News and Events

2012 2nd Quarter News Releases

Kent State Begins Student Green Project Fulfilling the commitment Kent State University President Lester A. Lefton made to students, the university today began initial construction activities on the Student Green project in the Kent Student Center area, located at the heart of the campus. The new Student Green will extend from the recently renovated Risman Plaza to the lawn area south, creating a contiguous green space from the current student center plaza to Summit Street.
- Posted Apr. 4, 2012
Organic Photovoltaics Symposium Brings Nobel Laureate to Kent State, April 17 Kent State University will host an organic photovoltaics (OPV) symposium to present current research and progress April 17 from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Kent Student Center Kiva. The symposium is free and open to the public.
- Posted Apr. 4, 2012
Spring 2012 Michael D. Solomon Entrepreneurship Speaker Series Set for April 10 Nick Friedman, president and co-founder of College Hunks Hauling Junk, will speak about his journey to success at the Kent Student Center Kiva on Tuesday, April 10, at 6:30 p.m., during the spring 2012 Michael D. Solomon Entrepreneurship Speaker Series. A reception with Friedman will be held in Room 204 of the Kent Student Center following his presentation. The event is free and open to the public.
- Posted Apr. 5, 2012
Kent State Women’s Center Announces Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® The Kent State Women's Center, in collaboration with members of the campus community, will hold Walk a Mile in Her Shoes®, the international men's march to stop rape, sexual assault and gender violence, on April 10, from 5 p.m. at Risman Plaza on the Kent Campus.
- Posted Apr. 5, 2012
Second Black Squirrel 5K Set for April 14 The Department of Recreational Services at Kent State University announces the second annual Black Squirrel 5K on Saturday, April 14, at 8 a.m.
- Posted Apr. 5, 2012
The Kent State Fashion School Opens New Retail Space in Downtown Kent The Kent State University Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising announces the opening of its new retail space, The Fashion School Store. Located in downtown Kent, Ohio, in the newly revitalized retail area known as Acorn Alley II, the store will hold a public grand opening from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18. Guests will have the opportunity to view the new space, purchase merchandise and enjoy light refreshments. To make a reservation, call Kent State’s College of the Arts office at 330-672-2760 by April 13. The event is free and open to the public.
- Posted Apr. 5, 2012
Vote for Kent State’s Judy Devine in Title IX Trailblazer Contest Judy Devine has long been a champion of women’s athletics and academics at Kent State University. Now it is time for the Kent State community to be a champion for her. Watch the video tribute to help cast your vote for the university's former senior associate athletics director.
- Posted Apr. 9, 2012
Kent State Holds 13th Annual Symposium on Democracy, April 23-25 Kent State University’s 13th annual Symposium on Democracy will be held at the Kent Student Center Kiva on April 23-25. In recognition of the 150th anniversary of the nation’s greatest conflict, this year’s theme is “Democracy and the American Civil War.” The event is free and open to the public.
- Posted Apr. 9, 2012
Community Discussion Honors Late Middle East Journalist Anthony Shadid Widely regarded as the best American journalist covering the Middle East, Anthony Shadid died tragically while covering the conflict in Syria this past February.

Shadid, a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning foreign correspondent for The New York Times, was originally scheduled to come to Cleveland in March as part of the Northeast Ohio Consortium for Middle East Studies (NOCMES) speaker series.

To honor his work and memory, a community discussion of Shadid’s last book “House of Stone” will be held on Thursday, April 19, at 7 p.m. at the Cuyahoga County Public Library, located at 25501 Shaker Blvd. in Beachwood, Ohio.
- Posted Apr. 10, 2012
Kent State Presents the 26th Annual Ohio Employee Ownership Conference on April 20
Kent State University will host the 26th Annual Ohio Employee Ownership Conference on Friday, April 20, at the Hilton West in Fairlawn, Ohio. The theme for the conference, presented by Kent State’s Ohio Employee Ownership Center (OEOC), is “Employee Ownership: Simply a Better Way of Doing Business.”

- Posted Apr. 12, 2012
Kent State Professor Examines Link Between Parental Time Pressure and Depression A recently published paper by Kent State University Associate Professor Susan Roxburgh examines the association between depression and parental time pressures among employed married parents.

 Roxburgh is a sociologist who has been with Kent State since 1994. The Journal of Family Issues published her paper “Parental Time Pressures and Depression among Married Dual-Earner Parents” in its most recent issue (November, 2011).
- Posted Apr. 13, 2012
Kent State Holds Second Annual LNC/SALSA Hablemos (Let’s Talk) Conference on April 19
Kent State University organizations the Latino Networking Caucus (LNC) and the Spanish and Latino Student Association (SALSA), will present the 2nd annual LNC/SALSA Hablemos (Let’s Talk) Conference in the Kent Student Center on April 19 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The conference will address the impact of the Hispanic/Latino vote in 2012.

- Posted Apr. 13, 2012
Information about the Tuition Plateau and Per-Credit-Hour Fee At its March 14 meeting, the Kent State University Board of Trustees approved a change to the university’s tuition plateau, which will be phased in starting the fall 2012 semester. The board recognizes that the resources provided as state assistance are constrained by the economic challenges throughout the nation, state and region. Nevertheless, additional resources are needed in a number of areas to preserve academic program quality, facilities and services to students in order that the university’s excellence agenda may continue.
- Posted Apr. 16, 2012
Sheryl Crow Headlines Kent State’s “Centennial Campaign” Concert on Sept. 8 Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow will headline a concert at Kent State University on Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. at Dix Stadium in Kent, Ohio. The “Centennial Campaign” concert to benefit the Campaign for Change Scholarship Fund serves as a celebration of the conclusion of Kent State’s Centennial Campaign, a $250-million fundraising effort timed around university’s 100th anniversary in 2010 and the largest campaign in Kent State’s history.
- Posted Apr. 16, 2012
Department of Pan-African Studies Holds Conference, “Slavery, Colonialism and African Identities in the Atlantic World” Kent State University’s Department of Pan-African Studies is hosting the conference “Slavery, Colonialism and African Identities in the Atlantic World” on April 26 and 27 at Ritchie Hall.
- Posted Apr. 21, 2012
Kent State Hosts 38th Annual Meonske Accounting Conference, April 26-27 The Ohio Council of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) will host its 38th Annual Meonske Accounting Professional Development Conference and Workshop on April 26-27 at Kent State University.
- Posted Apr. 21, 2012
Kent State Awarded $1.25 Million to Help Build Research and Education Network in Bangladesh An international partnership between Kent State University, the Ohio Academic Resource Network (OARnet) and Ireland’s National Research and Education Network (HEAnet) has been selected to provide advanced technical expertise in building the Bangladesh Research and Education Network (BdREN) through an international competition.
- Posted Apr. 24, 2012
Safety Concerns and Request for Assistance On Saturday, April 21, activities at an off-campus party held on East College Avenue in Kent turned into a dangerous situation for participants as numerous fights broke out, which also included bottle throwing.
- Posted Apr. 24, 2012
Kent Delegation Meets With, Thanks U.S. Government Officials Six representatives of the Kent Central Gateway project, which includes the City of Kent, the Portage Area Regional Transit (PARTA) and Kent State University, visited Washington, D.C., on April 16 and 17 and met with Ohio members of Congress and officials at the Federal Transit Administration.
- Posted Apr. 25, 2012
Kent’s “Who’s Your Mama?” Environmental Film Festival Takes Place on Friday, April 27 Standing Rock Cultural Arts, with the support of Kent State University, the City of Kent and Kent Parks and Recreation, will host the 6th annual “Who’s Your Mama?” Environmental Film Festival and Local Foods Reception on Friday, April 27 at the Kent Student Center Kiva.
- Posted Apr. 25, 2012
Kent State Students Launch Data-Driven Website Featuring Kent News, Events and Videos Students from Kent State University’s schools of Journalism and Mass Communication and Digital Sciences have created a data-driven website, www.opencampuskent.com, that features a recent feed of what’s happening in the Kent area including Kent State campus buildings.
- Posted Apr. 26, 2012
Top Kayaking Expert to Lead Workshop for Kent State’s Recreational Services Staff Staff members from Kent State’s Department of Recreational Services will take part in a two-day kayaking safety and instruction workshop April 30 and May 1 at Franklin Mills River Edge Park in Kent.

- Posted Apr. 27, 2012
Kent State’s Spring Commencement Ceremonies Take Place May 4 and 5 Kent State University will hold its spring commencement ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 5, at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center (MAC Center).
- Posted Apr. 30, 2012
Kent State Holds Events to Commemorate May 4 Kent State University will mark its 42nd annual May 4, 1970, commemoration on May 3 and 4. The commemoration events are an opportunity for students and the community to gather and reflect on the tragedy and adapt the lessons learned to current events.
- Posted Apr. 30, 2012
Ohio Third Frontier Approves $200,000 in Commercialization Grants to Kent State Researchers The Ohio Third Frontier program recently made three separate grants to Kent State University researchers through the newly established Technology Validation and Start-up Fund, which promotes the commercialization of Ohio technologies developed by the state’s institutions of higher education.
- Posted May. 2, 2012
Kent State Recovers 7.6 Pounds Per Person of Recyclable Materials During RecycleMania The results from this year’s RecycleMania tournament are in, and Kent State University won bragging rights against the University of Akron in the friendly environmental competition. RecycleMania is a benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs to promote waste reduction activities to their campus communities.
- Posted May. 3, 2012
Kent State Selected to Host Fulbright Visiting Scholars This Summer Kent State University is one of five institutions selected to host the 2012 Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program for Iraq this summer. The prestigious program is sponsored by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars and supported by the U.S. Department of State’s Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureau and the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
- Posted May. 3, 2012
Kent State Professor Receives $390,090 Grant to Continue Groundbreaking Parkinson’s Research Parkinson’s disease affects about 1.5 million Americans, and it often leads to decreased independence and increased reliance on caregivers and the healthcare system for individuals living with it. But research conducted by Kent State University’s Angela Ridgel, Ph.D., shows reduced symptoms of the disease with the use of exercise using motorized bicycles.
Ridgel, an assistant professor in exercise science/physiology at Kent State, recently received a two-year, $390,900 grant from the National Institutes of Health to continue her work to design and test “smart” motorized bicycles, which could access individual effort, performance, skill level and therapeutic value in order to maximize the benefit.
- Posted May. 9, 2012
Elementary Students Learn Science, Technology, Engineering and Math with LEGO® WeDo™ Robotics at Kent State Knowing that young children are natural engineers, fascinated with how things work and with building and taking things apart, led the Research Center for Educational Technology (RCET) staff at Kent State University to adopt the LEGO® WeDo™ Robotics system to help promote elementary content standards for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning.
- Posted May. 11, 2012
Kent State’s Upward Bound Programs to Celebrate Graduating High School Seniors, May 19 The Kent State University Upward Bound Programs will host the Senior Scholarship Banquet on Saturday, May 19, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Kent Student Center Ballroom. The event is open to Kent State faculty and staff, high school administrators and community members.
- Posted May. 14, 2012
Two Kent State Professors Will Bike Three Hours to Work to Mark National Bike to Work Day Kent State University College of Nursing professors Peggy Doheny, Ph.D., and Ann Jacobson, Ph.D., will ride their bicycles to work on Friday, May 18, to mark National Bike to Work Day. Doheny and Jacobson, both in their 60s, will ride about 30 miles to work in Kent, Ohio, from Jacobson’s home in South Russell, Ohio.
- Posted May. 14, 2012
New Solar Panels Will Power Kent State University’s Field House Kent State University is in the process of installing 1,716 solar panels on the Kent State Field House located on the Kent Campus. The panels will cover almost one acre of roof area or nearly 0.5 megawatt of panel capacity.
- Posted May. 17, 2012
Kent State Researchers Examine Emotional Impact of Acting White Accusation Acting white is an accusation faced by many black adolescents, and it is one of the most negative accusations a black adolescent can receive from another, according to a team of Kent State University researchers.

A recent study published in the Journal of Anxiety Disorders highlights the emotional implications of being on the receiving end of the acting white accusation. Kent State researchers who surveyed African-American adolescents in Northeast Ohio found higher levels of anxiety among those who had been accused of acting white.
- Posted May. 17, 2012
Deadline Extended for First Kent Multimedia Workshop at Kent State’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication Registration has been extended for Kent State University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication first Kent Multimedia Workshop – a three-day, hands-on video and photography multimedia storytelling workshop – to be held June 14-16 in Franklin Hall on the Kent Campus.
- Posted May. 21, 2012
Kent State School of Art's Downtown Gallery of Abstract Art from Richard Lazzaro The Downtown Gallery will present the exhibit "Far East to West, A Series of Gouache Works" featuring artist Richard Lazarro from May 18 to June 16. The Downtown Gallery is located at 141 E. Main St., Kent, OH.
- Posted May. 23, 2012
Largest Cash Gift Ever Made to Kent State University Museum The Kent State University Museum has received a $1.1 million donation – its largest cash gift ever – from local business leader and Kent State alumnus Gerald Schweigert. The donation, in the form of a charitable gift annuity, will be instrumental in the preservation and future support of museum collections and activities.
- Posted May. 23, 2012
Construction and Parking Update for Kent Student Center Area Kent State University is building for the future with a number of significant improvements to its campus. Work on the Student Green in front of the library and Kent Student Center is currently underway. Due to this construction, the visitor lot in front of Risman Plaza is closed through Aug. 19.
- Posted May. 29, 2012
Porthouse Theatre Kicks Off 2012 Season with a Grand Slam of a Musical - "Damn Yankees" "Damn Yankees" is the perfect musical comedy that both theatre and sports enthusiasts will love! The show opens on June 14 at Porthouse Theatre, on the grounds of Blossom Music Center, and closes June 30. Call the Box Office at 330-672-3884 for tickets.
- Posted May. 29, 2012
The Effect of Housing Wealth on College Choice Examined by Kent State Researcher The housing boom that some areas of the country experienced in the late 1990s and early 2000s resulted in dramatic increases in housing values for many households. A new study by researchers at Kent State University and Cornell University found that this growth resulted in changes in college choices by students in those households.
- Posted May. 30, 2012
ADVISORY: Kent State University Board of Trustees Meeting, June 6 The Kent State University Board of Trustees will hold its next regular business meeting Wednesday, June 6. The Board will convene at 1:30 p.m. in the George Urban Board of Trustees Conference Room, which is located on the second floor of the Kent Campus Library.
- Posted May. 31, 2012
Learn How to Protect Your Assets and Make Your Medical Wishes Known at Free Kent State Seminar The 2nd annual Ask the Panel seminar on estate planning, taxes and medical directives will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday, June 15, at Kent State University in the Moulton Hall Ballroom, located at 800 Hilltop Drive in Kent, Ohio. The lecture is presented by Kent State’s Center for Gift and Estate Planning and is free and open to the public.
- Posted Jun. 1, 2012
Two Kent State Grapplers Win University Titles Kent State’s Dustin Kilgore (Berea, Ohio) and Ian Miller (Oak Harbor, Ohio) each won individual titles at the ASICS University Nationals Sunday at the University of Akron’s Field House.
- Posted Jun. 3, 2012
Kent State University Summary of Board Actions from June 6 At its June 6 meeting, the Kent State University Board of Trustees took action on the following items.
- Posted Jun. 6, 2012
Kent State Professor Stephen Mitchell Elected President-Elect of National Association for Sport and Physical Education Stephen Mitchell, Ph.D., a sport pedagogy professor at Kent State University in the School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies, is the new president-elect of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE).
- Posted Jun. 8, 2012
Media Invited to View Massive Solar Panel Installation on Top of Kent State University Field House Local media are invited to climb to the top of the Kent State University Field House on Wednesday, June 13, at 1:30 p.m. to view the ongoing installation of 1,716 solar panels.
- Posted Jun. 11, 2012
Kent State Professors Design Costumes for Olympic Dance Team Three associate professors from Kent State University’s Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising are donating their time to design and create more than 30 costumes for a local dance troupe headed to London for the 2012 Summer Olympics.
- Posted Jun. 12, 2012
Community Groups Partner to Grow Local Food Economy in Portage County The Portage County Regional Planning Commission is spearheading an effort to connect local producers with local consumers through the creation of a food hub built around the aggregation, packaging and distribution of agricultural products. The goal of the project is to increase market access for local food producers, service local institutional and commercial buyers and satisfy consumer demand for fresh, locally grown produce.
- Posted Jun. 13, 2012
Kent State School of Music and The Cleveland Orchestra Partner for 45th Annual Kent/Blossom Music Festival The Kent/Blossom Music Festival is an advanced training institute operated by Kent State University in cooperation with The Cleveland Orchestra and Blossom Music Center. This summer intensive program presents public performances by distinguished artist faculty and talented young musicians.
- Posted Jun. 14, 2012
New Dean Named for Kent State University Columbiana County Campuses Kent State University Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Todd Diacon has announced that Stephen Nameth, Ph.D., has been named dean and chief administrative officer of the Kent State University Columbiana County campuses.
- Posted Jun. 14, 2012
Kent State Hires Former Media Executive to Lead Its School of Journalism and Mass Communication The School of Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) at Kent State University has hired Thor Wasbotten, M.S., as its new director. Wasbotten will join the university July 1 to replace Jeff Fruit, who steps down after 10 years as the school’s leader to teach full time.
- Posted Jun. 19, 2012
Kent State Downtown Art Gallery Opens Vibrant Exhibit by Kent State Alumna Patricia Zinsmeister Parker '81 Kent State University's School of Art Galleries presents the exhibition PAINTING IN THE DARK by NE Ohio painter Patricia Zinsmeister Parker, June 20-July 14, 2012.
- Posted Jun. 19, 2012
Kent State Holds Celebration for Baseball Team on June 28 Kent State University’s Golden Flashes baseball team will be honored at a “Season of Champions” celebration event on Thursday, June 28, at the Kent Student Center Ballroom. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with a presentation beginning at 7 p.m.
- Posted Jun. 22, 2012
Marcello Fantoni Appointed Kent State’s New Associate Provost for Global Education Marcello Fantoni, Ph.D., of Kent State University has been appointed the university’s new associate provost for global education. Fantoni currently serves as director of Kent State University in Florence, Italy, and the university’s Europe manager.
- Posted Jun. 22, 2012
Kent State’s College of Public Health Offers New Master of Public Health Degree Program in Twinsburg Kent State University’s College of Public Health is pleased to announce the new Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in Health Policy and Management, Leadership elective. This unique graduate degree is designed for working health professionals who want to gain advanced skills in organizational change and leadership development.
- Posted Jun. 25, 2012
Kent State Announces New Bachelor’s Degree in Insurance Studies Kent State University has announced it will offer a bachelor’s degree in insurance studies beginning this fall. The Ohio Board of Regents recently approved the new degree, which will initially be offered only at Kent State University at Salem. Interested students may begin enrolling immediately.
- Posted Jun. 26, 2012
MEDIA ADVISORY: Kent State Celebrates Baseball Team Thursday Kent State University will honor its baseball team with a “Season of Champions” event on Thursday, June 28, in the Kent Student Center Ballroom for its historic run, making it to the College World Series for the first time in school history. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with a presentation beginning at 7 p.m.
- Posted Jun. 26, 2012
New Interim Dean Named for Kent State’s Honors College Kent State University Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Todd Diacon has announced that Donald Palmer, Ph.D., has been named interim dean of the Honors College. Palmer currently serves as professor in Kent State’s Department of Geology.
- Posted Jun. 29, 2012