“In the News” features Kent State University’s values, cultures, high-quality academics and award-winning support and access for all in these media stories of our faculty, staff, students and alumni in action. 

In getting into the role of the lead character in "Trial By Fire," a play about banned books and activism, a Kent State student keenly feels the connections between the themes in the play and the university’s history of activism. 

Meet Christopher Shaffer, a senior aerospace engineering major with a minor in physics, from New Bern, North Carolina, whose curiosity in sciences paved the way for his academic career.

On Feb. 1, more than 250 guests gathered to recognize the 55th anniversary of Black History Month at Kent State University, which was first established by the student organization Black United Students (BUS) in 1970 and was recognized nationwide by President Gerald Ford in 1976. 

A luncheon and panel discussion titled “The Dream of Wellness: Mental Health Advocacy Through the Lens of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” marked the occasion, which was held in the Kent Student Center Ballroom.

Phishing attacks are on the rise, but Kent State is ready. With cutting-edge digital tools, a team of skilled engineers, and regular cybersecurity training for our university community, the university is constantly working to keep you protected.

First-year students in the Provost Leadership Academy are asked to look at Kent State through a critical lens, with an eye toward how they would change or improve some aspect of university life. Here are some of the ideas being considered.

In the fall, when you hear the Kent State Marching Golden Flashes practicing, does it sound like it’s getting louder? It is. The band and the programs are growing.  

Joshua Perkins, Ph.D., is excited about the opportunity to continue to serve, support and advocate for students on a new level as the associate vice president and dean of students for Kent State University.

Now a project engineer at The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., alumnus Michael Parker, ’02, uses the skills he developed while pursuing dual degrees in mechatronics engineering and mechatronics engineering technology at Kent State to launch a successful and fulfilling career.

Dr. Nick Campitelli, D.P.M., has been practicing podiatry in Fairlawn, Ohio, now for 20 years and has garnered a major following on TikTok and YouTube for sharing his expertise, leading to many happy patients. 

Alumnus Evan Gildenblatt said Kent State University’s peace and conflict studies program intially appealed to him because it was so broadly applicable to everyday life. Today, he uses the skills he learned while earning his Bachelor of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies in his role as a judicial law clerk at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio in Cincinnati.

As the first light snow of the season fell on Kent State University, the Student Center Ballroom radiated warmth and camaraderie during the International Cook-Off Competition. The event, part of International Education Week, brought together hundreds of students, faculty and staff to celebrate global flavors and cultural diversity.

The Office of Intercultural Student Life, formerly known as International Student Affairs, has a new central location in the Kent Student Center, which has made it more accessible to international students. Along with the new location comes the mission to provide drop-in services for international students.

International Education Week, taking place Nov. 18-22, celebrates the different cultures across the Kent State University community and highlights international experiences and opportunities the university offers.

In a groundbreaking advancement for augmented reality technology, Kent State University researchers have developed a novel dual-sided transparent display that could revolutionize how we interact with digital information in everyday environments.

A groundbreaking phase one clinical trial exploring a novel cell-based immunotherapy for breast cancer has been accepted for publication in JAMA Oncology. The technology tested in the trial was co-developed by Gary Koski, Ph.D., professor in Kent State University’s Department of Biological Sciences, and Brian J. Czerniecki, M.D., Ph.D., chair and senior member in the Moffitt Cancer Center’s Department of Breast Oncology. 

Esrat Farhana Dulia won first place in Kent State’s 2024 Three Minute Thesis competition in the Graduate College for her innovative research in a surveillance sensor network that will enable Advanced Air Mobility operators to guide authorized uncrewed aerial vehicles in safe flight paths that would avoid potential collisions. 

Every weekend, Kent State University junior marketing major Zoe Noel travels throughout northeast Ohio, filling the streets with the aroma of coffee and freshly made donuts.  

The School of Fashion is globally recognized for its exceptional programming. It provides students with opportunities to apply their skills in real-world settings, but it takes awareness and nerve for students to recognize a golden opportunity to showcase those skills. Jesus Baldrich, a sophomore fashion merchandising major, saw one such chance and took it.

For Catherine Veranese, a senior air traffic and airspace management student at Kent State University, the path to becoming an aviation professional has been paved with hands-on experience, leadership opportunities and industry connections.

Kent State University Museum, under the leadership of director Sarah Spinner Liska, Ph.D., J.D., is becoming a dynamic hub for creativity, fashion and education. Liska was recently featured in a Cleveland.com article highlighting some of her current initiatives and her focus on increasing student involvement.

Kent State students combined cutting-edge Depthkit volumetric capture technology with dance choreography to create an innovative performance piece titled "Oy, Mi Gente." The interdisciplinary project, which merged live dancers with holographic versions of themselves dancing on rooftops and spinning through space, showcased the collaborative efforts of the School of Theatre and Dance and the School of Emerging Media and Technology.

Board games, card games and computer games are all fair game at the second annual Let’s Make the Rules: A Game Creation Experience, a design challenge open to Kent State University students who have an idea for a new game.

Antonio Gates has been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2025, becoming the second Kent State alumnus to earn football's highest honor, joining linebacker Jack Lambert who was enshrined in 1990.

Former Kent State football player and two-time Golden Flash graduate Nick Saban, who went on to become college football’s most successful coach, will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a member of the 2025 class, the National Football Foundation announced today.

Kent State Men's Basketball (13-7) will host the University of Akron (15-5) on Friday, Jan. 31 inside the M.A.C. Center. Tipoff between the Golden Flashes and Zips is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.