Skip Navigation
*To search for student contact information, login to FlashLine and choose the "Directory" icon in the FlashLine masthead (blue bar).

Kent State President Lester A. Lefton sports his famous blue cowboy hat after the unveiling of his official presidential portrait on April 4.
Kent State President Lester A. Lefton sports his famous blue cowboy hat after the unveiling of his official presidential portrait on April 4.
Kent State President Lester A. Lefton visits with Lashonda Taylor, director of academic events and faculty initiatives, during the university’s April 4 afternoon reception held in the Kent Student Center Ballroom.
Kent State President Lester A. Lefton visits with Lashonda Taylor, director of academic events and faculty initiatives, during the university’s April 4 afternoon reception held in the Kent Student Center Ballroom.
Kent State President Lester A. Lefton poses with students who performed in the Senior Showcase at the April 4 evening reception in the Black Box Theatre.
Kent State President Lester A. Lefton poses with students who performed in the Senior Showcase at the April 4 evening reception in the Black Box Theatre.
Kent State students perform for President Lester A. Lefton during the Celebration of Leadership evening reception held April 4 in the Black Box Theatre.
Kent State students perform for President Lester A. Lefton during the Celebration of Leadership evening reception held April 4 in the Black Box Theatre.
Kent State President Lester A. Lefton acknowledges his supporters during the Celebration of Leadership event held April 4 in the Black Box Theatre.
Kent State President Lester A. Lefton acknowledges his supporters during the Celebration of Leadership event held April 4 in the Black Box Theatre.
Kent State President Lester A. Lefton shares some of his recent photos on his iPhone with Anne Morrison, an associate professor in the School of Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences, during the Celebration of Leadership event.
Kent State President Lester A. Lefton shares some of his recent photos on his iPhone with Anne Morrison, an associate professor in the School of Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences, during the Celebration of Leadership event.
Kent State President Lester A. Lefton shares a laugh with the audience during the playing of a video created in his honor that was shown during the April 4 afternoon reception.
Kent State President Lester A. Lefton shares a laugh with the audience during the playing of a video created in his honor that was shown during the April 4 afternoon reception.
  • Kent State President Lester A. Lefton sports his famous blue cowboy hat after the unveiling of his official presidential portrait on April 4.
  • Kent State President Lester A. Lefton visits with Lashonda Taylor, director of academic events and faculty initiatives, during the university’s April 4 afternoon reception held in the Kent Student Center Ballroom.
  • Kent State President Lester A. Lefton poses with students who performed in the Senior Showcase at the April 4 evening reception in the Black Box Theatre.
  • Kent State students perform for President Lester A. Lefton during the Celebration of Leadership evening reception held April 4 in the Black Box Theatre.
  • Kent State President Lester A. Lefton acknowledges his supporters during the Celebration of Leadership event held April 4 in the Black Box Theatre.
  • Kent State President Lester A. Lefton shares some of his recent photos on his iPhone with Anne Morrison, an associate professor in the School of Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences, during the Celebration of Leadership event.
  • Kent State President Lester A. Lefton shares a laugh with the audience during the playing of a video created in his honor that was shown during the April 4 afternoon reception.

Honoring Retiring
President Lefton

Foluke Omosun | 04/10/2014
A reception and celebration to honor Kent State University President Lester A. Lefton was held Friday, April 4, from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Kent Student Center Ballroom. The event, hosted by the Kent State Board of Trustees, was open to all faculty, staff, students, alumni and members of the community.

Kent State President Lester A. Lefton thanks artist Shane Neal for his official presidential portrait, unveiled the evening of April 4 during the Celebration of Leadership event.Kent State President Lester A. Lefton thanks artist Shane Neal for his official presidential portrait, unveiled the evening of April 4 during the Celebration of Leadership event.

Lefton, who will retire as Kent State’s 11th president on July 1, has served as the university’s chief executive officer since July 1, 2006. The university achieved significant accomplishments during his time as Kent State president, including record student enrollment, retention and graduation numbers; the town-gown partnership that resulted in the revitalization of downtown Kent; the university’s Centennial Campaign that raised a record-breaking $265 million; and the “Foundations of Excellence: Building the Future” campus improvement program that is transforming Kent State’s campuses to meet world-class standards.

“This year, and for the past seven years, President Lefton has delivered on his primary goal – ensuring in every way possible that we improve retention and develop the quality experiences and facilities that are appropriate for the aspirations of our students,” Kent State Board Chair Jane Murphy Timken said at the most recent Kent State Board of Trustees meeting. “We’ve grown our enrollment by more than 26 percent and raised our profile as a university of choice, and it has been instrumental to our academic and financial health. We believe his tenure will be remembered as a dynamic time for Kent State.”

The afternoon reception featured a video presentation and remarks from Todd Diacon, Kent State’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost; Alfreda Brown, vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion; and Evan Gildenblatt, the university’s special assistant for Federal Relations in Washington, D.C., and a former executive director for Kent State’s Undergraduate Student Government. Lefton also made remarks at the event.

An evening reception also took place April 4 in the Erdmann-Zucchero Black Box Theatre in the Center for the Performing Arts. The Celebration of Leadership event included a special performance by 14 Kent State senior theatre students and remarks from Charlene Reed, Kent State’s vice president and university secretary; Sandra Harbrecht, who served two terms as board chair and chaired the presidential search committee that led to the appointment of Lefton as the university’s 11th president; and Lefton. In addition, artist Shane Neal unveiled the official presidential portrait of Lefton.

See the full-size images in the above carousel.