eInside Briefs

Nominate a Kent State Faculty Member for the 2012 Outstanding Research and Scholarship
Award by Feb. 12

You are invited to nominate a Kent State faculty member for the 2012 Outstanding Research and Scholarship Award, formerly known as the Distinguished Scholar Award. Sponsored by the Division of Research and Sponsored Programs and the University Research Council, this award is intended to honor Kent State’s finest outstanding researchers and scholars. The awardees will be selected based on the quality of research and scholarship and its impact on society. 

Who can be nominated? 
Any Kent State faculty member can be nominated, except those who have previously received the Distinguished Scholar Award. Click here to see previous winners.

Who can nominate? 
Any member of the Kent State community, including faculty, emeriti, staff, students and alumni. To nominate, you must submit a letter outlining the specific research and/or scholarly achievements of the nominee. Please send an email to research@kent.edu and attach your letter of support.

Nomination Deadline: Sunday, Feb. 12, at 11:59 p.m. Recipients will be announced on the Kent State homepage on March 15.

Posted Jan. 16, 2012

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Cleveland’s Plain Dealer Editor Named 2012 McGruder Award for Media Diversity Winner

Debra Adams Simmons, editor of The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, has been named the 2012 winner of the Robert G. McGruder Award for Diversity from Kent State’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The award recognizes the accomplishments of media professionals who encourage diversity in the field of journalism.

Kent State’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication will honor Adams Simmons at an awards luncheon and lecture on Monday, March 26, on the Kent Campus.

Adams Simmons was named editor of The Plain Dealer in October 2010, after serving as managing editor from 2007 to 2010. Previously, she was vice president and editor of the Akron Beacon Journal. Adams Simmons hails from Hartford, Conn., and is a graduate of the Newhouse School of Public Communications, and the College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University, where she completed her bachelor’s degree. She also graduated from the Advanced Executive Program at Northwestern University’s Media Management Center in the Graduate School of Management.

Adams Simmons serves on the board of directors of the American Society of News Editors, the Associated Press Managing Editors and the ATHENA International board, where she is vice chair. She is a recipient of two Cleveland area awards – the ATHENA Award and Crain’s Cleveland Business 40 Under 40 leading executives in Northeast Ohio.  Adams Simmons was a juror for the Pulitzer Prize in 2004, 2005 and 2011. She is an active member of the community as board chair of this region’s Youth Excellence Performing Arts Workshop and vice chair of the Center for Nonprofit Excellence.

The late Robert G. McGruder was a 1963 graduate of Kent State and a foundational local figure for diversity in journalism.

He became the first black editor of the Daily Kent Stater and first black reporter at The Plain Dealer. McGruder marked several other firsts in his career, becoming the first black president of the Associated Press Managing Editors group and the first black editor of the Detroit Free Press in 1995 and 1996.

McGruder was a strong proponent for diversity in and out of the newsroom: “Please know that I stand for diversity,” he once said. “I represent the African-Americans, Latinos, Arab-Americans, Asians, Native Americans, gays and lesbians, women and all others we must see represented in our business offices, newsrooms and newspapers.”

Previous recipients of the Robert G. McGruder Award include: Caesar Andrews, an ethics and diversity faculty member at the Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University; Richard Prince, columnist, Richard Prince’s Journal-isms, Maynard Institute of Journalism Education; 2008 – Dr. Jannette Dates, dean, John H. Johnson School of Communications at Howard University; 2007 – Michelle Singletary, columnist, The Washington Post; 2006 – Leonard Pitts Jr., Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist, Miami Herald; 2005 – Albert E. Fitzpatrick, assistant vice president, Akron Beacon Journal; 2004 – David Lawrence Jr., former publisher, Miami Herald; and 2003 – Gregory Moore, editor, Denver Post.

For more information about the Robert G. McGruder Award or event, contact Eugene Shelton, assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, at eshelto1@kent.edu. To R.S.V.P. for the event contact Darlene Contrucci at 330-672-2623.

Posted Jan. 16, 2012

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Submit Your Programs to Celebrate Black History Month

To commemorate Black History Month in February, Black United Students in partnership with the Department of Pan-African Studies is planning a series of programs and activities. Black History Month seeks to educate the Kent State community about African-American heritage, promote inclusion and a common understanding across cultures, and enhance social and leadership development among student participants.

“As in the past, we want to be as inclusive as possible,” says Avery Danage, president of Black United Students. “We encourage all university departments, individuals and community representatives to submit events and program dates for inclusion in the Black History Month calendar.”

To be included in the calendar, provide a listing of your organization, department or group events and activities with times, locations and a brief description to Danage at adanage1@kent.edu by Jan. 18.

Posted Jan. 16, 2012

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Alumni Association Highlights From 2011

Year-in-review document offers insight on association activities

The Alumni Association experienced many achievements in 2011 ranging from strong attendance at Alumni Association sponsored events, to an unprecedented number of alumni communications. To recap the past year’s accomplishments, the association has made a document available for all: Year in Review, 2011.

“During 2011, the Alumni Association achieved a number of accomplishments, which wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our members, volunteers and campus partners,” says Lori Randorf, executive director, alumni relations. “This report offers a recap of the association’s activities from the past year.”

The Year in Review, 2011 document was created based on feedback from Alumni Association members. The document provides data from 2011 on events, programs, recognition and communications, which are supported by members.

As part of the document, a series of videos was created of Kent State alumni explaining why they joined the association. The videos were produced by Bobby Makar, instructor for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and recent Kent State graduate. The videos can be viewed through the document or on the Kent State Alumni Association’s YouTube channel.

Faculty and staff members are encouraged to review the report as it illustrates the ways students can stay connected to the university after they graduate, and contains information about the scholarships offered through the Alumni Association.

To read the Year in Review, 2011, please visit www.ksualumni.org/2011review. Faculty and staff members interested in learning more about the Alumni Association or joining the organization should visit www.ksualumni.org/JoinToday. 

Posted Jan. 16, 2012 | Lindsay Kuntzman

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Deadline for Nominations for Mothers, Mentors and Muses Awards is Jan. 20

The Women's Center at Kent State University is seeking nominations for its annual Mothers, Mentors and Muses awards that honor Kent State University women who have served in any of three roles. As a mother — one who has helped birth ideas, thoughts and academic endeavors in others or who serves as a nurturing individual to others; as a mentor — one who serves as a trusted counselor, colleague and role model; and/or as a muse — one who inspires creativity and artistic or academic passion in others.

The deadline for nominations is Jan. 20.

Nominees will be honored at the annual Mothers, Mentors and Muses reception on Tuesday, March 6, from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Kent Student Center Ballroom Balcony. In the past, more than 90 Kent State women have been nominated and honored.

School of Journalism and Mass Communication Associate Professor Barb Hipsman, who is a past honoree, says “What was truly amazing about Mothers, Mentors, and Muses was that it was like ‘old home’ week — dozens of us had not seen each other in years and yet, we knew each other like old friends. Maybe it was a student in common — who needed counseling. Maybe it was a committee, a dreaded committee where we shared a few smiles and thoughts or perhaps it was in a learning setting where we learned from each other. We all wish we had more time with each other around campus and said as much that night. “

Patricia Dennison of the Division of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, who is also a past honoree, says “Being part of this event was a realization that I can and do in my role as a Mother, Mentor or Muse make a difference in someone else’s life by encouraging and inspiring others on their journey — a wonderful opportunity to sow life-changing, positive seeds into others.”

The Women's Center was established in 1996 and has been a motivating force toward the advancement of women in higher education.  An integral part of the center’s efforts is to empower women with financial assistance in obtaining a college degree.

At the Mothers, Mentors and Muses reception, funds will be raised for the Women’s Center Endowed Scholarship Fund that provides two Kent State University female students with a $500 scholarship. Sixteen students have benefited from the scholarship funds since inception in 2003.

For more information and to nominate a colleague, visit www.kent.edu/womenscenter/index.cfm.

Posted Jan. 16, 2012

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Kent State Trumbull Theatre Conducts Girl Scouts Workshops

The Kent State Trumbull Theatre recently conducted a series of workshops for 60 area Girl Scouts. The workshops covered such theatrical areas as set design, acting, lighting, makeup, costumes, scene painting and improvisation and were led by Daniel Nadon, associate professor of theatre at Kent State University at Trumbull, as well as Linda Newill, Leslie Brown, Susan Gillespie, Sandy McBride, Tony Kovacic, Jacob Glosser and Hannah Gillespie. 

 

Posted Jan. 16, 2012

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Got Classifieds, Celebratory Messages and More? 

Post to the e-Inside faculty/staff Message Boards

Do you have announcements to make to the Kent State University community regarding births, weddings, retirements, obituaries, achievements, sale of items and more? The e-Inside Message Boards is your platform to do so. Visit the e-Inside Message Boards at www.kent.edu/einside/messageboard to submit a message. The Message Boards are intended to be a service for only Kent State faculty and staff.  Please note that there might be a delay in posting messages because they must first be approved by e-Inside editorial staff.
Posted Jan. 16, 2012

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