alumni-success
Kent State Prepared Journalism Alumna for Wide-Ranging Career — Today, She Gives Back
Laura Gordon, '87, had such a fulfilling experience as a Kent State University student, that she now gives back so that others may find their way to the types of relationships and encounters that helped set her on her path. “I think it’s really important to give back when you’ve experienced such valuable support so it’s always been really important to me to be part of that,” she said.
After 20 Years as an Entrepreneur, Alumna Returns to News Industry as a CEO
In March 2021, Lacy Starling, '02, got a call from a community organization in northern Kentucky looking for a CEO for a start-up news organization. They knew Starling only for her business background; after earning her Bachelor of Science in journalism from Kent State University, she went on to earn her M.B.A. For 20 years, she had been an entrepreneur.
Black Alumni Chapter Spotlight - Willard Jenkins, ’73
A Lifelong Love of JazzKent State graduate serves as artistic director of DC jazzfestSince his days as an undergraduate student at Kent State University, one might say jazz has been the soundtrack of Willard Jenkins’, ’73, life. Jazz was likely playing as he penned his jazz column f…
Kent State Alumnus Captures Notable Success
Influenced by artists like René Magritte and Piet Mondrian, Kent State University alumnus Jermaine Jackson Jr. believes the best way to get the point across in a photo is by keeping it simple.
Fashion Design Alumna Wears Her Heart on Her Sleeve
Kelsi McCafferty, ’16, was laid off from her full-time job at FOUNT Leather Goods in December 2020 because of the pandemic, but that didn’t stop her from doing what she loved. Using her talents, Kelsi wanted to help the community and began making masks at home. Inspired by her innovation, Kelsi m…
Kent State Alumna and Journalist Finds Additional Success on Social Media
Kent State alumna Jeannette Reyes, ’12, uses TikTok for fun outside of her television anchor responsibilities at FOX 5 Washington, D.C. Last October, Reyes posted a video with her husband using their “anchor talk” voices to decide on choices for dinner. She never expected her video to gain so much momentum.
Alumna Sarah Shendy, ’06, Named First Director of Ohio Office of Law Enforcement and Recruitment
Sarah Shendy, ’06, has been appointment as the first Director, Ohio Office of Law Enforcement Recruitment. Had it not been for Kent State University, she may have never gone into law enforcement.
Congratulations to Lou Holtz, ’59, Who Received Presidential Medal of Freedom
Lou Holtz, ’59, one of the most successful college football coaches of all time, proudly received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Donald Trump in December.
Holtz is the only coach in the history of collegiate football who took six different teams to a bowl game, won five bowl games with different teams and had four college teams ranked in the final Top 20 poll.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Kent State University and a master's degree in arts and education from Iowa. Read about Holtz’s Kent State experiences excerpted from a 2010 interview:
A Letter from India: CIIE Board Member visits Malappuram and the Teakwood Museum
For the second letter from David Dix, one of CIIE Board Members, we got a glimpse of the impact CIIE and ILEP programs have through Shri. P.V. Thomas and Riyas P.T., ILEP graduates who came to Kent State University in 2014. From Travel Diary of David and Janet Dix: At Malap…Alumna Spreads Kindness in Her Community
Kindness means something different to everyone, but to Stephanie Sweany, ’05, it means making a stranger’s day a little better by simply smiling at them. Stephanie started the Canton Kindness Coalition to “make kindness contagious” in November 2018.