Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement

Illustration of five lit birthday candles with phrase "A Birthday Wish for Kent State"

Help us Celebrate Kent State’s 114th Birthday

Kent State is turning 114, and we are celebrating by raising funds for Kent State scholarships and programs. This year, the Kent State University Foundation has pledged $5,000 to match employee gifts dollar for dollar (up to $250 per donor until the match money runs out) to the fund of YOUR choice s…

Tags: University News , alumni-news , Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement , Success Stories , Organizational Sustainability

Alumni and Giving

Angela Neal-Barnett, Ph.D. (right), is pictured at the Doula and Community Expo hosted by Birthing Beautiful Communities in April 2024. (Photo provided by Angela Neal-Barnett)

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation Awards Additional $300,000 to Kent State’s Spirit of Motherhood Program to Combat Infant Mortality and Prevent Preterm Births

Kent State University’s Angela Neal-Barnett has been working diligently to build up the Spirit of Motherhood program with the goal of reducing trauma and stress symptoms experienced by its pregnant Black mother participants. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation recently awarded the program another $300,000 to continue its work over the next three years.

Tags: Community & Society , Community Impact , Department of Psychological Sciences , College of Arts and Sciences , Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement

Alumni and Giving

Image of Neal-Barnett

Grant Supports Black Mothers and Children

Kent State has received a grant from the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation for the Spirit of Motherhood Program, an innovative program with a goal of reducing trauma and stress symptoms experienced by its pregnant Black mother participants.

Tags: Prioritizing Student Success , Beyond Academics , Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement

Alumni and Giving

Judge Kani Hightower

Making the Local Justice System Easier to Access

Summit County Domestic Relations Court Judge Kani H. Hightower is on a mission to make the justice system in Summit County, Ohio, more accessible for underprivileged and underrepresented citizens. Whether it’s related to transportation challenges or helping them sort through the red tape of documentation, Hightower, a Kent State University graduate, is creating solutions to streamline the process for Summit County residents.

Tags: Kent State Works , Community Impact , alumni-news , Government/Public Service , Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement , Humanities

Alumni and Giving

Study Abroad Ireland

Gaining International Business Experience

Business students who participate in an annual study abroad experience to Ireland gain awareness about Ireland’s culture and people while acquiring hands-on skills and learn about the country’s dynamic role in the European Union and global economy.

Tags: Global Education , Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship , Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement

Alumni and Giving

Kent State President Todd Diacon, right, and Joe Diorio, Portage County Health Commissioner, unveil the Mobile Flashes Wellness Unit on April 4, 2024.

Mobile Flashes Wellness Unit Makes Its Debut

The brightly colored blue and gold Mobile Flashes Wellness Unit from Kent State University’s College of Public Health will be hitting the streets to help bring public health services to the people of northeast Ohio.

Tags: Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement , Philanthropy

Alumni and Giving

Image from CAE

Propelling Future Aviation Professionals

Kent State University has received a significant grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to create an initiative to bolster the workforce for aircraft pilots and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operators in Northeast Ohio.

Tags: College of Aeronautics & Engineering , Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement

Alumni and Giving

Ann Mariko Walter, ’96,

Ann Mariko Walter, ’96

Will Matthews, ’19, adds some flavor to Northeast Ohio’s food scene with Southern Comfort Kitchen, his New Orleans-inspired restaurant and food truck.

Tags: Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement

Alumni and Giving

Lighter than air

Daring Mighty Things - Lighter Than Air

First-year students in Kent State’s College of Aeronautics and Engineering were challenged to engineer and build propeller-driven aircraft suspended by helium balloons as part of the college’s “Lighter Than Air” competition.

Tags: Prioritizing Student Success , Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement

Alumni and Giving

Image of Moore

Championing a Place for Women in Science

Aleisha Moore, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, is exploring how the brain can influence hormones and fertility. One area of research for Moore is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a condition that affects nearly 10 percent of women worldwide.

Tags: Prioritizing Student Success , Global Education , Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement

Alumni and Giving