“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. 

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.

It’s not every day that someone gets to celebrate the 100th birthday of their hero, but for Kent State University graduate student Mason St. Clair it happened. On Oct. 1, he was in Plains, Georgia, attending the 100th birthday bash of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and shared details of his experience with Kent State Today. Carter, a Democrat who served one term from 1977-1981, is the only American president to live to age 100.

On Dec. 14, the Kent State University alumni family will grow by more than 2,500 new graduates as the university holds its fall commencement ceremonies, recognizing the accomplishments of the Fall Class of 2024.

Members of the Kent State University community joined together to cause a ripple effect of change reaching far beyond Kent State, raising more than $4.9 million to support scholarships and programs across the university for its Giving Tuesday 2024 campaign.

The U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan has awarded Kent State University a grant to study the higher education system of the Central Asian nation and develop proposals for improvements.

If you’ve ever been to the Kent Student Center, you’re aware of the constant motion within those walls. Events, meetings, presentations and more spring up frequently in the Ballroom, on the third floor, in the Schwebel Room, on the second floor balcony, in the Governance Chambers. But have you ever thought about how all that happens? The answer is simple. The Blue Shirts do it.

Fifteen years ago, the Cohn Jewish Student Center opened its doors, becoming a vital hub for Jewish students at Kent State University. Since its opening, Kent Hillel has worked to foster a sense of belonging, cultural pride and a supportive community for Jewish students and others across the campus.

As excitement builds for the upcoming event hosted by your student group, you plaster posters on lamp posts and the sides of campus buildings to promote it. While Kent State supports events created by student organizations, there is a right way and a right place to hang posters on campus.

Victoria Bylsma said it only took about two hours after a mentor suggested she look into a graduate degree in public health for her to know what she wanted to do with her career. Today, the Kent State University Master of Public Health graduate helps to protect service members’ health and readiness as an injury epidemiologist at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Dayton.

Unsure of what he wanted to do in life when he first came to Kent State University, it was the hands-on learning experiences he had in his degree program that led Dexter Shreve to becoming a business owner.

Myron Lard grew up just 40 miles from the East Palestine derailment site. He returned to help the community understand the impact.

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.

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. 

Now there’s good news for people with mild to moderate hearing impairment. The FDA recently authorized the first over-the-counter hearing aid software device intended to be used with compatible versions of the Apple AirPods Pro headphones. As with any decision about your health, before you plug in, consult with a medical professional. So that’s what Kent State Today did.

When Alex Newnes arrived at Kent State University this fall, she wasn't sure what career path she wanted to pursue. But unlike many undecided students, Newnes saw this uncertainty not as a drawback, but as an opportunity – one that led her specifically to Kent State's Exploratory program.

Meet Jess Edmisten, a junior communication studies major with a minor in public relations from Medina, Ohio. When it came to deciding what to study, she felt it was a clear choice as the communication program offered immense flexibility. Just what she needed with her busy life.

“Teaching is one of those fields where you may never know the impact that you have,” said Lisa Borgerding, Ph.D., professor in the School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies at Kent State University. The lasting impact she has had on her students in preparing them for success in the workforce through hands-on learning experiences has resulted in her being recognized and honored with the Distinguished Teaching Award.  

University Libraries’ Performing Arts Library at Kent State University hosted its Open Mic Lunch on Nov. 1, where students and university community members came together to showcase their talents and connect through live music. 

Kent State’s School of Fashion has long fostered deep industry connections, and on Nov. 7 those partnerships were on full display as the school hosted a fashion show in Cleveland’s Flats district to launch the new all-electric Porsche Macan.

For Haider Riaz, the first orchestra concert of the season was an unforgettable experience. His original composition, “To the Memory of Shiver-Me, the CAT,” was premiered by the Kent State University Orchestra, marking a significant artistic milestone for the young composer and offering the audience a moving tribute to a beloved pet.

In the latest edition of "Kent State of Mind," men's track and field athlete Antoine Brown discusses finding his place at Kent State University after transferring. 

Kent State has announced the eight-member 2024 Varsity K Athletics Hall of Fame class, which will be honored as part of the 45th induction ceremony on Feb. 1, 2025.

The campus community joined together with pizza and joy Nov. 19 at Kent State Tuscarawas to celebrate their national champion women’s volleyball program.