Benjamin Tipton,'03

Benjamin Tipton serves as the assistant vice president of Foundation and Corporate Relations in the Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement. In his role, he is focused on leadership private foundation and corporate donors and works collaboratively with the vice president, university president and provost, and university deans to successfully increase private support to the university.   

Benjamin began his career at Kent State in 2014 as a Corporate and Foundation Relations officer and moved into his role as assistant vice president in 2024.

His professional experience ranges from being a U.S. Senate staff member to international development work in Asia. With over seven years living internationally in places such as Cambodia, Hong Kong, Caribbean Sea, Japan, and Canada – and domestically in Washington D.C., Alaska and Massachusetts – his favorite place has always been Kent, Ohio.

Benjamin is a proud alumnus of Kent State, receiving his Bachelor of Arts in 2003, followed by education at Sea Education Association (Boston University, 2004), Hong Kong University (2011-12), and a Master of Arts from the University of British Columbia (2012). His master’s thesis is: “Follow the money: philanthropy in China - who's giving, to whom, and why?”

In addition to his role at Kent State, Benjamin serves in multiple volunteer capacities in Kent, Ohio – including Rotary of Kent, Service Projects Director; Treasurer of his Church; and, Main Street Kent, Design Committee member.