Dear Members of the Kent State University Community, Thank you all for contributing to an outstanding opening of the fall semester. I appreciate all that you do, and I am sure our students do as well. I write to update you on recent actions regarding the senior administration of the university. Given our overriding Students First philosophy and the centrality of issues regarding the health and well-being of our students, I have elevated the position of vice president for student affairs to a senior vice president, effective Sept. 1. This action recognizes the vital nature of this role that...

Kent State University President Todd Diacon today announced the appointment of Valoree Vargo to the position of vice president for philanthropy and alumni engagement, effective Aug. 1, 2021. Vargo has served the university since 2010 as the associate chief of staff in the president’s office, the senior associate vice president for the Division of Institutional Advancement (now the Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement) and as the interim vice president for philanthropy and alumni engagement since June 2020. “Valoree has shown time and time again that she is committed to our stude...

Kent State has won the Mid-American Conference's Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) Academic Achievement Award for men's sports for the first time in school history. The award is given annually and designed to recognize the conference institution with the highest overall combination of both grade point average (GPA) and Academic Progress Rate (APR) rank by gender for the entire academic year. "I am thrilled with the successes in the classroom of our men's programs this past year leading to this incredible accolade," Randale L. Richmond, director of athletics, said. "We pride our...

WARREN, Ohio (Aug. 31, 2021) -- Dealing with uncertainty is tough, especially when it deals with your health. Many have come to grips with this struggle over the last 18 months as surges of COVID-19 have come and gone. Cross-country coach Bill Hess takes uncertainty in stride, moving forward with a positive attitude and a smile. He was already running the race of his life. In 2008 at the age of 44, Hess was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease a degenerative disease that eventually breaks down the nerves in the brain, causing physical and cognitive disorders. “It’s a genetic disease,” Hes...

In August 2021, a research team from Kent State University's School of Information working in partnership with Kent State’s College of Nursing received a National Leadership Planning Grant for Libraries from the Institute of Museums and Library Services (IMLS) for $99,982. The funds will support the first stages of what Katie Campana, Ph.D., principal investigator, and Michelle Baldini, MLS, co-investigator from the School of Information, and Elaine Thomas, MSN, RN, CNE, co-investigator from the College of Nursing, have named Project SHIELD (Supporting Healthy Infant Early Learning and Develo...

Every person should have the opportunity to live a long and healthy life. Research has identified steps we can take to maintain our health and function as we get older. Adopting healthy habits and behaviors like improving your diet and levels of physical activity, staying social and involved in your community, using preventive services, and managing health conditions can contribute to a productive and meaningful life.  September wellness offerings will focus on healthy aging, and your Employee Wellness team has lined up abundant opportunities for...