Students First

Bob Christy, Kent State’s senior photography coordinator, holds his camera while covering Spring 2022 Commencement.

Serving under four university presidents, Bob Christy is a witness to Kent State University history. His photos document the university's people, places and points in time. Get to know Christy as Kent State Today takes a closer look at the man behind the camera.

Kent State students Ryan Aquilani of Philadelphia, Pa., and Holly Atkinson of Dayton, Ohio, make fidget tools as part of Disability Awareness Month, sponsored by Student Accessibility Services.

Kent State's Student Accessibility Services is celebrating October as Disability Awareness Month, with events and activities to spread the word to students that they are not alone in their struggle and that help is available. 

woman checks cellphone

Changes are coming to Rave, Kent State University’s Emergency Communication System, which is used to send Flash ALERTS as text messages when important information needs to be distributed in a timely fashion, such as during a safety crisis or weather emergency. 

Warhorse Tattoos

Juliana Buonaiuto, Undergraduate Student Government president, stated in her convocation speech this year that she got a lightning bolt tattoo during the first two weeks of her first year. A recent Pew Research Center survey revealed that 32% of Americans have a tattoo. Kent State Today went to some local authorities to see if those trends match the Kent State community. 

A sillhouette of a person doing yoga in the sun

October is Kent State University’s Mental Health Awareness Month. Though the national health observance is in May, the university chooses October to promote mental health awareness as the need for mental health support on campus peaks during this time.   

Prof. Stephanie Smith at the third annual read-in, open-mic event

“If Monday was a color, she’d be red...”  The third annual Read-In @ Kent State was held on Wednesday, Sept. 27, in Taylor Hall. This open-mic event gave students, faculty, staff and alumni the opportunity to read excerpts from or speak briefly about banned and challenged books that are important to them.  

Kristin Stasiowski (far right), assistant dean of international programs and education abroad for the College of Arts and Sciences at Kent State University, leads a group of Kent State students as they discover the art, architecture and history of Basilica di Santa Croce in Florence, Italy.

Kent State University leadership and donors known as the Renaissance Scholars Society will gather to commemorate 50 years of education abroad in Florence, Italy, during the first week of October.

Kent State Today
Kent State University alumnus and Berk Enterprises CEO Reilly Berk holds one of her company's products, a paper plate for the amusement industry.

Kent State University alumna Reilly Berk serves as CEO of Berk Enterprises, an achievement she reached before the age of 30.

Musician and May 4 Witness Chris Butler and Alison Caplan, director of the May 4 Visitors Center

Stories of friendship and loss set against the backdrop of May 4 memorabilia and a ’60s soundtrack were the focal points of a listening party held Sept. 21 as part of “Snapshots in Time: The Lives of Four Students” with musician and May 4 survivor Chris Butler.

Labovitz with Flash

Growing up in Akron, Labovitz was surrounded by music. Her dad sang to the radio. Her mom played guitar. Her siblings excelled in music. She excelled in music. With a lengthy list of accomplishments across numerous states, she recently returned to “the heart of it all” as the new director of the Hugh A. Glauser School of Music at Kent State University.