News and Events

2013 1st Quarter News Releases

Kent State Game Watch Parties Scheduled for GoDaddy.com Bowl Game After winning a program record 11 games, the Kent State Golden Flashes football team will take on Arkansas State on Sunday, Jan. 6, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala., in the GoDaddy.com Bowl Game. For fans unable to travel to Mobile, they can still cheer on the Golden Flashes with fellow Kent State supporters.
- Posted Jan. 4, 2013
Kent State Announces New Associate Vice President for University Communications and Marketing Rebecca Murphy has been named associate vice president for University Communications and Marketing at Kent State University. Murphy previously served as the assistant dean of marketing and communications, enrollment and student services at Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management.
- Posted Jan. 7, 2013
Kent State Announces “First Choice” Initiative to Provide Larger First-Year Merit Scholarships Kent State University has undertaken a bold initiative to provide more incoming freshmen a significant increase in merit scholarships to ease the financial burden on successful students who see the university as their first choice for college.
- Posted Jan. 9, 2013
New Traffic Light and Stop Signs Installed on Kent State Campus Students and employees returning to Kent State University for the spring semester will encounter a couple of new traffic situations as they navigate campus.

A new traffic light has been installed at the intersection of Loop Road and Rhodes Road, near the Kent State Child Development Center. The new signal, which replaces the stop signs previously at that location, will be operational beginning this Friday, Jan. 11.
- Posted Jan. 9, 2013
All Study Strategies Not Created Equal, According to Kent State Researchers Students everywhere, put down those highlighters and pick up some flash cards! Some of the most popular study strategies – such as highlighting and even rereading – do not show much promise for improving student learning, according to a new report authored in part by two Kent State University researchers.
Kent State’s John Dunlosky, professor of psychology, and Katherine Rawson, associate professor of psychology, and a team of distinguished psychological scientists review the scientific evidence for 10 learning techniques commonly used by students. Their findings are published in the published in Psychological Science in the Public Interest, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

- Posted Jan. 10, 2013
Kent State’s 11th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Takes Place On Jan. 24 Kent State University’s 11th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, themed “Empowering the Individual, Strengthening the Community,” will take place on Thursday, Jan. 24, at 2 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Ballroom. The event is free and open to the public.

Inspirational speaker and Professor Emeritus of Ethnic Studies Carlos Muñoz Jr., Ph.D., at UC Berkeley is the keynote speaker at the event.

- Posted Jan. 11, 2013
Watch Live: Proposed New Architecture Building Designs The four finalists in the competition to design the new building for Kent State University’s College of Architecture and Environmental Design will present their design concepts at a public presentation Thursday, Jan. 17, at 7 p.m. The event, which is free and open to the public, takes place on campus in the University Auditorium in Cartwright Hall, located at 650 Hilltop Drive in Kent.
- Posted Jan. 11, 2013
Kent State Kicks Off Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration With Black and Brown Dialogue On Jan. 15 ent State University’s Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and the Kent State Latino Networking Caucus will host the Black and Brown Dialogue that kicks off commemorative events marking Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The engaging discussion will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 15, at 7 p.m., in the Kent Student Center Kiva. The event is free and open to all.

Kent State President’s Ambassador and renowned Cleveland-area attorney, José Feliciano, will speak at the event. The discussion will center on African American and Latino communities in relation to King's legacy, and key civil and social justice issues facing the country today.
- Posted Jan. 11, 2013
Kent State Students Encouraged Not to Attend Class If Suffering Flu-Like Symptoms As Kent State students prepare to begin spring semester class on Monday, Jan. 14, students are encouraged to be aware of the seriousness of the current flu strain.
- Posted Jan. 11, 2013
2012 National Teacher of the Year Rebecca Mieliwocki to Speak at Kent State, Jan. 29 Rebecca Mieliwocki, who was recognized by President Barack Obama as the 2012 National Teacher of the Year, will present a Gerald H. Read Distinguished Lecture at Kent State University on Tuesday, Jan. 29, at 4:30 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Kiva. This lecture is free and open to the public.
- Posted Jan. 16, 2013
Online Conversations Guide Strategic Planning at Kent State Kent State University has completed a first-of-its-kind online engagement project to enable its faculty, staff and students to participate significantly in envisioning the university’s academic future.
- Posted Jan. 18, 2013
Planned Transition of Kent State’s Van Campen Hall Creates Swing Space for "Foundations of Excellence" Initiative Kent State University’s Department of Residence Services will turn control of Van Campen Hall back to the Division of Business and Finance in May 2013. Residence Services has been using the building as a residence hall for the past three years, on loan from the Division of Business and Finance.
- Posted Jan. 18, 2013
American Heart Association HeartChase Comes to Kent State The American Heart Association's HeartChase race comes to Kent State on March 16.
- Posted Jan. 22, 2013
Kent State Research Highlights Biodiversity Hotspot in Fossil Coral Reef Where do many decapod crustaceans such as lobsters, crabs and shrimp live today? One key habitat is coral reefs, even though reefs occupy only a small portion of today’s oceans. A new report based on research conducted at Kent State University indicates that decapod biodiversity was also extremely high in fossilized coral reefs from the Cretaceous period (145 to 66 million years ago).
- Posted Jan. 23, 2013
Kent State Signs Agreement with the National Park Service Kent State University has signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Park Service, providing for enhanced collaboration in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
- Posted Jan. 24, 2013
New York-Based Fashion Designer Suede to Unveil New SUEDEsays Line of Fabric and Patterns at Kent State "Project Runway" All-Star and Kent State alumnus celebrates launch with free fashion show Saturday, Feb. 2, in the Rockwell Hall Auditorium at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
- Posted Jan. 24, 2013
Kent State Panel Discussion Will Explore Puerto Rico Statehood, Jan. 31 Kent State University’s College of Arts and Sciences, and the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are sponsoring a panel discussion titled “Puerto Rico: The 51st Star On the U.S. Flag?” on Jan. 31 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Kiva. The event is free and open to the public.
- Posted Jan. 25, 2013
Kent State’s College of Public Health Establishes a New Practice Office and Research Center Kent State University’s College of Public Health has established a new Office of Public Health Practice and a Center for Public Policy and Health, two externally focused college units that offer services to health departments, hospital systems, government agencies and non-governmental organizations.
- Posted Jan. 25, 2013
Kent State Presidential Speaker Series Presents An Evening With Nobel Peace Prize Winner Elie Wiesel Nobel Peace Prize winner and Boston University Professor Elie Wiesel will speak at the second Kent State University Presidential Speaker Series on Thursday, April 11, at 7 p.m., at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center on the Kent Campus.
- Posted Jan. 28, 2013
Kent State Sets a New All-Time High in Spring Enrollment With the release of its official 15th day census data, Kent State University has set a new record high for spring recorded enrollment. Spring 2013 enrollment is up 161 students, or 0.4 percent, for Kent State’s eight-campus system.
- Posted Jan. 29, 2013
EVENT UPDATE: Kent State Panel Discussion Exploring Puerto Rico Statehood Postponed The panel discussion titled “Puerto Rico: The 51st Star On the U.S. Flag?” that was scheduled to take place at Kent State University on Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Kiva has been postponed due to a personal matter that has arisen for one of the panel members.
- Posted Jan. 30, 2013
Kent State Team Places Second Among U.S. Schools at International MBA Case Competition Kent State University joined 35 universities from around the world in Montreal, Canada, at the John Molson MBA International Case Competition that took place Jan. 6-11. The competition, the oldest and largest of its kind in the world, is organized by MBA students from Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business.
- Posted Jan. 30, 2013
Kent State Students Generate Huge Buzz With Social Media “Cleanup” App Three Kent State University students recently developed a Web application to help those looking to clean up their acts – virtually speaking. Computer science majors Camden Fullmer, Daniel Gur and David Steinberg created FaceWash – now known as SimpleWash – in a weekend “hackathon,” a programming competition at the University of Pennsylvania that was held Jan. 18 – 20.
- Posted Feb. 4, 2013
Kent State Fashion Merchandising Student Receives National Retail Federation Award The National Retail Federation (NRF) selected Kent State University senior fashion merchandising major Brittany Casper to receive its Ray M. Greenly Scholarship that is awarded to the next generation of retail leaders. Casper, who is from Brunswick, Ohio, is among a select group of 24 students nationwide to earn this prestigious $5,000 scholarship. 
- Posted Feb. 5, 2013
Kent State Holds Third Annual Spirit of Women in Business Conference on March 6 Kent State University presents its third annual Spirit of Women in Business Conference on Wednesday, March 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kent Student Center. The theme of this year’s conference is “The Enlightened Woman.” Students, professionals and seasoned business veterans are encouraged to attend.
- Posted Feb. 6, 2013
Kent State Researcher Says Fracking Produces Less Wastewater Than Conventional Drilling For Brian Lutz, Ph.D., a native of Lordstown, Ohio, what started out as a curiosity while working on his family farm has led him to where he is now: asking critical research questions on fracking and shale gas issues that can affect millions of people in his home state.
- Posted Feb. 7, 2013
KSU Advisory: Feb. 8 – Kent Campus Safety Alert Kent State University Police are investigating the burning of a hand sanitizing dispenser on the 8th floor of Koonce Hall on Feb. 8 at 2:26 am. The fire was isolated to the area of the wall where the dispenser was mounted. No other damage was sustained as a result of the incident, and no one was injured.
- Posted Feb. 8, 2013
Kent State’s Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative Needs Your Vote to Win $150,000 Grant
- Posted Feb. 11, 2013
Social Media Thought Leader Eric Stoller to Speak About Digital Identity and Higher Education at Kent State, Feb. 14 Nationally known speaker, thought leader and consultant Eric Stoller will present “Digital Identity, Social Media and Higher Education” on Thursday, Feb. 14, at 10 a.m. in the Kent Student Center Kiva. The event is free and open to the public.
- Posted Feb. 11, 2013
Kent State Joins Global Campaign One Billion Rising to Stop Violence Against Women and Girls, Feb. 14 On Feb. 14, at various times and locations across campus, the Kent State University Women’s Center will join with activists around the world for One Billion Rising, the largest day of action in the history of V-Day, the global activist movement to end violence against women and girls.
- Posted Feb. 12, 2013
Kent State’s TRIO Programs to Hold Second Annual Luncheon, Feb. 26 The three branches of the TRIO Program at Kent State University will host the second annual TRIO Achievers Recognition Luncheon on Tuesday, Feb. 26, at 11 a.m. in the Kent Student Center Ballroom.
- Posted Feb. 12, 2013
2013 Urban Innovators Speaker Series to Feature Kent State’s Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative Director, Feb. 20 University Park Alliance’s 2013 Innovators Speaker Series will feature Kent State University’s Terry Schwarz at its next program. Schwarz is director of Kent State’s Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative. The title of her presentation is “Transforming Vacant Spaces: Creating Value from Vacancy in the Urban Footprint.”
- Posted Feb. 13, 2013
C-SPAN Bus to Visit Kent State on Friday, Feb. 15 The C-SPAN Bus, an interactive multi-media learning center, will visit Kent State University on Friday, Feb. 15, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The 45-foot bus will be located in the front of Kent State’s Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center and will be open for free tours for students, faculty, staff and the general public.
- Posted Feb. 13, 2013
Kent State Invites Community to Provide Input for New Airport Master Plan, March 4 The first public meeting for the Kent State University Airport Master Plan has been scheduled for Monday, March 4. In this meeting, the public will be introduced to the project and learn why university leaders are reassessing recommendations from the 2006 plan and taking a fresh look at the airport’s assets and needs.
- Posted Feb. 18, 2013
KSU Advisory: Feb. 18 – Kent Campus Safety Alert Kent State University Police are investigating the burning of four pieces of paper that were hanging on bulletin boards in Prentice Hall. Each burning occurred separately over the last 10 days and resulted in the partial destruction of the papers. No other damage was sustained as a result of these events.
- Posted Feb. 18, 2013
Shel Holtz to Keynote Sixth Annual YouToo Social Media Conference Focusing on Social Visualization and Gamification Principal of Holtz Communication and Technology Shel Holtz will discuss social visualization and gamification strategies and tactics as the keynote speaker at the Akron Area Public Relations Society of America’s YouToo Social Media Conference on Friday, April 19, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kent State University’s Franklin Hall.
- Posted Feb. 18, 2013
Kent State Honored With Tree Campus USA Designation for Fifth Consecutive Year The Arbor Day Foundation recently honored Kent State University with a Tree Campus USA designation for the fifth consecutive year. Tree Campus USA was created in 2008 to honor colleges and universities across the nation for campus forest management and engagement in conservation goals.
- Posted Feb. 19, 2013
Kent State Hosts “Explore Kent Chemistry Day” for High School Juniors and Seniors, Feb. 23 High school juniors and seniors will have the opportunity to learn about Kent State University’s chemistry programs at the “Explore Kent Chemistry Day” on Saturday, Feb. 23, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Williams Hall on the Kent Campus.
- Posted Feb. 20, 2013
Kent State and Area Health Departments Awarded Grant to Improve Public Health Services Kent State University and three health departments in Portage County, Ohio, are pleased to announce receipt of a $125,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to explore how “cross-jurisdictional sharing” can enable greater protection and promotion of public health.
- Posted Feb. 21, 2013
World-Renowned Scientist Ron Mallett to Keynote College of Nursing's “Driving the Future 2013” Kent State University’s College of Nursing presents “Driving the Future 2013,” an event focused on inspiration and innovation and their roles in the education, science and healthcare of the future. The event will take place on Monday, March 4, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will feature a series of TED TALK-style presentations. The event will take place at the Kent Student Center with morning sessions at the Kiva. Registration is required by Wednesday, Feb. 27.
- Posted Feb. 22, 2013
Kent State Presents Spanish and Latin Film Series, March 1-16 During the month of March, Kent State University will present five Spanish and Latin films. The films will be shown in the Schwartz Center auditorium (room 177).
- Posted Feb. 25, 2013
James Blank Reappointed Interim Dean of Kent State’s College of Arts and Sciences Kent State University Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Todd Diacon has announced the reappointment of James L. Blank, Ph.D., as interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Blank, who has been serving as interim dean since Nov. 1, 2012, will continue to hold the position through June 30, 2015.
- Posted Feb. 26, 2013
Kent State and Tech Belt Energy Innovation Center Collaborate to Streamline Research, Encourage Commercialization Kent State University and the Tech Belt Energy Innovation Center (www.tbeic.org), a federally funded center aimed at the development and commercialization of early-stage clean technologies, have announced a Master Research Agreement for energy-related research.
- Posted Feb. 27, 2013
Study Conducted by Kent State Professors Reveals Economic Impact of Akron Marathon Kent State University economics professors Shawn M. Rohlin, Ph.D., and Nadia Greenhalgh-Stanley, Ph.D., conducted an economic impact analysis of the 2012 Akron Marathon on the city of Akron, Ohio. Their study reveals that $6 million was generated by the race and more than 60 full-time jobs were created.
- Posted Feb. 28, 2013
Kent State Program Makes Available $15,000 Scholarships to 10 Science and Math Undergraduates The Kent State University Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program will award 10 scholarships in the amount of $15,000 each to science and math undergraduate students wanting to pursue a one-year master’s degree in teaching (MAT) to become a certified teacher.
- Posted Feb. 28, 2013
Kent State Honors Cleveland’s WKYC Anchor With 2013 McGruder Award for Media Diversity at 10th Anniversary Event Russ Mitchell, managing editor of evening news and lead anchor of the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts on WKYC Channel 3 News in Cleveland, has been named the 2013 winner of the Robert G. McGruder Award for Diversity by the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Kent State University. The award recognizes the accomplishments of media professionals who encourage diversity in the field of journalism.
- Posted Mar. 1, 2013
Journal Published By Kent State University Press Awards 2013 Hubbell Prize Carol Sheriff has won the John T. Hubbell Prize for the best article published in Civil War History during 2012. Her study, “Virginia’s Embattled Textbooks: Lessons (Learned and Not) from the Centennial Era,” Civil War History (March 2012), was selected by the journal’s editorial advisory board.
- Posted Mar. 4, 2013
Kent State University’s 2013 Homecoming Scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 5 Kent State University will celebrate its 2013 Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 5. The Golden Flashes will take on the Northern Illinois Huskies at Dix Stadium. Other activities will include the Homecoming parade, the annual alumni continental breakfast and parade viewing party, Kiss on the K and much more.
- Posted Mar. 5, 2013
ADVISORY: Kent State University Board of Trustees Meeting, March 13 The Kent State University Board of Trustees will hold its next regular business meeting Wednesday, March 13. The Board will convene at 1:45 p.m. in the George Urban Board of Trustees Conference Room, which is located on the second floor of the Kent Campus Library.
- Posted Mar. 6, 2013
Kent State Students Get Rare Behind-The-Scenes Look at Concert Business Five Kent State University students will be working alongside the road crew of the rock group Bon Jovi in Cleveland this weekend as part of the band’s community service initiative recognizing students with top leadership skills and a history of volunteerism.
- Posted Mar. 6, 2013
E-cycleMania at Kent State Offers Opportunity to Recycle Unwanted Electronic Products Kent State University continues its participation in the annual RecycleMania competition, where colleges and universities strive to reduce waste and increase recycling. From now through March 30, Kent State will join in the E-cycleMania phase of the competition, collecting and tracking the amount of unwanted electronics, such as computers, printers, consumer electronics and other e-waste materials. University Facilities Management at Kent State is coordinating this phase of the competition by helping faculty, staff, students and community members get rid of unwanted electronic products.
- Posted Mar. 7, 2013
Innovation Triumphs at the 2013 Kent State Business Idea Competition Advancement in headgear technology and protection was recognized when Jake Wolfe, a Kent State University sophomore, won first place in the annual Kent State Business Idea Competition for his business, WolfeCon Cushioning Solutions.
- Posted Mar. 7, 2013
Kent State’s MBA Team Wins Regional Competition Kent State University’s MBA team took home the grand prize in the Cleveland Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Competition that took place at the Union Club in Cleveland. The regional competition’s case focused on mergers and acquisitions.
- Posted Mar. 8, 2013
Kent State’s College of Business Administration Holds Graduate Program Information Night Kent State University’s College of Business Administration will hold Graduate Programs Information Night on March 18 in Room 310 of the Kent Student Center on the Kent Campus, and a Stark MBA Night on March 21 in Room 234 of the University Center at Kent State University at Stark, from 6 to 8 p.m. on both evenings.
- Posted Mar. 11, 2013
Kent State Designs First-of-its-Kind Graduate Program in Fashion Kent State University’s fashion school is leading the academic runway with the creation of a master of fashion degree that is the first of its kind in the nation. The university’s Board of Trustees formally approved the path-breaking graduate program today (March 13), allowing the university’s Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising to begin enrolling students for fall semester 2013, pending approval by the Ohio Board of Regents.
- Posted Mar. 13, 2013
Kent State Recognizes Outstanding Research and Scholar Award Recipients on March 19 Three Kent State University faculty members will be recognized during a ceremony on March 19 as the university honors its Outstanding Research and Scholar Award recipients. The recipients of the 2013 award are Michael Loderstedt, School of Art; Katherine Rawson, Department of Psychology; and Carrie Schweitzer, Department of Geology, Kent State University at Stark.
- Posted Mar. 14, 2013
Kent State School of Library and Information Science Advances in U.S. News & World Report Rankings The School of Library and Information Science at Kent State University has moved up in the rankings of the nation’s top schools of library and information studies, according to the latest edition (2014) of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Graduate Schools.”
- Posted Mar. 15, 2013
Kent State’s College of Public Health Hosts the 71st Human Services Institute, March 25 The 71st Human Services Institute, Northeast Ohio’s longest-running institute focused on health and human services, comes to Kent State University from 10 a.m. to noon on March 25 in the Kent Student Center Kiva.
- Posted Mar. 15, 2013
Film Director Oliver Stone, PBS News Anchor Gwen Ifill to Help Dedicate Kent State University’s May 4 Visitors Center Film director and producer Oliver Stone, and PBS news anchor Gwen Ifill will join Kent State University to mark its 43rd annual commemoration of May 4, 1970, with the dedication of the May 4 Visitors Center.
- Posted Mar. 18, 2013
Registration Open for the Spring 2013 Bowman Breakfast, April 16 The spring 2013 Bowman Breakfast will take place at Kent State University in the Kent Student Center Ballroom on Tuesday, April 16. The featured speaker is Roger Di Paolo, editor of The Record-Courier. Di Paolo will speak on the topic “Beyond Audacity: Celebrating 21st Century Kent.”
- Posted Mar. 18, 2013
Education is Key as Ohio Insurance Industry Launches Insuring Ohio Futures Career Awareness Program Insurance companies in Ohio face a dramatic shortage of career professionals, a talent gap that could harm the industry’s standing as an economic engine for the state. A public-private partnership is now taking concrete steps with the launch of Insuring Ohio Futures, the first effort in the nation designed to attract skilled workers to the insurance sector.
- Posted Mar. 19, 2013
Kent State Wins at the 2013 Akron ADDY Awards Four Kent State University creative groups won awards at the 2013 Akron ADDY Awards. The competition was hosted by American Advertising Federation-Akron.
- Posted Mar. 20, 2013
Kent State’s College of Public Health Fights Food Insecurity Through Community Food Drive The Kent State University College of Public Health announces its second annual food drive to benefit the Kent Social Service’s food pantry – The Lord’s Pantry.
- Posted Mar. 20, 2013
Kent State Named to National Honor Roll for Community Service Kent State University has been named to the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. This designation is the highest honor a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement.
- Posted Mar. 25, 2013
Kent State’s Annual Virginia Hamilton Conference Features Authors Angela Johnson, Gary Schmidt and Yuyi Morales Kent State University’s 29th Annual Virginia Hamilton Conference on Multicultural Literature for Youth will be held on the evening of Thursday, April 4, and all day Friday, April 5, at the Kent Student Center. The conference provides a forum for discussion of multicultural themes and issues in literature for children and young adults.
- Posted Mar. 25, 2013
Kent State Student Team Performs Strongly in Urban Design Competition A team of urban design graduate students from Kent State University’s College of Architecture and Environmental Design received an honorable mention from the 2013 Urban Land Institute Gerald D. Hines Student Urban Design Competition. The competition received 149 submissions.  
- Posted Mar. 26, 2013
Kent State’s College of Public Health Awarded NSF Grant for Biofilm Research Kent State University’s College of Public Health recently received the National Science Foundation’s Small Business Innovation Grant while partnering with Sterionics Inc. for work on advancing and commercializing a wound therapy biotechnology product.
- Posted Mar. 28, 2013
University Statement Regarding Social Media Report of Student Death (posted 9 p.m. on Sunday, March 31) The university is aware of the social media report that a Kent State student has died following an accident on I-65 in Alabama. At this time, we cannot confirm that information through official channels.
- Posted Mar. 31, 2013