College of the Arts
Students from the Kent State University Fashion Industry Studies master’s program (M.F.I.S.) partnered with the school's Fashion Library and Kent State University Library to create the Black History Fashion Book Bank. Led by M.F.I.S. student, Nia Allen and fashion librarian, Edith Serkownek, students and fashion faculty chose their favorite books on Black fashion, Black fashion designers and Black achievements in fashion. Their recommendations were then shared on both the school’s and the University Library’s Instagram pages. Check out their favorites! Catherine Le...
College of the Arts
The Fashion Tech Hackathon, a cross circular event hosted by the Kent State University School of Fashion, has been on an upward trajectory since its inception in 2013. To comply with COVID-19 safety standards and procedures; the hackathon became a fully online, virtual event for the first time in eight years. The marathon-style competition empowers students to create a product in the form of a technology-enhanced garment or a wearable responsive web application. The ultimate goal of the event is for students to develop new skills in innovation and wearable technology that will help ...
Kent State University will hold in-person commencement ceremonies in May for the Spring Class of 2021 and will welcome back all 2020 alumni for an in-person graduation ceremony during Homecoming Weekend this fall. Kent State President Todd Diacon shared with the Class of 2021 that outdoor ceremonies for all colleges and degrees will be held during the week of May 10 at the Centennial Court Green, which is located on Midway Drive south of the Centennial Court Residence Halls. There also will be a virtual commencement for all colleges and degrees on May 15. All of the commencement cerem...
The School of Theatre and Dance Condemns Violence, Hatred and Discrimination Against Asian Community
College of the Arts
Hate Has No Home at Kent State University The School of Theatre and Dance condemns incidents of violence, hatred, and discrimination against the Asian and Pacific Islander community, many of which are targeted towards female-identifying and nonbinary persons. Crimes targeting Asian Americans have surged over 150% in major cities in the last year, with more than 3,800 hate incidents occurring in 2020 alone. On Tuesday, a 21-year-old white man opened fire across the Atlanta metro area, murdering eight people, including six Asian women. This intolerance and violence must stop. Today, the...
The Akron Community Foundation has awarded the QUEST Mentorship Program, an initiative within the LGBTQ+ Center, a $2,000 micro-grant for the coming year. QUEST Mentorship provides 1:1 mentor/mentee relationships for students to focus on career guidance and general support. They also connect as a larger group during monthly meetups and assist in building community while at the same time, develop professionally. LGBTQ+ Center Director Ken Ditlevson believes the value of community made a big impression on the Akron Community Foundation. “They look for programs that impact our greater co...
The College of the Arts is proud to continue the acclaimed Thomas Schroth Visiting Artist Series with virtual presentations this spring dedicated to the College's commitment to celebrating diversity within the Arts. The next guest speaker of this year's series is fashion historian and curator Darnell-Jamal Lisby. Lisby will participate in a virtual discussion on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Admission to the event is FREE, however reservations are required. To RSVP to attend, please visit the link below: RSVP to Darnell-Jamal Lisby Event ...
The State of Ohio approved the master's in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in February 2021. Kent State University will start admitting students in the master's in Artificial Intelligence program starting fall 2021. The program will be offered within the Department of Computer Science. Amazon’s Alexa, iPhone’s Siri, the Roomba and many more innovations are examples of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI is changing the world and simplifying life for everyone, resulting in a growing demand for AI professionals. Javed Khan, professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science, said AI's foc...
With the celebration of Women’s History Month in March, it seemed fitting that the Kent State Women’s Center would officially kick off its 25th anniversary. It will continue throughout 2021. Talks for an actual Women’s Center on campus first started in March 1995, when President Carol Cartwright –the first woman president at a state school in Ohio - appointed a Women’s Center Committee. Members of the committee would reflect the diversity of talented people committed to the notion of an actual Women’s Center at Kent State. After careful planning, a presentation made to the Kent Stat...