eInside Briefs

Star NFL Player Julian Edelman Returns to Kent State as Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal

University celebrates its annual Homecoming on Oct. 3

Julian Edelman of the New England
Patriots runs the ball down the field
during Super Bowl XLIX. The former
Kent State University quarterback returns
to his alma mater Oct. 3 as this year’s
Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal.

(Photo credit: New England Patriots)

Julian Edelman, former Kent State University Golden Flashes quarterback and current member of the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, will return to his alma mater to serve as Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal when Kent State holds its annual Homecoming on Oct. 3.

“Get ready, Kent State,” Edelman says. “I’m coming back! I am excited to be the Grand Marshal of this year’s Homecoming Parade. I want to see as many Golden Flashes’ fans – current students, graduates, community members and visitors – come to this year’s festivities as possible. I am a proud Golden Flash, and I can’t wait to see everyone and be back on campus.”

A native of Redwood City, California, Edelman played on Kent State’s football team from 2006-2008. He was a three-year starting quarterback at Kent State and a captain on the 2008 team. He still holds Kent State’s single-season record for total yards (3,190) and is among the Golden Flashes’ career leaders in both passing yards (4,997) and rushing yards (2,483).

The New England Patriots chose Edelman in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Over the last two seasons, Edelman has caught 197 passes for the Patriots, helping New England to a Super Bowl XLIX victory this past February.

This year, Edelman will be inducted into the Kent State Varsity “K” Athletics Hall of Fame. He is one of eight new members in the 2015 class, which also includes Kent State alumnus and University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban. Due to the Patriots’ schedule, Edelman is unable to attend the induction ceremony on Sept. 26. However, Kent State’s Department of Athletics will honor Edelman as a Varsity “K” inductee during the Oct. 3 Homecoming football game against the Miami University RedHawks.

Prior to the parade, Kent State students, alumni and fans will have the opportunity for a meet and greet with Edelman at 10:15 a.m. at the Alumni Hospitality Tent by Williamson Alumni Center, located near the corner of East Main Street and Midway Drive in Kent.

The Kent State Homecoming Parade steps off at 11 a.m. Parade attendees will have the opportunity to catch minifootballs thrown by Edelman along the parade route. He will also attend the football game that kicks off at 3:30 p.m. at Dix Stadium.

For more information about Kent State’s Homecoming 2015, including a schedule of events, visit www.ksualumni.org/homecoming.

Kent State’s Melody Tankersley Named Senior Associate Provost and Interim Dean of Graduate Studies

Melody Tankersley, Ph.D., has been
named Kent State University’s senior
associate provost and interim dean of
graduate studies.

Melody Tankersley, Ph.D., has been named Kent State University’s senior associate provost and interim dean of graduate studies. Tankersley previously served as associate provost for academic affairs and has been a faculty member in the College of Education, Health and Human Services since 1993.

In her new role as senior associate provost, Tankersley provides leadership in the areas of Accreditation, Assessment and Learning; Office of the University Registrar; Institutional Research; Curriculum Services; School of Digital Sciences; Kent State University Press; and ROTC. As a senior administrative officer, she also works closely with Todd Diacon, Ph.D., Kent State’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, in the Division of Academic Affairs.

As interim dean of graduate studies, Tankersley provides administrative and strategic direction to Kent State’s Division of Graduate Studies. She also serves as the major advocate and spokesperson for graduate issues across the university, working to enhance graduate education, including student quality of life and student services,  admissions, recruitment and enrollment management, and policy development and implementation.

Tankersley, a professor of special education, earned her doctorate degree from the University of Virginia. She has published more than 90 professional journal articles, chapters and texts, and addressed more than 200 national and international audiences.

For more information about Kent State’s Office of the Provost, visit www.kent.edu/provost.

For more information about Kent State’s Division of Graduate Studies, visit www.kent.edu/graduatestudies.

Kent State’s Dana Lawless-Andric Named Associate Vice President for Diversity

Dana Lawless-Andric has been named
associate vice president for the Division
of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Kent State University’s Dana Lawless-Andric has been named associate vice president for the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, effective Aug. 1. Lawless-Andric has worked in various capacities at Kent State since 2002, most recently serving as executive director for Diversity and Inclusion Leadership. Her area includes oversight of the TRIO Upward Bound Programs, Student Multicultural Center, the division’s Education and Training Lab, special projects and initiatives, and various strategic and administration functions in support of the vice president.

“Dana has been an anchor in the division since its formation in 2009,” says Alfreda Brown, Ed.D., Kent State’s vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion. “She has continuously provided support services to students and staff, as well as built solid collaborations with units across the university. Dana's passion and commitment toward diversity success is without question as she continues to lead major efforts of transformative change.”

For more information about Kent State’s Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, visit www.kent.edu/diversity.

Kent State’s Accounting Program Endorsed by Institute of Management Accountants

Kent State University’s accounting
program has earned endorsement by IMA.
The endorsement recognizes programs
that meet high educational standards,
enabling students to pursue and earn the
Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
credential.  

Kent State University’s College of Business Administration is proud to announce that its accounting program has earned endorsement by IMA (Institute of Management Accountants), one of the largest and most respected associations focused exclusively on advancing the management accounting profession.

IMA’s Endorsement of Higher Education initiative recognizes programs that meet high educational standards, enabling students to pursue and earn the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) credential.

“Endorsement by IMA is a great achievement that will help our undergraduate accounting students better prepare for a rewarding career in management accounting,” says Deborah F. Spake, dean of Kent State’s College of Business Administration. “This is a testament to the quality of our faculty and the curriculum that will benefit the careers of our students and ultimately their future employers.”

To qualify for endorsement by IMA, schools must meet the following criteria:

• The program must substantially cover the CMA exam content.
• The program must have adequate faculty resources to deliver this content.
• The program must be accredited by a recognized accreditation organization (e.g., AACSB, ACBSP, EQUIS, etc.)
• A faculty member must be designated as an IMA Campus Advocate.
  

“The IMA Endorsement of our BBA program highlights the strength of our curriculum in management accounting,” says Wendy Tietz, accounting professor at Kent State and designated IMA campus advocate for the College of Business Administration. “Our curriculum aligns strongly with the content of the Certified Management Accountant exam, which, for a student choosing a career in managerial accounting, is a great credential.”

The program offers two tiers of endorsement: full endorsement for those university programs that meet all endorsement criteria; and provisional endorsement for programs with minor to moderate shortcomings in meeting the criteria for full endorsement. Kent State’s College of Business Administration was awarded full endorsement.

“It is an honor to be one of the only 23 accounting programs worldwide to receive IMA’s full endorsement,” says Linda Zucca, Ph.D., CPA, chair of Kent State’s Department of Accounting in the College of Business Administration. “This is evidence of Kent State University’s commitment to top-notch accounting education, which aligns with the initiatives by IMA to support young accountants in the classroom and the workplace.”

IMA’s globally recognized CMA program is a relevant assessment of advanced accounting and financial management knowledge in four areas: financial planning, analysis, control and decision support – each of which is increasingly critical in meeting the changing needs of business, and therefore, essential learning for students of accounting and finance.

“IMA is pleased to welcome Kent State’s College of Business Administration to the growing list of colleges that support the CMA exam program and have achieved a consistent standard of excellence,” says Raef Lawson, Ph.D., CMA, CPA, CFP, CFA, IMA vice president of research and professor-in-residence. “High-quality, up-to-date educational programs that support the current needs of business will help future professional management accountants accomplish their career objectives and meet the competency expectations of employers.”

For more information about the IMA Endorsement of Higher Education program, visit www.imanet.org/educator_resources/index.aspx.

For more information about the Kent State’s Department of Accounting in the College of Business Administration, visit http://business.kent.edu/departments/accounting.