Kent State Today

Kent State University offers a variety of resources to help parents and families stay engaged with their students and the greater Kent State community. Parents and Families Appreciation Weekend, coming up on Sept. 25-26, will feature many events across campus and downtown.

Kent State University remains northern Ohio’s top-ranked public university in the U.S. News & World Report 2027 Best Colleges rankings, with four undergraduate programs also ranking among the nation’s top 200.

Six Kent State University scholars gathered to explore how Dolly Parton became one of America's most influential cultural figures — not just as a musician, but as a peacebuilder, educator and philanthropist.

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.

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.

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.  

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

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.

This November, Kent State University’s Wick Poetry Center will host the inaugural Poets for Science Gathering, an international convening that will explore the connection between poetry and science.

Once a month, Kent State University’s International Student and Scholar Services presents the Cultural Cafe. Abisola Mohammed, a graduate student in emerging media and technology who hails from Nigeria, started this year’s schedule with this simple question: “How far?”

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.

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.