Nationally Distinctive

Five planes piloted by Kent State students from Rwanda line up before takeoff. (Photo credit: Bob Christy)

Blue Skies, Bright Future: Five Rwandan Students Make Their First Flights at Kent State

Five Rwandan students selected from 2,600 applicants are training to become professional pilots at Kent State University – and just made their first flights.

Tags: Global Reach , Nationally Distinctive , College of Aeronautics and Engineering , Rwanda , College of Honors and Global Education

Kent State Today

Ohio’s Best Advocates for Employee Ownership Are Here at Kent State

For nearly 40 years, Kent State University's Ohio Employee Ownership Center has helped educate, train and advocate for Ohio businesses on the path to employee ownership. 

Tags: Kent State Works , Nationally Distinctive , Community & Society

Kent State Works

A model showcases a design by a Kent State University fashion design student during a 2023 fashion show in New York City. (Photo credit: Rami Daud, Kent State University)

Kent State’s School of Fashion Marks 20 Years of Immersive Fashion Education in New York City

Kent State University’s School of Fashion is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its New York City Fashion program in Manhattan’s Garment District with a two-day event on June 11-12. The celebration includes a free Portfolio Showcase and Reception on June 11 and an exclusive philanthropic dinner on June 12, with proceeds benefiting the NYC Fashion Housing Fund.

Tags: University News , Nationally Distinctive , School of Fashion , NYC Fashion , College of the Arts

Kent State Today

Ohio Statehouse

Kent State University Museum Presents Spacesuit at the Ohio Statehouse

The Kent State University Museum and the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board announce “Ohioans in Space: The Carl E. Walz Spacesuit from the Kent State University Museum,” a special installation opening on May 19 at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, celebrating Ohio’s legacy of excellence in aviation and space exploration.

Tags: Arts & Culture , Nationally Distinctive

Kent State Today

Dean Kahler with student artists who contributed to his May 4 exhibit.

May 4 Shooting Victim Inspires Students With Disabilities to Embrace Their Own

Dean Kahler is often quoted as saying he only had one bad day at Kent State University.

That day was May 4, 1970, when an Ohio National Guardsman’s bullet struck Kahler as he stood under a tree watching, from what he thought was a safe distance, a student protest against the escalation of the War in Vietnam. When the National Guard fired on the students, a bullet pierced Kahler’s spine, leaving him paralyzed and wheelchair bound for the rest of his life.

Tags: University News , Community & Society , May 4 Visitors Center , May 4 , Nationally Distinctive

Kent State Today

Study Away Fashion Show 2026

IN A FLASH: Kent State Fashion Week 2026

Kent State's annual Fashion Week is April 27- May . It's a full week of dynamic, colorful events building up to the School of Fashion's 2026 Hall of Fame Gala.

Tags: School of Fashion , Nationally Distinctive , Arts & Culture , Student Life , College of the Arts

Kent State Today

Alan Canfora Collage

Protector of History: Alan Canfora Collection to be Dedicated at Kent State University Libraries

The largest private collection of documents and materials relating to the May 4, 1970, shootings at Kent State University, amassed by survivor Alan Canfora, will be formally dedicated by University Libraries’ Special Collections and Archives on May 

Tags: May 4 Commemoration , University News , Nationally Distinctive , May 4

Kent State Today

Kent State University students Ayat Husain, Saloni Christian and Jaden Hacking are pursuing podiatric medicine careers.

Why These Kent State Students Chose a Career in Podiatric Medicine

From a suturing workshop to a shadowing experience to a career-changing foot injury, three Kent State University students found their way to podiatric medicine, and they want undergraduate students to consider it too.

Tags: Health , Nationally Distinctive , College of Podiatric Medicine , Department of Biological Sciences , Exercise Science

Kent State Today

May 4 Commemoration graphic

MEDIA ADVISORY: Kent State Remembers May 4, 1970, With 56th Commemoration

Kent State University will hold its annual commemoration to honor the memory of May 4, 1970 – a tragic day when the Ohio National Guard opened fire on Kent State students during an anti-war protest on campus, killing four students and wounding nine others. May 4, 1970, marked a pivotal moment in American history. 

Tags: University News , Nationally Distinctive , May 4 , May 4 Commemoration

Kent State Today

Laura Davis on Daffodil Hill

‘Perseverance Is Going to Have to Be Part of the Process’

Laura Davis, Ph.D., co-founder and first director of Kent State University’s May 4 Visitors Center, was recently named a Woman of the Year by the Summit County Historical Society. Davis was a first-year student at Kent State on May 4, 1970, and she shares her journey to becoming an activist and what people today can learn from America’s history of protest. 

Tags: Profiles , May 4 , May 4 Visitors Center , Nationally Distinctive , Community Impact

Kent State Today