
Porthouse Theatre’s Legacy of Community Support and Artistic Magic
For nearly 60 years, Porthouse Theatre has brought the power of theatre to the Northeast Ohio community while training the next generation of theatre artists.
What Makes a Golden Flash Shine?
There are more than 280,000 Kent State University alumni around the world helping their communities grow brighter every day. Here are five alumni whose personal and professional contributions make them – and their communities – shine.
A Life Mapped by Service: Remembering Bea Shaheen McPherson, ’43
Studying the Universe from the Inside Out
Kent State Professor Named One of Only Eight 2026 Simons Pivot Fellows
Kent State Alumni Are Fueling the New York Fashion Industry
Kent State University alumni are represented in every corne
Celebrating the Legacy of Service at Kent State
The newest addition to Kent State University’s Student Leadership Awards recognizes a value that has long defined the universit
Legacies Change Lives: Emma Troyer
Emma Troyer is a senior music education major from Sandusky, Ohio.
What the 2026 Tax Law Changes Mean for Planned Giving
As you consider your long-term philanthropic goals, cha
Strengthening the Bonds Between Kent State and the Community Through Scholarships
Community is important to Timothy “Tim” Crock, and as a life
Couple Channels Their Love of Science and Technology Into Their Legacy
Ronald R. “Ron,” ’88, and Mary L.
May 4’s Legacy Lives on Through Scholarships, Students and Alumni
In a quiet, wooded area in front of Taylor Hall on the Kent
Jonathon Fauvie, MPH ’16
Public health isn’t confined to the clinical setting. It happens all throughout our communities every day, from the restaurants where you eat to public parks. Jonathon Fauvie saw that firsthand while working in healthcare communications, which led him to pursue public health at Kent State University.
Taking Center Stage with Scholarship Support
Savon Harris was born to perform. The junior musical theatre major found his passion for the stage while he was still in high school, however, Savon’s career would not have been possible without financial support
Public Health Major Finds Purpose, Passion at Kent State
Ivory Kendrick, a senior public health major with a concentration in health administrative services, has always believed in the power of understanding and connecting with others. Scholarships played a crucial role in Ivory’s journey, providing him not just financial support, but also a reminder that others believe in his potential.
Dr. Curtis Stone Memorial Track and Field Fund Established for Kent State Athletics
Kent State University and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics are proud to announce the establishment of the Dr.
Kenisha Chisholm, ’20: Finding Purpose Through Nutrition
Kenisha Chisholm, ’20, came to Kent State with a clear sense of purpose influenced by her life experience, persistence and desi
A Mission Reclaimed: How One Veteran Earned His Kent State Degree
When Joshua Collins, ’10, returned to Kent State, he was on a mission.
Megan Vickers, ’06
Alumna Combines New Vision with Traditional Values in Family Business
A Dazzling Gift: The KSU Museum Turns 40
Much like the establishment of Kent State University itself, the Kent State University Museum was also founded through a philanthropic gift.
Six Golden Flashes Make Crain’s Cleveland Business’ 20 in Their 20s List
Six talented Kent State alumni were among the changemakers recognized in Crain’s Cleveland Business’ 20 in Their 20s. These leaders excel in their careers, impact their community and carry their Golden Flash pride wherever they go.
Brittni Fabinak, ’11, J.D.
Alumna Sticks the Landing in Law Career with the Jacksonville Jaguars
AMLCI Alumna Uses Liquid Crystal Experience to Improve Display Manufacturing
For Karla Gutierrez Cuevas, Ph.D. ’17, the start of her Kent State journey brought a mix of excitement and uncertainty.
Golden Flashes Making Waves in the Cruise Industry
From altering costumes for cast members to performing center stage to working behind the scenes to create top-notch entertainme
