Kent State Today

When Matilde Carboncini was walking through the streets of Florence, Italy, the summer before starting college, she stumbled upon something unexpected.

The Kent State University Mock Trial Team has only six months to learn about a fictional case before acting it out during its competition season. The team will head to Penn State University in mid-February to compete in the Regional Competition. These local and regional experiences provide students with the opportunity to test their skills against the best in the country while gaining a broader perspective on the legal field.

Every semester, Kent State University reopens the door to a diploma for students who left college without finishing a degree.

A job opportunity, a family crisis, military service or running out of money – there are many reasons why students leave college without completing their studies.

Kent State's Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration included a panel discussion, “Keeping Joy, Faith and ‘The Dream’ Alive in Uncertain Times,” which offered thoughtful perspectives on hope, purpose and progress.

Kent State University’s Prison Reentry Program was recently featured on WKBN-TV for its partnership with FCI Elkton, featuring the inaugural class of 18 incarcerated students who earned their Kent State associate degrees.

Kent State University has earned recognition in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Online Programs rankings. Three Kent State programs rank in the top 100 nationally among all public and private institutions in the new rankings.

Measles cases are increasing nationwide, including confirmed cases at several college campuses. While Kent State has not reported any cases, understanding this highly contagious disease can help our campus community stay informed and protected.

Kent State University is experiencing a healthy demand for on-campus housing as more students recognize the benefits of living in the heart of campus. For many students, it is not just about the proximity to campus and classes but also the connection. 

For high school students considering Kent State’s entrepreneurship program, William Elffers encourages them to take the leap. “Deep down everybody has an idea for a business, but somewhere along the way, somebody tells them, just choose the safe route,” he said. “Four years at Kent, five years, six years at Kent is a great time to really explore what your possibilities are with starting a business. It's a safe environment. You can fail and get picked back up and learn.”

For Kent, Ohio, native and 2018 Kent State University graduate Stan Zalewski, mathematics has always been a big part of his life. Now a senior actuarial consultant at Nationwide Insurance, Zalewski recently reached a significant professional milestone — completing the multi-year process to earn the title of Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society.

The International Cook-Off, an event hosted by Kent State’s Office of Global Education and International Student and Scholar Services, is beloved by many international and domestic students. 

Kent State University’s associate vice president of the Office of Global Education, Paulo Mussi Agusto, Ph.D., was featured as a guest in an episode of the “On Campus – with CITI Program" to talk about the American Academy.

Kent State University’s Gerald H. Read Center for International and Intercultural Education recently was awarded a $50,000 grant to help train teachers in Southwestern Nigeria.

Allyson Tessin, Ph.D., assistant professor in Kent State University’s Department of Earth Sciences, has received a National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) Award to support her research on how the seafloor and ocean interact in rapidly changing Arctic environments.

Whether you call them roundabouts or traffic circles, this increasingly popular feature on American roadways can have some drivers spinning. But while roundabouts are considered safer than traditional intersections for vehicle traffic, how safe are they for pedestrians?

Kent State University's Brain Health Research Institute recently held its annual Neuroscience Symposium 2025, Conference and Research Exchange. The two-day event, which took place at the Kent State University Hotel & Conference Center, highlighted the research of Kent State faculty and students.

Every Sunday that the Browns play away, Kent State alumnus Kyle Kovach, cooks a dish based on the city the Browns are facing, reflecting his motto: “In order to beat the team, you have to eat the team.” Meet the 2025 Cleveland Browns Fan of the Year.

Meet Karissa Wahl, a member of the Honors College and a second-year public health major with junior standing from Mansfield, Ohio. She has a concentration in allied health and also minors in psychology, disability studies and community inclusion.   

Meet the Sprague family and their unique tie to Kent State University. After retiring as an Ohio State Trooper, Rick Sprague accepted a position with the Kent State police services last year. His son, Officer Tristan Sprague, also joined the police department last year. In the fall, Rick Sprague’s two daughters enrolled at Kent State, making the family’s service to the campus community all the more meaningful.

Kent State Today showcases the university's most striking images from 2025, as captured by staff photographers Bob Christy, Rami Daud and Mike Rich, and their student colleagues, throughout a year of academic achievement, campus celebrations and student success. 

Last summer, 12 Kent State students in the university's Visual Communication Design program worked with Route Eight Studios to learn about the real-world challenges artists face in creating comic books. "Flash Fiction" is the result - an anthology of stories written and illustrated by students creators. 

Kent State Vice President and Director of Athletics Randale L. Richmond have announced that head baseball coach Jeff Duncan signed a contract extension to keep him leading the Golden Flashes through the 2030 season.

Kent State Men's Basketball (12-3) moved to 3-0 in Mid-American Conference play on Tuesday night, defeating the Bowling Green Falcons by a final score of 96-93.

Kent State University announced today that women’s wrestling will become the athletics department’s 20th varsity sport, marking a historic addition to the Golden Flashes athletics lineup and a milestone for collegiate athletics in Ohio. Kent State becomes the first NCAA Division I institution in the state and fifth in the nation to sponsor women’s wrestling.