John F. Garofalo, '87, M.Ed. '93, Akron, OH, was recently named president and CEO of Akron Community Foundation. In this role, he provides strategic leadership to a team of 22 staff members and works in close partnership with a 24-member board of directors to advance the foundation's mission and deepen its impact across the Greater Akron region.

Scott Haws, '99, Canton, OH, was recently sworn in for a new term as Plain Township (Stark County, OH) Trustee. The ceremony featured Stark County Family Court Judge Matt Kreitzer administering the oath, with Haws' brother, Jason Haws, participating in the tradition. Haws expressed profound gratitude for the community's continued trust and shared his enthusiasm for upcoming strategic initiatives and growth within Plain Township. "I don't take this responsibility lightly," Haws noted. "There are big things happening on the horizon for our community."

Former Kent Stater editors Barbara Grubb Jiannetti, '77, St. Petersburg, FL, and Jeannine Guttman, '77, Rutland, VT, recently reunited 48 years after graduation. The pair reconnected in St. Petersburg this past November and have been lifelong friends since meeting in Kubasaki High School in Okinawa, Japan. Both had successful journalism careers at newspapers around the country.

Wayne Lynch, '71, Seattle, WA, recently self-published his first fiction novel "Blood Stained Papers." The novel is a vampire horror story about three newspaper reporters bitten by a centuries-old Master and the attempt by a rival TV newsman to rescue them from their fate with the help of a secret society unknown to police. It's also a story of lasting love and a quest for human redemption based in a crime-ridden city. It is available on Amazon Kindle.

Benjamin I. Holbert III, '84, Beachwood, OH, recently concluded eight years of service as mayor of the Village of Woodmere in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. He was first elected to Village Council in 2012 and elected mayor in 2018. Due to charter-imposed term limits, he is no longer eligible to serve. He continues his commitment to public service and community leadership. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC) and serves as the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Lisa Dael, '90, MLS '91, Athens, OH, serves as the director for the Center for Technology and Online Programs in the Pattplon College of Education at Ohio University. Lisa was also recently elected vice chair of Administrative Senate.

After graduating from Kent, Bill Shutt, MA '72, DuBois, PA, worked 30+ years as a mechanical engineer. Toward the end of that career, he turned toward music. Over the last 15 years, Bill has composed more than 50 choral anthems for churches - though none are published yet - and would love to share them for free with others who would like to try them. If you are interested, you can reach Bill directly via email at shuttwe@gmail.com.