eInside Events

Kent State Announces Inauguration Week Events

Beverly Warren will be inaugurated as
the 12th president of Kent State University
on Friday, May 1, at 2 p.m. in the Memorial
Athletic and Convocation Center on the
Kent Campus.

Members of the Kent State University community are invited to attend the inauguration of Beverly Warren as the 12th president of the university on Friday, May 1, at 2 p.m. in the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center on the Kent Campus. A reception will follow at the Kent Student Center Ballroom.

A week of activities and events leading up to the inauguration day will celebrate student success and campus community achievements on Kent State’s eight campuses and the Regional Academic Center in Twinsburg. All events are free, but seating is limited for some of them, so please register for events that you plan to attend.

Events include the dedication of the Center for Undergraduate Excellence on April 28 at 10:30 a.m. and dedication of the Kent State Student Memorial Garden at 7 p.m. On April 30, there will be a presidential tree planting at Manchester Field at 3:30 p.m. and “Presidential Perspectives: A Discussion with Past and Present Kent State Presidents” will take place at the Kent Student Center Ballroom at 5 p.m. The panel discussion, which will be moderated by CNN news anchor and Kent State alumna Carol Costello, will feature Warren and former Kent State presidents Michael Schwartz, Carol Cartwright and Lester Lefton.

Regional Campuses also will host several events at their locations, including a barbeque for students and a tree planting in honor of Warren. A full schedule of events for Regional Campuses will be posted soon. For a full schedule of all inauguration week events for the Kent Campus, including registration information, visit www.kent.edu/president/inauguration/events.

It's Faculty Appreciation Week

Kent State University will honor its faculty members with
a week of celebration themed “You Inspire Us!” from
April 13-17.

Kent State University will honor its faculty members with a week of celebration themed “You Inspire Us!” from April 13-17. Faculty Appreciation Week is coordinated by the Office of the Provost and recognizes the contributions and impact that faculty members have on the university and student success.

“It gives me particular pleasure to recognize the great work and dedication of our faculty colleagues,” says Todd Diacon, Kent State’s senior vice president and provost. “Faculty Appreciation Week is but a small token of our appreciation for all that you do, and I hope you will join me, and most importantly your colleagues, as we celebrate all that you do for Kent State University.”

The week of celebration begins with a faculty appreciation breakfast event on Monday, April 13, from 8:30-10:30 a.m. in the Kent Student Center Ballroom. To confirm your attendance at the breakfast event, visit www.kent.edu/facultyweek.

On Tuesday, April 14, the Faculty Author and Outstanding Researcher Recognition will take place at 4 p.m. in the University Library on the Kent Campus. A promotion and tenure dinner, by invitation only, will take place Wednesday, April 15, at the Kent State Hotel and Conference Center in downtown Kent.

The celebration will continue on Thursday, April 16, with a Faculty Club Fun and Frolic at 5 p.m. at the Schwebel Dining Room in the Kent Student Center. The week of celebration concludes on Friday, April 17, with the Kent State Center for Teaching and Learning Faculty Fellows’ presentation at 11:30 a.m. in Moulton Hall Ballroom.

For more information about Kent State’s Faculty Appreciation Week, visit www.kent.edu/facultyweek.

Flash-A-Thon: Dance or Donate to Support Cancer Patients at Akron Children’s Hospital

Kent State University students Abby Myers (left) and
Andy Lovrak (right) pose for a photo with cancer
survivors Jacob Sypert, age 11, and Adelyn Smith, age 6,
in the playroom of the Reinberger Center at Akron
Children’s Hospital.

Kent State University’s Flash-A-Thon, a 12-hour dance marathon to raise funds for young patients at Akron Children’s Hospital, will take place on Saturday, April 25, from noon to midnight at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center. The dance marathon celebrates the university’s local and global impact and is one of several events marking Kent State’s Presidential Inauguration Week.

Participation in Flash-A-Thon is open to all members of the Kent State community and the public. Kent State faculty and staff can support this great cause in three different ways: Dance or volunteer, sponsor an individual or team, or donate.

Last year, Kent State’s Flash-A-Thon raised more than $22,000 for Akron Children’s Hospital. A team of Kent State students produced a dance video that features young patients, their families, Kent State students and hospital staff lip-synching to One Republic’s hit song, “I Lived.” The video has more than 25,000 views. This year, the goal is to raise $30,000.

“I want them to understand how much these kids are fighting every day,” says Andy Lovrak, Kent State senior advertising major who was involved in creating the video. “It can be so hard, but they’re so happy and they’re fighters. That’s how we should live, and it’s so inspiring to see them.”

Click here to register to dance, sponsor a dancer or dance team, or to donate to support young patients at Akron Children’s Hospital.

For more information about Kent State’s Flash-A-Thon, visit www.kent.edu/oeece/flashathon.

Kent State’s Wick Poetry Center to Host 14th Annual Performance of Giving Voice

A young poet reads her poem to the audience at the Kent
State University Wick Poetry Center's annual Giving Voice
event. The 14th annual Giving Voice performance, which
features original poetry by local students (grades 3-12),
international scholars and Kent State undergraduate
students, will take place on April 29 in the Kent Student
Center Ballroom.

Kent State University’s Wick Poetry Center presents the 14th annual Giving Voice performance on Wednesday, April 29, at 6:30 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Ballroom, featuring original poetry by local students (grades 3-12), international scholars and Kent State undergraduate students.

This year’s performance is part of the Presidential Inauguration Week. Kent State President Beverly Warren will participate in the performance by reading her original poem, “Praise Song for Kent State.” Additionally, local children from the Holden Elementary Writer’s Club will read a group poem, "The Torch," in honor of Warren’s inauguration.

The Holden Elementary Writer’s Club met with Warren in early March on the Kent Campus to share their individual inauguration poems with her and to hear the president read her poem.

“It was an exciting, intergenerational conversation between town and gown through the intimate and inclusive voice of poetry,” says David Hassler, director of Kent State’s Wick Poetry Center. “We are thrilled to have President Warren’s creative involvement in this year’s Giving Voice.”

“Giving Voice allows all in attendance to hear the wisdom that shines through the poetry of youth from our community, Kent State students and international scholars,” says Nicole Robinson, outreach manager for the Wick Poetry Center. “Every poem shared began silently on the page, and after the Giving Voice, those poems have been heard and will change the lives of both the poets and the attendees.”

The Giving Voice performance showcases material created in the Wick Poetry Center’s outreach programs. These workshops are led by Kent State undergraduate students enrolled in the service-learning course, “Teaching Poetry in the Schools.”

The event is free and open to the public.

For more information about Kent State’s Wick Poetry Center, visit www.kent.edu/wick.

New MuseLab Exhibit Celebrates Hemingway, Frost, Rand

The MuseLab in Kent State University’s School of Library
and Information Science will open its newest exhibit,
“(Non)Fiction: Literary Legends Unbound,” on April 15.

The MuseLab in Kent State University’s School of Library and Information Science is set to open its newest exhibit on April 15. A reception to celebrate the opening of “(Non)Fiction: Literary Legends Unbound” will be held on Wednesday, April 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. in rooms 330 and 321 of the University Library, where the school and MuseLab are located. The reception is free and open to all, but registration is requested.

The lives and personalities of three 20th-century literary legends — Robert Frost, Ernest Hemingway and Ayn Rand — are the focus of this exhibit. Master’s degree students in a museum studies seminar in the School of Library and Information Science developed the exhibit over the course of the spring semester. They drew inspiration from the novel Old School by Tobias Wolff, the featured book in the 2015 National Endowment for the Arts’ “Big Read” project.

The Massillon Museum in Massillon, Ohio, which leads the Big Read effort in Northeast Ohio, received an NEA grant to support innovative reading programs in association with the Wolff novel. The museum included Kent State’s School of Library and Information Science in the grant to help with the MuseLab exhibit.

In this exhibit, the students separate stereotypes of the authors from fact, in order to show the human side of these literary legends and how their legacies continue to shape our culture, philosophy and lives.

Kiersten F. Latham, Ph.D., assistant professor in Kent State's School of Library and Information Science, who developed the school’s museum studies specialization and serves as director of the MuseLab, says sections of the exhibit will be designed to represent each author’s office.

“It’s going to be very interactive,” Latham says. “Visitors will be able to touch and interact with everything.”

Andrea Wittmer, a student taking the course, says she and her classmates tried to imagine what it would be like to come into the space with little knowledge of or interest in these writers, yet leave inspired in some way, without forcing any views or opinions. With that in mind, the exhibit aims to welcome and interest people of all backgrounds and knowledge levels related to these authors.

Another student, Michelle Italia-Walker, says she thinks the mood of the exhibit will be evocative.

“I am interested to see if people will allow their preconceived ideas to be washed away or if they will be cemented through information and objects presented in the exhibit,” Italia-Walker says.

Student Michelle Persons says she is excited to see the visitors interact with the exhibit.

“As one of the exhibit designers, it’s gratifying to see visitors ‘get’ the message you are trying to communicate through the exhibit, but also what things resonate most with them that maybe we didn’t expect,” Persons says.

The grand opening in April will feature live actors from the university’s theatre department role-playing the authors. Refreshments and desserts will correspond to each author.

Student Bekah Swope says the exhibit was completed in 15 weeks, when it typically takes about three years to plan, develop and implement an exhibit like this.

Corina Iannaggi, MuseLab student manager who also is in the seminar course, says her favorite part of this project is being involved in the exhibition process from start to finish.

“This is the only face-to-face opportunity for students in the museum studies program, and getting the chance to put together an actual exhibit has been a tremendous learning experience,” Iannaggi says.

The seminar students all have different roles in the production of the exhibit and spend numerous hours outside of class working toward their deadline. Their goal is to engage visitors physically, emotionally, intellectually and socially.

“If a visitor leaves with more questions than answers and a drive to explore further, I would personally consider that a success,” says Wittmer.

The MuseLab is a component of the museum studies specialization in the School of Library and Information Science’s Master of Library and Information Science program. It is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with special hours during the summer months. The “Literary Legends” exhibit will remain open until Jan. 31, 2016.

For more information about Kent State’s School of Library and Information Science, visit www.kent.edu/slis.

Kent State Hosts Relay for Life to Help Fight Cancer, April 17-18

Pictured are participants at the 2014 Relay for Life event
at the Kent State University Field House.The 2015 event
will take place Friday, April 17, at 6 p.m. and end Saturday,
April 18, at noon.

(Photo provided by Nathan Beals)

Kent State University will host Relay for Life, beginning Friday, April 17, at 6 p.m. and ending Saturday, April 18, at noon in the Kent State Field House.

Relay for Life events are organized, overnight community fundraising walks that benefit the American Cancer Society. The event, which helps to fight cancer, celebrates the lives of people who have battled cancer and remembers loved ones who lost their battle against the disease.

Kent State has participated in Relay for Life since 2003. This year, 53 teams are registered and more than $34,000 has already been raised. Teams have been raising money all year long; however, some teams will have onsite fundraisers to encourage even more donations. Fundraising will continue through the summer until Aug. 31.

Every year, Relay for Life has a theme for teams to decorate their booths and surroundings. This year, the theme is “Celebrating More Birthdays.” Teams are encouraged to plan their booth accordingly.

Kent State students Maggie McQuaid, sophomore human development/family studies major, Kaitlyn Somody, early childhood education major, and Lauren Blumenthal, fashion design major, are the undergraduate planning committee leads. Kent State’s Nathan Beals, graduate advisor for Relay for Life, assists the undergraduate leadership team that plans the event.

“I hope this is an opportunity for anyone who attends to get the chance to help out a tremendous cause and the fight against cancer,” Beals says. “The planning committee has spent the entire year finding ways to help teams fundraise and raise awareness in ways that are fun and unique to our event.”

The opening ceremony will begin at 6 p.m., followed by a survivor’s reception and activities to celebrate those who have battled cancer. The Luminaria Ceremony will begin around 9:30 p.m. as a time to remember people who have lost their battle with cancer. Luminarias can be bought on the Kent State Relay for Life website or at the event for $10. Food-eating contests and a variety of entertainment events will run every half-hour, highlighting other Kent State student groups and organizations. The closing ceremony will take place at noon on Saturday.

For more information about the event, including how to register or donate, visit www.relayforlife.org/ksu.

KENTtalks Discussion to Focus on Race Relations

The second KENTtalks discussion to share in an open
dialogue about race relations will take place on April 14
at 6 p.m. in the Kent Student Center, Room 306.

The Kent State University community is invited to take part in the second KENTtalks discussion to share in an open dialogue about race relations, specifically to ensure that every member of the university community feels respected, valued and safe.

E. Timothy Moore, Assistant Dean Emeritus in Kent State’s College of Arts and Sciences and Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of Pan-African Studies, will facilitate the discussion on April 14 at 6 p.m. in the Kent Student Center, Room 306.

“It’s my hope that all participating students, faculty and staff will come away with a better understanding of how Kent State reached its current state of race relations and that we can develop collective solutions to benefit everyone,” Moore says.

This KENTtalks discussion follows the Jan. 22 campus forum attended by civil rights leader Julian Bond as part of a weeklong celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.

“Your voice matters – you matter – and I hope you will participate and be the difference that this world so desperately needs,” says Beverly Warren, Kent State president. “I believe that a learning community like ours – one in which so many students, faculty and staff members demonstrate a highly personal commitment to the values of diversity and inclusion every day – is a fitting place to come together to help create the long-overdue world envisioned by Dr. King.”

KENTtalks participants do not need a ticket to attend but should arrive early due to limited seating and be prepared to share openly and freely in an environment of trust and respect.

For questions about the event, contact Kristan Dolan at 330-672-8187 or kdolan3@kent.edu, or Shay Little at 330-672-4050 or sdlittle@kent.edu.

Kent State Celebrates Earth Month

Kent State University will host a number of events in honor of Earth Month, a celebration spanning the month of April.

Earth Month is celebrated nationally to bring awareness to the care of Earth and includes activities that benefit Earth. Kent State’s festivities intend to be no exception.

“The Earth Month celebration gives us the opportunity to understand our important relationship with the environment,” says Melanie Knowles, Kent State’s sustainability manager.

“GreenTown at Kent”

The Kent State Earth Month celebration will begin with “GreenTown at Kent” on Monday, April 13, and Tuesday, April 14. GreenTown is a conference that brings the private and public sectors together in an effort to create a conversation about sustainable solutions for the community. Sessions will feature topics such as walkable/bikeable communities, clean water, local food, outdoor space and creating socially responsible businesses.

Attendees may register for the entire “GreenTown at Kent” conference or for individual events. The cost of attending varies by choice of events.

Net Impact Sustainability Summit

The monthlong celebration continues with the Net Impact Sustainability Summit on Thursday, April 16, in the College of Business Administration building at 6:30 p.m. Students are encouraged to come and network and discuss opportunities to incorporate environmental sustainability into their careers.

Rain Barrel Art Contest

Have your artwork on exhibit at the Kent State Herrick Conservatory Greenhouse. Contribute your artwork skills by helping to paint one of nine rain barrels that support water conservation efforts in Portage County. Please send a scanned PDF sample copy of your proposed work to Gail Kovach-Spalsbury at gkovach@kent.edu no later than midnight on Friday, April 17. Artwork will be judged at the Earth Day 2015 event outside Cunningham Hall in the tent on April 22 from 1- 4 p.m. Winning contestants will be notified via email of the upcoming rain barrel painting workshop dates. The event is hosted by Kent State's Department of Biological Sciences and the Herrick Conservatory Greenhouse.

Clothing Swap

On Friday, April 17, Earth Month participants are invited to a clothing swap in the Kent Student Center between 2 and 5 p.m.

Arbor Day/RecycleMania Tree Planting

On April 21, there will be a tree planted for the residence hall with the best performance during RecycleMania 2015. Check www.kent.edu/sustainability/earth-day for updates about the location and time.

Earth Day

Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, will feature various events across campus. Students, faculty, staff and Kent community members are invited to join the fun with events such as children’s book readings and tree plantings throughout the day.

The Department of Biological Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences welcome Earth Month participants to join them on Earth Day in the gardens behind Cunningham Hall between 1 and 4 p.m. The Department of Biological Sciences will host demos and tours with student organizations, Biology Club, Environmental Conservation Group and the Kent State Environmental Society.

“The Earth Day celebration with the Department of Biological Sciences is going to be very interactive,” says Knowles. “It’s a great opportunity for students to come have some fun and learn something about their environment.”

Earth Day Tree Planting

On April 24 from 1 to 2 p.m., Kent State’s Biology Club will plant a tree on Manchester Field to commemorate Earth Day.

Arbor Day – “Who’s Your Mama?” Film Festival

The celebration continues on Friday, April 24, with Arbor Day events, including tree plantings and the ninth annual “Who’s Your Mama?” Environmental Film Festival. The festival, hosted by the Standing Rock Cultural Arts, will feature short films from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Kiva. General Admission is $5 and the cost for seniors and students is $3.

“We are excited to raise awareness,” says Knowles. “All of our students, no matter what career they’re going into, need to understand our relationship with the environment.”

For more information about Earth Day celebration at Kent State, visit www.kent.edu/sustainability/earth-day.

Art Auction to Benefit Kent State’s Center for the Visual Arts Construction

Pictured is artwork by Karin Waskiewicz called “Hiding
Boulder.”

The School of Art at Kent State University has announced two upcoming events to celebrate and raise support for the construction of its future home, the Center for the Visual Arts. By bringing together all visual arts disciplines under one roof, the new building will provide a space for art students and faculty to collaborate, share ideas and showcase their work.

Kent State faculty and alumni understand the vital impact this new space will have on generations of young artists, the Northeast Ohio arts community and beyond. An online auction, featuring faculty- and alumni-donated artworks, opened for bidding on April 3 and will culminate in a live auction on May 6 at Gray’s Auctioneers in Cleveland. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the Center for the Visual Arts building fund.

Benefit Art Auction and Artist Reception/Preview Party
Thursday, April 23, 6-9 p.m.
Exhibition: April 21-26
William Busta Gallery 2731 Prospect Ave. East, Cleveland, OH 44115

Pictured is “Red Structural Circle
Earrings,” made of sterling silver and
powder-coated brass, created by Donna
D’Aquino.

Come meet the artists and view firsthand the variety of artworks created and donated by faculty and alumni of Kent State’s School of Art. This premier preview exhibition and free public reception are hosted by William Busta Gallery. Gray’s Auctioneers will be available at the reception to assist with early bidding.

Live Benefit Art Auction
Preview Exhibition, April 30-May 5
LIVE AUCTION: Wednesday, May 6, 11 a.m.
Gray’s Auctioneers 10717 Detroit Ave., Cleveland / 216-458-7695
Online bidding opened April 3. Visit www.graysauctioneers.com for details.

Gray’s Auctioneers will provide a final opportunity to view the artworks as it host a preview exhibition from April 30 to May 5. The culminating live auction will take place on May 6 at 11 a.m. Don’t miss your chance to bid on pieces by Kent State’s renowned faculty and alumni artists. All participants will make an indelible impact on the future of Kent State’s School of Art. If you are unable to attend the live auction, you may join in by phone, online or through absentee bidding. Please contact Gray’s Auctioneers for more information.

Visit this Facebook page for select images of work to be auctioned. More information about Kent State’s Center for the Visual Arts campaign is available at http://foe.kent.edu/.

For more information about Kent State’s School of Art, visit www.kent.edu/art.

Main Street Kent Presents “Seven Courses of Kent” Dinner Party

Main Street Kent will host a “Seven Courses of Kent”
dinner party in downtown Kent on April 26.

On Sunday, April 26, Main Street Kent will host a “Seven Courses of Kent” dinner party in downtown Kent. The private event will take place at Laziza Restaurant beginning at 6 p.m., where guests will enjoy one course from each of seven local eateries throughout the evening. Each course will be paired with a beer or wine selection handpicked by Heidelberg Distributing, the event sponsor. Tickets are $60 per person and include a seven-course dinner complete with wine and beer pairings, service, tax and gratuity. Only 80 tickets are available for this special event and can be purchased at www.mainstreetkent.org/seven-courses-of-kent. Proceeds will benefit Main Street Kent.

Guests will enjoy courses from these seven participants:

• Laziza - Middle Eastern ground beef, spinach and spinach and feta Pies served with Tiger Beer
• Taco Tonto’s - Dill pickle soup served with Rodney Strong Charlotte’s Home Sauvignon Blanc
• Pufferbelly - Spring salad served with Boutari Moscofilero
• 157 Lounge - Sweetie, spicy tuna, crumble shrimp, Tiger, 157 and paradise sushi rolls served with Pacific Rim Dry Riesling
• Bricco - Baked penne served with Banfi Centine Red Blend
• Taproot Catering - Petite beef Wellington served with Guenoc Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon
• Tree City Coffee and Pastry - Triple mouse chocolate cake served with Rogue Chocolate Stout
  

This is a great opportunity for the community and visitors to sample some of the best of downtown Kent’s eateries all in one night. For a complete description of all menu items and pairings, and to purchase tickets, visit the event page at www.mainstreetkent.org/seven-courses-of-kent.

If you have any questions or would like more information, call 330-677-8000 or send an email to info@mainstreetkent.org.

Main Street Kent is a nonprofit organization focused on the revitalization of downtown Kent. It is an affiliate of the national Main Street program and the Heritage Ohio program.

Communication Studies to Livestream Hyde Park Forum Persuasive Speaking Competition, April 16

The Kent State University School of Communication Studies will host its annual Hyde Park Forum on April 16 in the Kent Student Center Ballroom. This year, the event will be live-streamed for the first time for family and friends who are unable to attend. Access the live stream at www.youtube.com/watch?v=efQXk-I3NV8.

The event, which starts at 6:30 p.m., is an opportunity for students enrolled in the Introduction to Human Communication course to engage in persuasive public discourse for an audience of peers, family and faculty. Students come from a variety of majors. Judges rate students’ performances to designate first, second, third and honorable mention. The forum, which typically draws 900 people, includes audience members casting their votes for the speaker who will receive a People’s Choice Award.

“Livestreaming the forum makes it possible for anyone to be an audience member and join highly engaged students and community members for an event that celebrates freedom of speech,” says Jennifer McCullough, Ph.D., basic course director and assistant professor in the School of Communication Studies. “Students enrolled during the fall 2014 and spring 2015 semesters of the current academic year are eligible to compete. This provides a slate of speakers that can best present a persuasive speech within a five-minute time frame.”

The eight students, their topics and instructors are as follows:

• Ruthann Antolik – “Sharks: Wild and Endangered” (Samyak Moktan)
• Amy Kenyon – “University for Everyone: Include People with Intellectual Disabilities on the College Campus” (William Kelvin)
• Meagan Leathers – “Why Donating Blood is Important” (Pamela Harr)
• Phillip Oko – “America’s War on Drugs” (Andrea Meluch)
• Sabrina Pierotti – “Death With Dignity” (Aaron Hanlin)
• Aaron Schneider – “ADHD: The Household Diagnosis” (Andrea Meluch)
• Gabrielle Seed – “Kid Campaign: Why We Need to Eliminate Discrimination in Same-Sex Adoption Process” (Samyak Moktan)
• Leanna Thomas – “Unsubscribe: Recognizing Dangers of Internet Addiction” (Pamela Harr)
  

Judges representing local civic, educational and media organizations include AnnMarie LeBlanc, interim dean of the College of Communication and Information; Paul Haridakis, Ph.D., director of the School of Communication Studies; Lori Wemhoff, executive director, Kent Area Chamber of Commerce and Central Portage County Visitors and Convention Bureau; Megan Vogias, instructor in the School of Communication Studies; and Rich Heldenfels, pop culture writer/columnist, the Akron Beacon Journal.

Kent State’s School of Communication Studies has undergraduate degree programs with concentrations in organizational, applied, public, global, interpersonal and health communication. Graduate programs include degrees in global, health, mediated/mass and interpersonal communication.

President and CEO of Ulthera Inc. to Speak at Kent State’s Michael D. Solomon Speaker Series

Matthew E. Likens, president and
chief executive officer of Ulthera Inc.,
will be the keynote speaker at the
Michael D. Solomon Speaker Series on
April 22.

Matthew E. Likens, president and chief executive officer of Ulthera Inc., will be the keynote speaker at the Michael D. Solomon Speaker Series on April 22 hosted by the College of Business Administration’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation. Likens will present “From Zero to $600M and Lessons Learned Along the Way,” which will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Kent State University Hotel and Conference Center. The event is free and open to the public. To register, visit https://cobamarketing.wufoo.com/forms/register-for-the-solomon-speaker-series.

Likens is an alumnus of Kent State’s College of Business Administration, graduating with a degree in business administration and a major in marketing. He began his professional career with Johnson & Johnson Corporation before Baxter International, spending more than 20 years in domestic and international sales, marketing and general management. Key positions included vice president, marketing for Baxter Biotech Europe based in Munich, Germany, from 1993-1995, president of Baxter Biotech North America from 1996-1998 and president of Baxter Renal U.S. upon his departure from the company in early 2001.

Likens entered the medical start-up world in 2001 and joined GMP Companies as president of GMP Wireless Medicine, Inc., representing one of 14 licensed technologies in the GMP portfolio.

In July 2006, Likens relocated to Arizona to become president and CEO and the second employee of Ulthera Inc., a venture capital-backed start-up company in energy-based aesthetics. Beginning with European regulatory clearance in late 2008, followed by FDA clearance in September 2009, Ulthera realized a net revenue growth from $0.5 million in 2008 to almost $118 million in 2014, and has been profitable each year since 2011. After filing for an initial public offering in early 2014, Ulthera attracted interest from several larger companies, and in July of that year, was acquired by Merz Pharma GmbH for $600 million, an amount representing 6.6 times trailing 12-months’ revenue.

In 2012, the Phoenix Business Journal honored Likens by naming him one of Arizona’s Most Admired CEOs.

Likens believes that consistent operating principles and the establishment of a broader purpose for an organization are vitally important factors in motivating diverse groups of employees to become fully engaged in achieving a company’s objectives as well as one’s personal goals.

“When Michael Solomon established the Speaker Series, it was to expose Kent State students to entrepreneurs like Matt Likens,” says Deborah F. Spake, dean of Kent State’s College of Business Administration. “The college is pleased to bring back to campus alumni business leaders such as Matt to share their experience with the business leaders of tomorrow.”

Kent State alumnus Michael D. Solomon began his support of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation at the College of Business Administration with the inception of the speakers’ series in 2005. His goal was to expose students, faculty and the community to successful entrepreneurs. Each semester, the series brings experienced entrepreneurs and educators to the College of Business Administration to share their insights and wisdom.

The Michael D. Solomon Speaker Series is hosted by the Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation. The four pillars of the center are social entrepreneurship, global entrepreneurship and innovation, technology commercialization and franchising. The center is designed to help business students achieve their entrepreneurial goals and expand research to meet the growing demands for entrepreneurial knowledge and opportunities. The center also connects business students with serial entrepreneurs globally.

For more information, visit http://business.kent.edu/centers/cebi/speaker or email Kelsey Meadows at kmeadow7@kent.edu.

Kent State’s Fashion School Presents Annual Fashion Show, April 24 and 25

A model walks the runway in a design
by Kent State University alumna
Anastasia Iafrate at the 2014 Annual
Fashion Show. This year, the fashion
show will take place on April 24 and 25.

The Fashion School at Kent State University will present the Fashion School’s Annual Fashion Show, “FS2: Visionnaire,” on Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25. The show, which showcases the outstanding talents of the Fashion School’s design and merchandising students, will be held in Rockwell Hall, located at 515 Hilltop Drive in Kent. Associate presenting partners Dillard’s and Macy’s are sponsoring this year’s event. Click here to watch a short promotional video for the fashion show.

For the Annual Fashion Show, a panel of industry professionals reviews students’ work, which ranges from athletic wear to eveningwear, to decide which collections and looks will be presented on the runway. Merchandising students plan and organize the two-day sequence of events, which includes three runway performances and a VIP reception for donors. The VIP reception will take place prior to the final awards show.

Tickets are $25 for the matinee at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 24 (cash or check only, paid at the door). Tickets are $50 for Friday’s 7 p.m. Opening Night Show and $75 for the 7 p.m. Awards Show on Saturday. Tickets for both evening shows may be purchased online at www.fashionschool.kent.edu or in person from the Performing Arts Box Office. Call the box office at 330-672-2787 or visit on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the lobby of the Roe Green Center. The box office accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, personal checks and cash.

For more information about Kent State’s Fashion School, visit http://www2.kent.edu/artscollege/fashion.