Alumni News
Kent State University isn’t just the highest-ranked public university in northern Ohio — it’s where more than 280,000 alumni earned degrees that propelled them forward on pathways to success.
From boardrooms and creative studios to nonprofits and the skies above, Golden Flashes are leading with purpose and passion. Their stories of innovation, leadership and impact showcase a boldness of spirit that is undeniably Kent State — where education transforms lives and values like respect and compassion are more than ideals; they are core values to live by. Read on for stories of Golden Flashes around the globe who are doing extraordinary things.
John and Fonda Elliot Create New Scholarship Program With $1 Million Gift to Kent State
Feb. 18, 2025
John Elliot, a 1970 Kent State University graduate, and his wife, Fonda, have created The Elliot Scholars program at Kent State with a $1 million donation. This new scholarship program will provide support to first-generation students of any major who require financial support…
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Flashes Give Back Week Is April 21-26!
Jan. 30, 2025
Kent State University held its first Alumni Day of Service in 2009. Since then, it has blossomed into a weeklong initiative supporting our blue and gold communities around the world. During Flashes Give Back Week, Golden Flashes can choose to…
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John and Fonda Elliot Receive Honorary Degrees for Their Extraordinary Contributions
Jan. 6, 2025
On Saturday, Dec. 14, both John and Fonda received their Doctor of Humane Letters in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to the healthcare field and to Kent State.
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Kent State Alumna D’Andra Mull, Ph.D., on Giving Back to the University that Gave So Much to Her
June 5, 2024
“Were it not for what I learned from a student affairs professional at Kent State, this journey would not be the path I’m on today.”
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Carl Walz, ’77
May 31, 2024
Carl Walz, ’77, has spent 231 days in space - and it all began with a physics degree and the Air Force ROTC program at Kent State. From a nuclear lab to the cockpit of a jet plane to the crew compartment in a rocket ship, Carl attests that his career has been “a wild ride.”…
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From Passion to Purpose
May 30, 2024
Drawn to healthcare as a child, Athalia James pursued that passion all the way to a fulfilling career in nursing.
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Institute Explores Peace and Conflict
May 20, 2024
LaKaleb Bowen, ’24, is a criminology and justice studies major who admits to becoming captivated by Kent State’s education-abroad programs, noting that his most recent trip to Kigali, Rwanda, was an extraordinary experience focused on peace and conflict in the country.
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Sharing Their Love of Education with Future Generations
May 1, 2024
Kent State University has held a special place in the hearts of Lynda Grieves and her husband George “Bill” Grieves Jr., ’58, who passed away in 2019. For their 60th wedding anniversary, Bill and Lynda chose to create a scholarship through a charitable gift annuity instead of…
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Rollie, ’64, and Frances Layfield Help Students Build Skills for Success
May 1, 2024
Hard work and discipline are a driving force for Rollie Layfield, ’64, and they have served him well throughout his life and his career in business. He credits both his degree program in business administration and his time in the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)…
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Modern Humans Using Ancient Tools
April 29, 2024
Kent State anthropology professor Metin Eren, Ph.D., has a hands-on approach when teaching students about prehistoric stone tools that involves immersing themselves in a specially equipped lab in Lowry Hall that features everything from flint arrowheads to a ballistics station.
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