Kent State Today

When Lillian Glaze, a junior visual communication design major, opened the “WNBA Launch” email, she immediately realized the assignment was much bigger than she expected. She would be the technical director for the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) brand reveal at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, helping bring the city’s newest professional sports team to life for thousands of viewers.  

For generations of Kent State University students, alumni, faculty and staff, there were certain places that felt like home. Ray’s Place was one of them. And Charlie Thomas was one of the people who made it that way.

Kendall Myers has spent the past several years studying creatures that are easy to overlook. 

Kent State University opened the 2026 Fall Semester with its largest incoming architecture class in 25 years and its largest nursing class in a decade, continued national recognition for affordability and financial strength, and a new initiative built to help every incoming student thrive from day one — all while remaining the largest public university in northern Ohio.

Kent State University’s Aeronautics and Engineering Expo returns Sept. 26 with historic and modern aircraft, airplane rides, drone and robotics demonstrations, and family-friendly STEM activities at the Kent State University Airport.

The Flash Activities Board, known as FAB, is usually a student’s first introduction to the Kent State University community. Whether a student is looking for a quick evening activity, roaring crowds or somewhere to meet new friends in general, an event by the FAB should be their first stop.

Kent State University’s Center for Student Involvement hosted its first Leaders Lunch Club of the semester at the Pepsi Leadership Center on Sept. 2 with Sarah Spinner, Ph.D., J.D., director of the Kent State University Museum, as its first featured speaker to kick off the fall event series. “Leadership is not a title that’s given to you,” Spinner said. “Someone doesn’t make you a leader. Leadership is how you choose to act.”

Kent State Dodgeball enters its 25th season ranked fourth nationally and third in the Ohio Region. Team leaders and members describe a close-knit community built on Wednesday and Friday practices, with the squad eyeing a rematch against rival Ohio State University after a semifinal loss last year.

Courtney Donovan, ’20, came to Kent State to study art and pursue her interest in the sciences. She left with a career hand-sculpting new eyes, ears and noses for patients rebuilding their lives after cancer and trauma.

Laurie Ann Moennich, Ph.D., didn't arrive at Kent State University planning to change healthcare. She came to study graphic design. But Kent State had a way of opening doors she didn't even know existed.

During her recent high-profile UNESCO assessment of Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy, France, Mary Ann Devine meticulously documented how the island's medieval architecture inherently limits universal access.

A Kent State University student from Turkmenistan is making a name for himself in Northeast Ohio’s distance running community, as recently featured on WKYC-TV’s “Heartstrings” series.

Healthcare professionals trained in other countries often find that they need additional training before they are permitted to practice in the United States. For foreign-trained physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, Kent State University provides a way to bridge that gap.

More than two decades of research on a project led by a Kent State University professor has resulted in a new discovery in nuclear physics that is being celebrated nationally. 

Kent State University Professor Pratim Datta, Ph.D., a faculty member in the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship's Department of Information Systems and Business Analytics, was a featured guest on a recent episode of Cybersecurity Today.

A Kent State professor and students helped Walls Elementary recover a time capsule.

Before Pinterest boards and TikTok DIYs, there was “Design on a Dime.” Now, 2019 Kent State University graduate Maddie Scalzi is bringing the 2000s HGTV show back to life, one DIY and thrifted find at a time.

For Nathan Smith, the first lesson came before he met Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. Ask. The Kent State student and newly elected student body president of the university’s Undergraduate Student Government spent three hours alongside the governor at the Ohio State Fair – an opportunity he says grew out of the confidence and relationships he built during his first two years at Kent State.

Even 25 years later, Sept. 11, 2001, remains embedded in collective memory. For Kent State University English instructor Robert McDowell, poetry offers space to revisit those moments. His new collection, “The Excellent Assembly,” reflects on 9/11 and the lasting emotional impact of a tragedy that stopped time.

The Kent State University Museum presents a new exhibition by internationally recognized, Cleveland-based artist Aimee Lee. “Aimee Lee: Every Last Scrap” is on display through May 24, 2027. 

For 20 years, Main Street Kent has worked to make downtown a place students want to explore – from Flashes First Friday to Oktoberfest to public art – helping Kent earn recognition as the No. 1 college town in Ohio.

Campus fellows have gone above and beyond to build a culture of belonging, advocacy, and impact throughout the past year

Kent State University has announced the implementation of a new Clear Bag Policy for all home ticketed events, beginning this fall with the 2026 football season. The policy is designed to enhance venue security, reduce wait times at entry points, and provide a safer environment for fans, guests, and student-athletes.

Justine Siegal started her journey with Kent State University before she was even enrolled as a student. She had heard about the sports studies and while she knew she would not be accepted on her test scores alone, she felt her lifelong passion for sports would carry some weight.