Roxia B. Boykin, Summa Health System’s
vice president, Community Benefit and
Diversity, was appointed the President’s
Ambassador for Kent State University.

The President’s Ambassador for Kent State University for this academic year is Roxia B. Boykin, Summa Health System’s vice president, Community Benefit and Diversity. Boykin’s appointment to this one-year advisory and action role begins in September 2011.

The ambassadorship is a program designed to bring distinguished minority professionals to the university for one academic year to share their experience in diversity and their professional expertise with students and faculty.

“Roxia has extensive experience not only in diversity and health care but also in business and organizational leadership,” says Kent State University President Lester A. Lefton. “She will be a valuable asset to faculty, a role model for our students and a catalyst to develop inclusive excellence at Kent State.”

Boykin, a Kent State alumna, has been a top administrator at major health systems as director of nursing, vice president for patient care services and chief operating officer. She has been with Summa Health System since 2007.

The President’s Ambassadorship, now in its second year, is part of the university’s ongoing diversity mission. The university and the ambassador will agree on activities to be conducted, including working with students, speeches, seminars, teaching and other appearances at Kent State campuses.

The ambassador for the 2010-11 academic years has been Andre Thornton, former Cleveland Indians star, entrepreneur and owner of one of Ohio’s largest minority-owned businesses. Thornton’s activities included teaching entrepreneurial skills to business students, speaking at university events and in other venues on behalf of Kent State, and taking part in Kent State diversity/business seminars.

“I am proud to accept this honor and look forward to working with Kent State and its students,” Boykin says. “It is wonderful to have the opportunity to give back to my alma mater in this way.”