Meet recent marketing graduate and former Kent State University Student Body President, Juliana Buonaiuto. Originally from Long Island, New York, Buonaiuto came to Kent State to study marketing because of her love for the industry.
“I love the business world, but I have a very creative side that marketing allows me to explore,” Buonaiuto said.
Before being student body president for the Undergraduate Student Government, she was the director of communication and marketing and the senator for the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship. She was also involved in several of the Student Success Programs at Kent State, including being a Peer Success Mentor and a Flashguide for Destination Kent State new student orientation.
Throughout her time at Kent State, Buonaiuto was involved in Alpha Phi, a Greek Life Panhellenic sorority.
“In the past, I served on the Alpha Phi Executive Board as the vice president of marketing, the director of social media, the bid day chair, and the director of chapter leadership,” Buonaiuto said.
In these multiple roles, Buonaiuto had many meaningful interactions with people from all over the university. A person who had a significant impact on Buonaiuto’s life is Jessica Roshak, assistant director for Student Leadership Development.
“Jess became my USG Advisor in 2022, and she has guided me to become a better person and leader,” Buonaiuto said. “There is no doubt in my mind that I would not be the same person I am today without her constant support and guidance. She has helped me figure out what kind of leader I want to be and has worked with me as I've developed into that person.”
“I came to Kent State during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, so I never had an in-person convocation, and I missed out on many of the memorable first-year traditions, like orientation and Blastoff,” Buonaiuto said.
As Buonaiuto’s time at Kent State ended, the special memory she has of speaking to the class of 2027 during the 2023 convocation sticks out. Buonaiuto guided the class of 2027 through her roles as a Flashguide and Peer Success Mentor. She also helped Blastoff and the Blastoff Afterparty as a member of the Undergraduate Student Government.
“Getting to share my words of advice with the class of 2027 made me feel that my four years here all led to this moment,” Buonaiuto said. “It was emotional for me to look out at the sea of rally towels and smiling first-year students knowing I was entering my last year at Kent, but it was truly the perfect way to kick off my last year.”
This story first appeared as part of Kent State's Flash Friday student series.