The College of the Arts presented its 2020 Distinguished Alumni and Faculty Awards on Sat., Nov. 21, 2020 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. via pre-recorded video broadcast. The awards program recognizes contributions and achievements of alumni and faculty in all stages of their careers. Please click below to watch the awards ceremony broadcast in its entirety. View our 2020 Alumni & Faculty Awards Award Winners by Category Centennial Award Linda McDonald Co-Chair of College of the Arts Advisory Board, College patron, supporter, and donor The highe...
College of the Arts
Since graduating from the Kent State University School of Fashion in 2011, Tiarra Smallwood has had an impressive career in the fashion world. After designing for brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch and The Gap, she launched her brand MAX+min in 2019. Smallwood was recently awarded $10,000 from Harlem Fashion Row’s (HFR) Icon 360 Fund to put towards her growing business. Harlem Front Row Icon 360 chose 27 designers from around the country and awarded them up $100,000 each to put towards their start-up businesses. The donations are provided through a $1 million donati...
Kent State University President Todd Diacon today announced the appointment of Melody Tankersley, Ph.D., to the position of senior vice president and provost, effective Nov. 1, 2020. An experienced leader, Tankersley has served Kent State in positions of increasing responsibility since 1993. In 2019, she was named interim senior vice president and provost.Diacon praised Tankersley as a strong administrator, particularly in her handling of the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, and noted her work as a professor and researcher.“As befits a leader in the Division of Academic...
Dear Members of the Kent State University Community, I am pleased to announce that Melody Tankersley, Ph.D., has accepted the position of senior vice president and provost, effective Nov. 1, 2020. An experienced leader, Dr. Tankersley has served Kent State in positions of increasing responsibility since 1993. Since being named interim senior vice president and provost in 2019, she has excelled in many areas, particularly in her handling of the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. As befits a leader in the Division of Academic Affairs, Dr. Tankersley is an outstand...
College of the Arts
Kelsey Snyder, a 2018 alumna from the Kent State University School of Fashion’s merchandising program, was recently interviewed for the popular fashion blog Career Queen, where she discussed life after Kent State and her current role as Assistant Merchant for American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) Aerie brand. Growing up in Erie, Pennsylvania, Snyder was always interested in fashion, creativity and entrepreneurship. She attended the Kent State University School of Fashion where she majored in fashion merchandising and entered the industry immediately after graduating in May 2018. For the...
College of the Arts
Anne Cate, a Cleveland based accessories manufacturer and brand, created by Kent State University School of Fashion alumna Anne Skoch, recently teamed up with New York-based fashion illustrator, (and fellow School of Fashion alumna) Deanna First. The new collection, Deanna First x Anne Cate, features First’s illustrations on Anne Cate’s signature Made in America accessories line. Skoch (a 2018 graduate), and First (a 2012 graduate), each pursued entrepreneurial ventures after graduation. The designers teamed up to curate four unique illustrations that embodied adventure and simplic...
College of the Arts
After an impressive run on Amazon Prime’s “Making the Cut” fashion design competition series, Kent State University School of Fashion alumnus Josh Hupper is once again in the spotlight. Hupper’s fashion brand, Babyghost, a successful e-commerce fashion brand based in Shanghai, China, had their recent collection featured in Vogue Runway’s Fall 2020 Ready-to-Wear campaign. Hupper refused to let the pandemic slow down Babyghost, a company he co-owns and co-designs with partner, Qiaoran Huang. Babyghost designed their biggest collection ever during the shutdown...
College of the Arts
Last month, Kent State University School of Fashion students, faculty and alumni gathered on Zoom for the first "New York City Industry Insider Series" discussion, hosted by the Kent State University New York City Fashion program. Viewers were treated to a powerful conversation on diversity, equity and inclusion in the fashion industry led by Terry Roberts, Vice President of Employment Law and Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer at American Eagle Outfitters (AEO). This was the first "New York City Industry Insider Series" discussion from Kent State University New Yor...
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kent State University and the city of Kent have an important message to share with the community members and those outside the area concerning the upcoming Halloween weekend: Do not hold or attend mass gatherings of more than 10 people who are not in your household. This guidance also applies to the week leading up to Halloween and the days following the holiday, which typically bring a great many outsiders to Kent for the weekend. Kent Police, the Kent City Health Department and university leaders are urging community members and students to refra...