Kent State University junior Ivory Kendrick was prepared to hit the ground running when the fall 2024 academic year began in August. On the agenda: demonstrating excellence as a student leader and his immense passion for public health and politics.
In fact, Kendrick has taken advantage of every opportunity he has encountered to integrate the two fields through his newly elected position as a senator of Undergraduate Student Government (USG) representing the College of Public Health and as an AmeriCorps Vista intern, designing posters and social media posts for the Kent City Health Department.
This past summer was no different. Kendrick fulfilled his responsibilities as a Flashes 101 Peer Success Mentor, and he came up with an idea to pair USG with the Health Department for a special project. When it comes to helping the community, Kendrick’s wheels are always turning.
“I’ve been coaching all of the mentors and showing them how to be an effective leader in the classroom,” Kendrick said. “And with USG, I’ve been trying to get together with the local health department to do Narcan training. I am trying to help the community through the health department so it’s like I’ve got all my eggs in one basket.”
Kendrick even had time this summer to visit Columbus and see the Ohio Statehouse for the first time. With a keen interest in public health policy, he can see himself in the halls of the statehouse in some capacity.
“It was super amazing,” Kendrick says. “I was thinking, ‘I might be working here in a few years.’”
Golden Conversations
Ivory Kendrick and Hayden Cruz chat about their experiences at Kent State, acclimating to college and helping others along the way.
Without an Anchor After Father’s Death
This is all incredible considering that Kendrick had no intention of attending college. He was without an anchor after his father’s death in his junior year of high school. He lived with family friends, but he said, “technically I was homeless." However, this major loss changed his whole perspective on life and college attendance became imperative.
“College was not something that I was thinking about for a long time,” Kendrick said. “And then three years ago my dad passed. Life is too short. I need to do something to leave a mark and honestly make him proud. I am going to be the best person I can possibly be.”
When Kendrick graduated from high school, the Ravenna native chose to enroll at Kent State because he was always fascinated by the cool activities in the city and on campus. Kendrick happens to be a first-generation college student.
“So technically, I’ve been homeless,” Kendrick said. “I’ve been living on campus, but even through all of that I still strive to do as much as I can and try to do what I can. There is no room for being negative. Being negative never solved anything.”
A Passion for Public Health
Kendrick is passionate about public health issues, particularly health insurance and health policy regarding people on fixed incomes. He said his dad “lived paycheck to paycheck” and did not have the proper healthcare or advocacy to help him with his smoking habit. For that reason, Kendrick is planning to attend graduate school and study health policy and management.
Kendrick said the administrators, instructors and friends in the College of Public Health and at Kent State have been like a second family to him. He has worked as a student administrative assistant at the college.
“They have helped me out so much by looking out for me and trying to help me find resources and people who can help me,” he said. “So far, I haven’t taken out any loans.”
Karen Baker, graduate programs assistant coordinator in the College of Public Health, was so impressed by Kendrick’s confidence and resilience that she referred him for a scholarship.
“Ivory has the most positive attitude of anyone I know,” Baker said in 2023. “He demonstrates confidence, once he sets his mind on a path, his chances for success are great.”
And So, He Did
Last fall, Kendrick talked about his plans for leadership roles on the Kent Campus. He was involved in student government in high school and since his freshman year at Kent State, he has held various leadership roles and served as a mentor on campus. Kendrick said he wanted to be a senator in USG. And so, he did.
He is putting his public health major to work as an AmeriCorps Vista intern, designing posters for the Kent City Health Department.
“I could go on and on about Ivory,” said Joan Seidel, commissioner for health at the Kent City Health Department. “He is such an amazing, intelligent, caring, motivated and creative young man. He is such a hard worker, a problem solver, and has so much patience. His demeanor is always upbeat, approachable and willing to help. Ivory sets a high bar of excellence for himself, and I believe he achieves it. He has a strong moral code, and he aims to improve situations that need correcting. He is a joy to be around.”
As an example of Kendrick’s work, Seidel spoke of asking him to create a flyer for businesses to post on resources for domestic violence. In creating the flyer Kendrick demonstrated a “depth of understanding coupled with skills, creativity and attention to detail,” she said.
“This is a tough subject,” Seidel said. “The flyer needed to be warm, engaging, full of easy-to-read, yet concise information. I asked him to make sure any images used would make the reader feel empowered, not powerless. I really needed it to speak to an abused woman so she would know she is not alone and there is a positive way forward. He did a wonderful job.”
Kendrick also works as a trainer for the P.E.E.R. Success Academy, a two-credit hour course designed to train students to cultivate and nurture critical skills. The course serves as a foundation for peer educator and peer leader positions across Kent State. And last summer he worked with Transfer Kent State, helping students with orientation to the university.
Now Kendrick has his sights set on becoming president of USG. As the saying goes, he believes he can …
“I cannot help but think how so very proud his dad would be of him,” Seidel said. “I cannot wait to see what he achieves in life, but in the meanwhile, I am so glad he works for our health department.”