To coincide with the 2024 Homecoming Weekend, the College of Education, Health and Human Services held a ceremony for attendees and guests who filled the Moulton Hall Ballroom on the Kent Campus to recognize eight alumni whose careers and accomplishments have brought distinction to Kent State University.
This year's ceremony marked the first time for an in-person event since the 2020 awards ceremony. The 2022 event was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"This event has evolved over time, but the one thing that has remained absolutely constant is the quality of the people that we welcome back and induct into the hall of fame." said James Hannon, Ph.D., C.S.C.S., dean of the College of Education, Health and Human Services. "Service and connecting to our communities is the difference maker in what sets EHHS apart from every other college on the Kent State campus. Every program in this college connects to communities, connects to making lives better, and it's what makes us special."
The 2024 EHHS hall of Fame inductees include:
Rhonda Prisby is the recipient of the Alumni Leadership Award. She received a Master of Arts in exercise science from Kent State in 1997, a Bachelor of Arts from Hiram College and a doctorate in exercise physiology from Louisiana State University. She established the Bone Vascular and Microcirculation Laboratory in 2009 at the University of Texas at Arlington. Currently, she is a distinguished university professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Texas at Arlington and serves as an adjunct faculty in the Department of Bioengineering.
David Williams is the recipient of the Centennial Alumni Award. He received a Bachelor of Science in parks and recreation management from Kent State in 1973. Williams is the retired founder and owner of David Williams and Associates Inc., the exclusive sales representative for Game Time Park and Playground Equipment in Ohio and Kentucky. While at Kent State, he was a member of the Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity. Williams is credited with designing and installing the first inclusive playground in his hometown of Alliance, Ohio, in Stark County.
David Bloome is the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award. He received a Doctor of Philosophy in human development and family science from Kent State in 1981. Bloome is professor emeritus in the Department of Teaching and Learning in The Ohio State University’s College of Education and Human Ecology. His research focuses on how spoken and written language is used for learning in classroom and non-classroom settings, and how people use language to create and maintain social relationships, to construct knowledge and to create communities, social institutions, and shared histories and futures.
Linda F. Robertson is the recipient of the Distinguished Service to the College of Education, Health and Human Services Award. A former director of Kent State’s Gerald H. Read Center for International and Intercultural Education, her capstone program was Kent State’s Higher Education Administration with an emphasis on international education. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy from Kent State in 2005 and served a 20-year career at the Read Center.
Kameron Pepera is a co-recipient of the Diversity Alumni Award. Pepera received a Master of Education in clinical mental health counseling from Kent State in 2011. Pepera is a licensed professional clinical counselor dedicated to supporting and advocating for the LGBTQ+ community. They received an undergraduate degree in psychology from Ashland University. With more than 13 years of experience, they have a passion for working with people of all ages, but particularly enjoy working with LGBTQ+ youth.
Lennon Pepera is a co-recipient of the Diversity Alumni Award. Pepera received a Master of Education in clinical mental health counseling from Kent State in 2011. They have been dedicated to fostering positive change in the mental health field for more than a decade. As the founder of Colors+ Youth Center and Colors+ Counseling, Pepera is passionate about promoting human rights and advocating for inclusivity. Through these initiatives, they aim to create a supportive and empowering environment for individuals seeking mental health services.
Chynarkul Ryskulova, is the recipient of the International Alumni Award. She received a Doctor of Philosophy in higher education administration from Kent State in 2019, and holds a Ph.D. (candidate of sciences) degree from Kyrgyz-Russian Slavonic University in Kyrgyzstan. Ryskulova is a professor and vice president for academic affairs at the American University of Central Asia. From 1984 to 1998, she taught English language to Kyrgyz- and Russian-speaking students at the Kyrgyz National University. She has held various teaching and administrative positions at the American University of Central Asia, including dean of academic affairs and coordinator of the Writing and Academic Resources Center.
Odell Morgan is the recipient of the Recent Alumni Award. Morgan received a Bachelor of Science in human development and family science from Kent State in 2014. Morgan serves as a mental health services clinician and LGBTQ+ services coordinator of student health and well-being at Johns Hopkins University in addition to maintaining a private practice. As a psychotherapist, he believes individuals should be defined by their abilities, not their disabilities. He has a passion for working with minority families, individuals with intellectual disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals and men of color, bringing together his skills and dedication to support these communities.
Visit our Awards and Nominations website for details on how inductees are selected.
Pictured above from left to right: EHHS Dean James Hannon, Vicki Haywood Doe (accepting for Rhonda Prisby), Odell Morgan, Chynarkul Ryskulova, Linda Robertson, Lennon Pepera, Kameron Pepera, David Bloome, and Ruth Williams (accepting for David Williams).