eInside Briefs

Nick Gattozzi Named Kent State’s New Executive Director of Government and Community Relations

Greater Cleveland Partnership vice president to lead university’s government outreach

Nick Gattozzi has been named Kent
State University's executive director of
government and community relations. He
will take on this new role on Aug. 1.

Kent State University President Beverly Warren has selected Nick Gattozzi as the executive director of government and community relations. Gattozzi comes to Kent State from the Greater Cleveland Partnership where he has served as vice president of government advocacy since 2006.

Gattozzi will take on this new, key leadership role beginning Aug. 1, and he will report directly to Warren. 

“Kent State and those we serve will undoubtedly benefit from the breadth of his experience; the depth of his knowledge about the workings of our local, state and federal government; and from his openness, integrity and genuine commitment to working collaboratively,” Warren says.

Gattozzi brings a distinguished track record in the realms of government relations, public policy development and analysis, economic development and communications. His career path also included the roles of district director for the home office of U.S. Sen. George Voinovich and deputy director of communications for the Industrial Commission of Ohio.

Gattozzi is a resident of Geauga County and a graduate of the Ohio State University. He is joining the university’s government relations team that includes a state relations office in Columbus, Ohio, and a federal relations office in Washington, D.C.

For more information about government relations at Kent State, visit www.kent.edu/gcr.

Governor Appoints Graduate Student Jennifer Bryant to Kent State Board of Trustees

Jennifer Bryant, a Kent State University
graduate student, has been appointed by
Gov. John Kasich to serve as a student
member of the Kent State University
Board of Trustees. Her term began on
June 26, 2015, and ends May 16, 2017.

Kent State University graduate student Jennifer Bryant of Warrensville Heights, Ohio, has been appointed by Gov. John Kasich to serve as a student member of the Kent State University Board of Trustees. Her term began on June 26, 2015, and ends May 16, 2017.

Kent State’s Board consists of 12 members, nine of whom are voting members, who are appointed by the governor of the state of Ohio, with the advice and consent of the state senate, to nine-year terms of office. Bryant joins Perry “PJ” Kimmel, a Kent State finance major, as the two student trustees – one graduate and one undergraduate – appointed to the board for overlapping two-year terms of office.
 
Bryant is pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy degree in public health specializing in health policy and management. She received a Bachelor of Science in nutrition and dietetics from Kent State in 2011 and a Master of Science in food and nutrition from Bowling Green State University in 2013. She has research and teaching experiences at both Kent State and Bowling Green.

Since July 2013, Bryant has served as a project coordinator of the SPARK Ohio program at Kent State. SPARK is a family-focused, kindergarten-readiness program that works collaboratively with families, schools and the community. Bryant enters and analyzes data on program effectiveness and student kindergarten-readiness, and prepares reports of findings to the Early Childhood Resource Center and individual site administrators.

She is active in Kent State’s College of Public Health. For the past two years, Bryant has served as a research assistant in the college studying pregnant opioid users. She also serves as a graduate assistant for the Introduction to Public Health course, evaluating student performance for the online designed course, and revising and developing examination materials.

While an undergraduate student at Kent State, Bryant served for two years as an office coordinator in the Center of Nutrition Outreach, which is in the university’s College of Education, Health and Human Services. She coordinated data collection of student body mass index in Portage County, Ohio, created study protocol and developed curriculum to assess nutrition-related knowledge of grade school children.

She is involved with university and professional organizations. Bryant is a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the Black Graduate Student Association at Kent State. She also serves on the Department of Health Policy and Management’s Faculty Search Committee and the Department of Health Policy and Management’s Student Academic Complaint Committee. In fall 2013, Bryant received the Graduate Dean’s Award at Kent State.

Bryant replaces Monique Menefee Profitt, whose term as the graduate student trustee recently expired.

The Board of Trustees is the governing body of Kent State. By Ohio law, the Board is responsible for selecting and appointing the president; setting the operating budget; approving personnel appointments; granting all degrees awarded by the university, including honorary degrees; establishing tuition and fee rates; approving contracts; and approving all rules, regulations, curriculum changes, new programs and degrees of the university.

For more information about Kent State’s Board of Trustees, visit www.kent.edu/bot.

Eight to be Inducted Into Varsity "K" Hall of Fame

The Kent State University Department of Intercollegiate
Athletics will induct eight new members into its Varsity "K"
Hall of Fame during the 37th induction ceremony on
Sept. 26.

The Kent State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced its 2015 Varsity "K" Hall of Fame class consisting of eight new members who will be introduced as part of the 37th induction ceremony on Sept. 26.

Joining the Kent State Varsity "K" Athletics Hall of Fame are Jess Bechard (baseball, 1997-2000), Julian Edelman (football, 2006-08), Kim Hamilton (women's track and field/softball, 2005-09), Kira Meixner (women's golf, 2004-08), Jermail Porter (wrestling, 2005-09), Brittney Robinson (softball, 2004-07), Nick Saban (football, 1970-72) and Tom Varner (men's gymnastics, 1983-85). The 1954 football team and 1954 men's golf team will both receive a Team of Distinction honor. Jim Phelan will be recognized as a Distinguished Athletic Alumnus. Colin MacLean will be the 2015 Varsity "K" Person of the Year, and Dennis and Sally Missimi will be this year's Honorary Varsity "K" members.

Bechard earned All-MAC First Team honors in both 1998 and 1999 and helped the Golden Flashes to a MAC regular season championship in 2000. He was also named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-Mideast Region Second Team in 1998 and 1999. Bechard finished his career as Kent State's all-time leader in hits, runs scored, runs batted in and total bases.  He is still the Golden Flashes' career leader in doubles.

Edelman 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.

Hamilton was a two-sport standout in softball and track and field. In softball, she was named to the All-MAC First Team in 2006 and 2007. Hamilton was a part of MAC tournament title teams in 2006 and 2008, which included an appearance in the NCAA Regional finals. She is Kent State's career leader in runs scored and is among career leaders in home runs and stolen bases.  She then went on to become a MAC Champion in javelin and an All-American after placing fifth in NCAA Track and Field Championships. Still competing today, she finished third at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Meixner was a key member of four MAC Championship-winning teams (2005-08), earning MAC Golfer of the Year honors in 2008. The Medalist at the 2007 MAC Championships, she was a three-time member of the MAC All-Tournament Team and was a four-time Golf Coaches Association of America All-American Scholar. Meixner earned second-team Academic All-District honors in 2008. She is third in career tournament wins at Kent State (4) and had 13 Top-10 finishes.

Porter became Kent State's first All-American in 23 years, placing sixth at the NCAA Championships in 2009. He also was a MAC champion and MAC Wrestler of the Year in 2009, helping the Golden Flashes to a conference regular season title. Porter was named MAC Freshman of the Year in 2006 and earned a spot on the Amateur News Freshman All-America Team.  He was a four-time MAC finalist and a three-time qualifier for the NCAA Championships. Porter ranks in Kent State's Top 10 for career wins and pins.

Robinson helped the Kent State softball team to three MAC East Championships, a MAC regular season title and a MAC tournament crown as both a pitcher and key hitter in the lineup.  A two-time All-MAC First Team selection, she was named MAC Pitcher of the Year and MAC Tournament MVP in 2006. Robinson holds both the Kent State and MAC records for most strikeouts in a season (423). She also holds the Kent State record for wins in a season with 31. After her college career, Robinson competed for the Akron Racers.

Saban was a member of the 1972 MAC champion football team as a safety. He earned three letters in football (1970-72) and one in baseball (1972). Saban was a graduate assistant coach and defensive assistant for the Golden Flashes from 1973-76. In his first head coaching job at Toledo, Saban led the Rockets to a MAC championship in 1990. He went on to coach Michigan State, LSU, Alabama and the Miami Dolphins. As a head coach, Saban has won four national championships and two AP National Coach of the Year honors.

Varner was a three-time Great Lakes League champion in 1984 in the pommel horse, rings and the all-around. He was a three-time letter winner and captain on the 1985 team. Varner was the team's most valuable gymnast in 1984 and 1985, helping the Golden Flashes to a pair of Great Lakes team titles.

The 1954 football team will receive a Team of Distinction award. Coached by Trevor Rees, the Golden Flashes went 8-1 during the regular season and played in the program's first bowl game (Refrigerator Bowl). The 1954 men's golf team will also be getting the Team of Distinction award after becoming the Golden Flashes' first team to advance to the NCAA Championships.

Longtime residents of Kent, Ohio, and supporters of Kent State athletics, Dennis and Sally Missimi are this year's Honorary Varsity "K" members.  Dennis is a major with the Portage County Sherriff's Office, and Sally has worked as a community benefit director for Summa Health System.  Sally has three degrees from Kent State, including a Ph.D. in 2007.  Dennis and Sally are Kent State football and basketball season ticket holders and rarely miss an opportunity to see the Golden Flashes in action. Their loyalty and generosity to Kent State has made a significant impact in the lives of many student-athletes.

Phelan, who passed away earlier this year, will be honored with a Distinguished Alumnus award. Phelan was a 1965 graduate of Kent State and three-year letter winner on the football team. Phelan was a long-standing member of the National Athletic Development Council and the Varsity "K" Club. He gave the lead gift for the "K" locker room renovations in 2007. In 2013, he was given the Champion of Life award by the GoDaddy Bowl.

MacLean is a 1990 graduate of Kent State, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in physical education. While earning his undergraduate degree, MacLean was also a manager for the Kent State football team. MacLean currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia, where he works as a graphic designer for Turner Broadcasting System Inc. MacLean is a loyal and generous supporter of Kent State Athletics and spends a majority of his time traveling across the country to see the Golden Flashes.

This year's group of eight inductees brings the membership of the Varsity "K" Athletics Hall of Fame to 299 since the original 13-member charter class of 1979. The Sept. 26 induction ceremony will be held in the Kent Student Center at 10 a.m. The 2015 class and honorees will be introduced at halftime of Kent State's football game against Marshall.

For more information about Kent State's Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, visit www.kentstatesports.com.

Vote on Your Favorite Homecoming T-shirt Design

Help the Kent State University Alumni Association select the design for the 2015 Homecoming T-shirt. Voting ends July 12 at noon. The winning T-shirt design will be announced July 20 on the Kent State Alumni Association Facebook page.

Vote now at www.ksualumni.org/s/401/social.aspx?sid=401&gid=1&pgid=2819&cid=5733.

Important Information About Final Grading of Summer 2015 Summer I (S1) Classes

Online final grading for summer 2015 Summer I (S1) courses meeting from June 8, 2015, through July 11, 2015, begins Thursday, July 9, via FlashFAST. Grading also is now available for any summer 2015 course section that was flexibly scheduled and has an end date no later than July 11, 2015. The deadline for grading submission is midnight on Tuesday, July 14. Any final grades for summer 2015 Summer I (S1) courses not reported in FlashFAST by the grades processing deadline will have to be submitted using the Grade Change Workflow. These summer 2015 Summer I (S1) courses will be available in the Workflow on Thursday, July 16.

Incomplete Mark and NF/SF Grades

The administrative mark of IN (incomplete) may be given to students who are unable to complete the work due to extenuating circumstances. To be eligible, undergraduate students must be currently passing and have completed at least 12 weeks of the semester. The timeline shall be adjusted appropriately for flexibly scheduled courses. Graduate students must be currently earning a C or better grade and are unable to complete the required work between the course withdrawal deadline and the end of classes. Instructors are required to complete and submit an Incomplete Mark Form to the department chair when an incomplete mark is assigned. Access the form from your Faculty Toolbox in FlashLine.

The grade SF (Stopped Attending-Fail) denotes that the student stopped attending the course and did not formally withdraw and must be accompanied by a date of last attendance in the course.

The grade NF (Never Attended-Fail) denotes that the student neither attended one class session nor formally withdrew from the course.

For complete information on university grading policies including Incomplete Mark and NF/SF grading policies, procedures and timelines, please visit the Grading Policies and Procedures section in the university catalog at www.kent.edu/catalog.

Grades Processing Tips and FAQs may be found on the Office of the University Registrar's website at www.kent.edu/registrar/faculty-grades-processing. Any faculty member needing personalized instruction on submitting their grades via FlashFAST should contact their campus Registrar's Office during normal business hours for assistance.

To access FlashFAST to post your final grades, log in to FlashLine from www.kent.edu (click FlashLine Login from top right menu bar) then click the Faculty & Advisor Tools tab. Locate the Faculty Toolbox, and select Final under the Submit Grades heading.

Troubleshooting TIP: FlashFAST is accessible from any Internet-capable computer that has the cookies function enabled. We recommend that you clean out your cookie and cache files regularly to help your computer run faster, and to potentially restore and/or improve your access to FlashFAST and/or FlashLine by improving your connection to the server. Our Helpdesk is prepared to offer assistance with these issues. Please contact them at 330-672-HELP (4357) for one-on-one assistance and technical issues.

Send Us Your Summer Vacation Photos

It is summer vacation season again, and e-Inside wants to feature some of your best vacation or staycation photos.

Submit your favorite vacation or staycation photos and a brief description to einside@kent.edu by Tuesday, July 21, and depending on the number of entries that we receive, they might be featured in e-Inside. Please use "Summer Vacation Photos" as your email subject line.

Click on the links below to see submissions from last year:

Summer Vacation Photos I
Summer Vacation Photos II
Summer Vacation Photos III

Faces, Places and Spaces of Research

Many faculty members at Kent State University are involved in various types of research both on and off campus. We would like to feature photos in e-Inside of the diverse locations where you conduct research – it could be in a clean room or in a dirty lake.

Share photos and brief descriptions of all the various places where you and your students conduct research by sending an email to einside@kent.edu by July 7. Please use the subject line: Faces of Research. Submissions will be considered for publication in upcoming issues of e-Inside.