eInside Events

Kent State to Launch New Center for the Visual Arts on Oct. 9

Pictured is a rendering depicting the new lobby atrium and
galleries of Kent State's Center for the Visual Arts.

(Image provided by Payto Architects)

Kent State University invites the community to celebrate the launch of the Center for the Visual Arts on Thursday, Oct. 9, at 4 p.m. The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place on the second floor of Cartwright Hall, overlooking the center’s construction site, east of Terrace Drive.

Kent State President Beverly Warren and John Crawford, dean of Kent State’s College of the Arts, will speak at the event, along with students, alumni and donors. Light food and refreshments will be offered, and the construction plans and renderings will be available for viewing. All guests will have the opportunity to participate in a collective work of art that incorporates individual hopes and aspirations for the new center.

The center will be the new home for the School of Art at Kent State and will include the renovation of two existing buildings – Van Deusen Hall and the Art Annex/former Heating Plant. Both buildings will be connected through new construction. The new center will bring all visual arts programs and disciplines under one roof for the first time since 1960. It also will place the school’s galleries, studios and classrooms in one central location. Transparent walls in the studios will highlight the center’s 24/7 activity.

“This state-of-the-art building for the visual arts will have an indelible, positive impact on all of our art students, and will further the College of the Arts’ commitment to providing an enriching arts experience for everyone studying at Kent State,” Crawford says.

An architectural rendering shows a view of the new
Center for the Visual Arts looking east from Terrace Drive.

(Image provided by Payto Architects)

The $33.5 million facility includes more than 115,000 square-feet of space – which includes 77,000 square feet of renovation and nearly 38,000 square feet of new construction – and is scheduled for completion by spring 2016. It will be LEED Silver-certified for efficiency and sustainability and will provide high-tech workspaces as well as state-of-the-art equipment for students and faculty. The central lobby will provide access to the school’s main gallery and two student galleries. Informal spaces for students to relax and study will be featured in the center, along with hallway seating and charging stations. Studios for after-school and weekend art classes for children in the community are a part of the design.

Kent State’s School of Art offers the only Master of Fine Arts degree in the Visual Arts in Northeast Ohio and has one of the broadest arrays of disciplinary majors and minors in the state. Since 1969, it has been an accredited school by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

The new center is a part of the Foundations of Excellence: Building the Future initiative, which involves the construction of new buildings, facility upgrades and establishment of dynamic, new spaces. The goal of this initiative is to create the most outstanding academic experience for students, faculty, staff, alumni and the greater community enriched by the university.

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

For more information about Kent State’s Foundations of Excellence initiative, visit http://foe.kent.edu.

Kent State Celebrates Newly Renovated Tri-Towers Residence Halls

Interior spaces of Kent State University's Tri-Towers
residence hall complex were renovated to enhance
students' residential hall experience.

Kent State University will celebrate the newly renovated Tri-Towers residence hall complex on Oct. 15 at 4:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Kent State President Beverly Warren, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Greg Jarvie and Kent Interhall Council President Brie Jutte will speak during the celebration. Following the remarks, participants can tour the renovated residence halls and enjoy light refreshments.

“I imagine people are curious and want to see what the final product looks like,” says Jill Church, director of Kent State’s Residence Services. “We definitely welcome faculty, staff and students to join us.”

The internal and external renovation of Tri-Towers began this past summer and continued until the end of September.

Koonce and Wright halls now have bird’s-eye-view lounging areas for residents, called Sky Lounges. Sky Lounges were placed on the entire 10th floor of both residence halls in order to promote community building within the halls.

New Sky Lounges offering bird’s-eye views have been
added to Koonce and Wright halls.

“We created a space for students to engage in group activities or just hang-out,” Church says. “I think the renovations make it feel more like a place for students to call home.”

Students like Morgan LaRue, a sophomore psychology major living in Wright Hall, love visiting the Sky Lounge to be with their peers, while studying or taking a break.

“Our Sky Lounge is phenomenal,” LaRue says. “There is a complete sense of community up there; it’s so serene.”

In addition, Leebrick, Koonce and Wright halls now have new roofs, windows, carpet and paint, as well as new metal paneling on the exterior of the buildings.

“Buildings need upkeep throughout their lifespan,” Church says. “The work we did with these buildings will give them at least another 20 years of good use.”

The Tri-Tower renovations are a part of the Foundations of Excellence: Building the Future initiative, which involves the construction of new buildings, facility upgrades and establishment of dynamic, new spaces. The goal of Foundations of Excellence is to create an outstanding academic experience for students, faculty, staff, alumni and the greater university community.

For more information about Kent State’s Residence Services, visit www.kent.edu/housing.

Kent State’s Student Accessibility Services to Host disAbility Awareness Month

Kent State University students pet a therapy dog during
a Dogs on Campus event on the Kent Campus. The therapy
dogs will return to campus as part of disAbility Awareness
Month.

Kent State University’s Student Accessibility Services office aims to bring entertainment and education to campus with a variety of events for disAbility Awareness Month this October.

This month’s programming includes Chalk the Walk, Dogs on Campus, movie screenings of The Hammer and Silver Linings Playbook, and a featured speaker.

Shannon Cowling, chair of disAbility Awareness Month at Kent State, says the goal of all events is to bring mindfulness about disabilities to campus.

“I would like to expose people to disability so that they’ll be a little more understanding and accepting,” Cowling says. “It’s all about realizing that disability is just a label.”

The month will end with a program featuring Geri Jewell on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 7:30 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Kiva.

According to her website, Jewell was the first person with a disability to have a regular role on a prime-time series, NBC’s The Facts of Life. The actress, comedienne and author will deliver a speech titled “Celebrating Abilities” that addresses the realities of having a disability in Hollywood.

Cowling says Jewell was chosen to speak because of her inspiring journey.

“We wanted to bring someone who could really speak to our mission of emphasizing a person’s ability rather than their disability,” Cowling says. “Geri has a good story to tell, and she uses humor to do so.”

All events are free and open to the public. Cowling says she hopes by the end of the month, the Kent community will have a new perspective on disabilities.

“I think any experience or story that could influence an attitude or behavioral change is important,” Cowling says. “The goal is to reach people to make any sort of advancement toward inclusion and equality that we can.”

For more information about disAbility Awareness Month and programming at Kent State, visit www.kent.edu/sas/disability-awarenss-month.

Kent State’s SOLE Center to Host Summit on Learning and Education

Kent State University’s Science of Learning and Education (SOLE) Center will host “Improving Student Achievement: A Summit on Learning and Education” at the Kent State University Hotel and Conference Center on Oct. 9-10. Researchers from across the country (and one from Australia) in the fields of cognitive and educational psychology will present their cutting-edge work on evidence-based approaches to improving student achievement.

The summit kicks off on Thursday, Oct. 9, with a reception at 5:45 p.m., followed by a keynote address by Mark McDaniel, professor of psychology at Washington University, titled “Improving Instructional Effectiveness and Equipping Students to Learn Smarter: Evidence-based Approaches.” The summit is free to attend, but registration is encouraged at www.kent.edu/sole/registration.

McDaniel is the principal investigator in the Memory and Complex Learning Laboratory and the director of the Center for Integrative Research on Cognition, Learning and Education (CIRCLE) at Washington University in St. Louis. He conducts research on human learning and memory, and his work encompasses several areas relevant to cognitive theory and its application: prospective memory, encoding processes in enhancing memory, retrieval processes and their mnemonic effects, and concept learning.

“We’re delighted to have such an accomplished group of cognitive and educational psychologists speaking at the summit,” says John Dunlosky, Ph.D., professor of psychology and SOLE Center director at Kent State. “Mark McDaniel’s keynote will focus on easy-to-use techniques that students and teachers can use to improve learning, and the talks on Friday include cutting-edge research about many aspects of student achievement.”

Topics covered during the summit will include correcting student errors and misconceptions, self-regulated learning, teaching writing skills, math education, representational change in childhood and more. The full schedule of presentations on Friday, Oct. 10, can be found at www.kent.edu/sole/education-summit.

The summit is supported by Kent State’s Department of Psychological Sciences and the Science of Learning and Education (SOLE) Center in the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education, Health and Human Services.

The SOLE Center fosters evidence-based reform of STEM education, health education and literacy, and language learning to improve achievement and retention for Kent State students and for K-12 students in the surrounding community. For more information about the SOLE Center, visit www.kent.edu/sole.

For more information about the Department of Psychological Sciences, visit www.kent.edu/CAS/Psychology.

Graduate Professional and Academic Development (GPAD) Fall 2014 Workshops

Kent State University’s Division of Graduate Studies is hosting two weeks of Graduate Professional and Academic Development (GPAD) workshops beginning Oct. 6. The one-hour workshops are free and open to all Kent State graduate students. All workshops will be held in Room 303 at the Kent Student Center.

The first week of GPAD (Oct. 6-10) will consist of workshops related to college teaching for teaching assistants or graduate students interested in teaching. The second week of GPAD (Oct. 13-17) will consist of workshops on topics including but not limited to career development, research and technology.

To view the complete GPAD Fall 2014 schedule and session abstracts, please visit https://www.kent.edu/graduatestudies/current-gpad-abstracts.

Space is limited, and pre-registration is encouraged. To register, please visit https://www.kent.edu/graduatestudies/gpad-rsvp.

For questions regarding GPAD, contact Kate McAnulty at kmcanult@kent.edu.

Renowned Educator Ken Bain to Speak at Kent State on Building the Best: Teachers, Students and Syllabi

Educator and author Ken Bain will speak at Kent State University on Nov. 6 and 7. The events on both days are free and open to Kent State faculty members, but registration is required.

On Thursday, Nov. 6, from 7-9 p.m., Bain, author of What the Best College Teacher’s Do, will present an overview of his 15-year extensive study of the practices of nearly 100 college educators. Through both humorous and touching stories of students’ classroom discoveries, his presentation will offer insight and inspiration for university professors at various stages in their professional career.

On Friday, Nov. 7, from 9-11 a.m., Bain will present a workshop on “The Promising Syllabus.” Based on his extensive study of highly successful college educators, Bain has identified critical elements to the course syllabus. In this interactive event, he will work with faculty on how to build a syllabus that reflects these elements.

Finally, in his recent book, What the Best College Students Do, he identifies key attitudes that distinguish the best college students from their peers. On Friday, Nov. 7, from 1-3 p.m., he will outline the critical ideas from this text, which includes some of the key research on learning and motivation, as well as interviews conducted with highly successful people from a variety of fields.

Additional resources that outline best practices associated with teaching and learning from recent “How to Build a Better Student” events can be found on the Kent State Faculty Professional Development Center website.

To register to attend Bain’s presentations, visit http://bit.ly/KenBainKSU.

For more information about Kent State’s Faculty Professional Development Center, visit http://www2.kent.edu/fpdc/index.cfm.

Kent State’s Wick Poetry Center Presents Celebrating Our Own on Oct. 15

A student reads to the audience during the Kent State
University Wick Poetry Center's "Celebrating Our Own"
event, the annual undergraduate and high school
scholarship reading.

Kent State University’s Wick Poetry Center invites faculty, staff, students and other members of the community to "Celebrating Our Own," the annual undergraduate and high school scholarship reading, on Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m. The reading will take place at the new home of the Wick Poetry Center located on the Lefton Esplanade between Lincoln and Willow streets.

A total of $7,500 was awarded for the poetry submitted to the Wick Poetry Center. Poet Michael Mlekoday, winner of the 2012 Stan and Tom Wick Poetry Prize, judged the contest.

Winners of the undergraduate scholarship poetry competitions include Kent State students Ryan Lind, Amber Dean, Kinsey Brown and Corinne Engber. The high school student winner who will be recognized at the event is Sydney Vargo.

“'Celebrating Our Own' is the yearly event that is at the heart of our center’s mission, which is to support young writers and their stories,” says Jessica Jewell, program manager for the Wick Poetry Center. "Talent in the arts is something that certainly warrants scholarship support from the university, and we are thrilled that our center and the College of Arts and Sciences value the contribution that these young writers make to poetry and the artistic community of Kent State.”

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

Enjoy a Free Coffee Break at the Williamson Alumni Center

Kick off the Homecoming weekend with Nuts About Coffee on Thursday, Oct. 16, from 10 a.m. until noon. Faculty, staff and students are invited to the Williamson Alumni Center’s Hospitality Tent at 1200 E. Main St. to sample signature coffees from local Kent coffeehouses. Other pastries and baked goods will be available to taste. After sampling the signature coffees, attendees can vote to determine which Kent business can claim to have the best coffee in town!

Learn more at www.ksualumni.org/nutsaboutcoffee. For additional information about Homecoming activities, visit www.ksualumni.org/homecoming.

School of Communication Studies to Honor Distinguished Alumni at Annual Homecoming Awards

Pictured is Kent State University
alumna and Messiah College
President Kim S. Phipps, Ph.D.

Kent State University’s School of Communication Studies will recognize three alumni for their contributions to the field of communication, and bestow the Dominic Infante Scholarship during its annual Homecoming Awards and Reception on Friday, Oct. 17, beginning at 5 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Ballroom Balcony.

The school will present the Centennial Award to Messiah College President Kim S. Phipps, Ph.D.; the Distinguished Alumni Award to Fifth Third Bank Vice President Louise Gissendaner; and the Outstanding Young Professional Award to Cogswell Hall Marketing Assistant Katie Ramunni.

Pictured is Kent State University
alumna and Fifth Third Bank Vice
President Louise Gissendaner.

Phipps is the president of Messiah College in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and the first woman president in Messiah College's history. Before her appointment as president, she served as Messiah's interim president, provost and academic dean. The Centennial Award is the highest honor given by the School of Communication Studies and honors those associated with the school who are recognized nationally or internationally for their preeminent contributions to their profession.

Gissendaner is vice president and director of Bancorp community outreach and strategic initiatives at Fifth Third Bank in Cincinnati. She is responsible for managing the bank's partnership development, community outreach and foundation grant opportunities, including financial literacy, affordable housing and multicultural initiatives throughout Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. The Distinguished Alumni Award honors alumni with more than 15 years of demonstrated success in their chosen career.

Pictured is Kent State University
alumna and Cogswell Hall Marketing
Assistant Katie Ramunni.

Ramunni is a marketing assistant at Cogswell Hall, a Cleveland nonprofit that fights against the isolation of poverty by providing a warm home and supportive service to individuals with disabilities. She is also a committee member for The Warren A. Sill Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the establishment and continuation of scholarship at Kent State. She formerly served as AmeriCorps VISTA and ReStore program specialist at Habitat for Humanity MidOhio in Columbus. The Outstanding Young Professional Award honors alumni with more than five years of demonstrated success in their field since graduation.

RSVP to the School of Communication Studies by Monday, Oct. 13, at 330-672-2659 or by email at comm@kent.edu. Please provide the number of guests attending and their names.

For current news and information about the School of Communication Studies, visit www.kent.edu/comm or like the school on Facebook.

Get Screened at National Depression Screening Day, Oct. 9

Come to National Depression Screening Day on Thursday, Oct. 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will be held on the 2nd floor mezzanine of the Kent Student Center, and it is open to all students, faculty and staff, as well as the larger Kent community.

As part of the free screening, participants have the opportunity to complete a questionnaire, which screens for depression, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, and to speak with a clinician in the mental health field to review their results. If necessary, appropriate referrals can be made, and participants may also find information on depression and other mental health issues for themselves or for someone about whom they may be concerned.

Students also can attend the event at Kent State University at Stark at the Herbert W. Hoover Foundation Counseling Center located on the lower level of the Campus Center on Thursday, Oct. 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Students who attend Kent State University at Salem or Kent State University at East Liverpool can visit www.col.kent.edu/counseling for more information. Students at Kent State University at Trumbull can participate in the screening on Thursday, Oct. 9, in Room 131 of the Enrollment Management and Student Services Building between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

A confidential online screening module also is available 24 hours per day throughout the year. The module provides individuals with feedback, referrals and resources upon completion. Kent State’s online screening can be found at http://screening.mentalhealthscreening.org/kent.

National Depression Screening Day is co-sponsored by University Health Services, Psychological Services and the Office of Health Promotion. In order to promote this important outreach effort and to encourage student participation, food and other giveaways will be available. All are invited to participate.

For more information, contact Psychological Services at 330-672-2487 or one of the co-coordinators, John Schell, Ph.D., at jschell@kent.edu or Carrie Berta, Psy.D., at cberta@kent.edu.

Kent State Exhibits "Coming of Age at Kent 1967-71: A Pictorial of Black Student Life," Oct. 6-23

An exhibit of the photographs of Kent
State University alumnus Lafayette
Tolliver will be presented from Oct. 6-23
at Ritchie Hall.

Kent State University Libraries, in partnership with the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Department of Pan-African Studies, presents "Coming of Age at Kent 1967-71: A Pictorial of Black Student Life," an exhibit of the photographs of Lafayette Tolliver.

Tolliver is a Kent State alumnus who attended the university from 1967-71, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in photojournalism. He served as a photographer and columnist for the Chestnut Burr yearbook and the Daily Kent Stater campus newspaper. He was often called upon as an informal photographer for many activities sponsored by black student organizations during his tenure at Kent State and served as one of the founding members of Black United Students. Due to his extensive campus involvement, Tolliver produced thousands of photographs, many of which were never published or otherwise made accessible to the public until now. Tolliver donated his collection of prints and negatives to Kent State’s Special Collections and Archives in January 2014.

The exhibit will include selected images that depict the wide breadth of the black student experience during the late '60s and early '70s at the height of the black campus movement. The exhibit will take visitors on a journey from the birth of young love, to the spirit of competition through athletics, ending with victory through protest.

The exhibit runs from Oct. 6-23 and is free and open to the public during gallery hours.

For questions, contact Lae’l Hughes-Watkins, university archivist, at lhughesw@kent.edu or 330-672-1639.

For more information about Special Collections at University Libraries, visit www.library.kent.edu/specialcollections.