Profiles

For Kent State University alumna Erica Wilson-Domer, passion in helping others is key to her success. On July 1, 2023, Wilson-Domer became the new president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio. 

All eyes are on Jacob Schnitzer, Kent State's new interim director of orchestras, as he lifts his baton in the air, readying himself to guide students through a practice of one of their pieces for an upcoming performance. Schnitzer comes to Kent State with numerous accolades, including conducting the world premiere of more than 45 pieces for living composers.

With more than six months at the helm of Kent State University’s research division, Vice President Douglas Delahanty, Ph.D., has been hard at work making sure the university is sharply focused on its collaborations with business and industry and maintaining its R1 research status. He recently sat down with Kent State Today to talk about his first year and changes in the division.

Graduating senior Delia Brennan applies she learns in the classroom to help survivors of trauma and promote activism in her community.

When he was a student at Kent State University, Preston Mitchum, BA ‘08, was heavily involved in student government and other organizations and recalls taking part in a considerable number of campus protests. 

First-generation, non-traditional student Yalanda Cunningham knows that Kent State has her back. After graduating with her associate's degree from a community college in Kalamazoo, Cunningham decided to finish her bachelor’s degree at Kent State University. “I believe you can go so much further in your life,” Cunningham said, “if you had a solid background in education,” she said. 

Jailynn Taylor didn’t originally set out to write about the fashion industry. She set out to design for it. But today, Taylor is living her dream working in the fast-paced world of the fashion industry as a contracted commerce and beauty writer for InStyle and Shape.com in New York City.

Tina Patel leads with empathy in the classroom, the design studio and every space in between.

Sisterhood is a strong bond. For Kent State alumnae Brittany and Christina Watts, their sisterly love has been the cornerstone of their academic success, leading them to earn their doctoral degrees and graduate together this May.

After 27 years of travel and pivoting to various international endeavors, Sonia Karkare, a native of Mumbai, India, is now back at Kent State as an adjunct professor with the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship’s Executive MBA (Master of Business Administration) program. She is teaching diverse types of courses, including the Digital Transformation in Healthcare course.