April 2023 marked the 29th anniversary of the Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda — the mass slaughter of the Tutsi tribe by members of the Hutu majority government, which recruited and pressured Hutu civilians to kill their Tutsi neighbors and destroy or steal their property. More than 1 million Rwandans were killed from April to July 1994, which left the country reeling. Kent State University graduate Pacifique Niyonzima was the youngest member of his Tutsi family to survive. As a teen, he was sponsored by a couple, Jill and Mike Burke, of Hudson, Ohio, who made him ...
As the first Black woman to graduate from Kent State University’s flight program in 1991, Capt. Stephanie Johnson knows what it takes to aim high for a dream and reach it. Now, she wants other young students from diverse backgrounds to be able to envision and achieve their biggest dreams as well.After earning her Bachelor of Science in Flight Technology from Kent State, Johnson continued to break ground, beginning with being hired as the first African American female pilot for Northwest Airlines. In 2016, she became the first African American female captain at Delta Air Lines and later b...
Meet Lara Boman, a Graduate College Teaching Fellow and doctoral student in the Exercise Physiology program. Read on to learn more about Lara's favorite places in Kent, what they enjoy doing in free time and what advice they have for incoming graduate students. Where is your hometown? I grew up in Minnesota, but most recently moved to Ohio from South Dakota. What do you like most about living in/near Kent? Do you have a favorite local spot or activity? I actually live in Ashland, but I've loved exploring Cuyahoga Valley National Park and competing in local t...
Meet Tasnim Al-Naimi, a Graduate College Fellow and doctoral student in the Translation Studies program. Read on to learn more about Tasnim's favorite places in Kent, what they enjoy doing in free time and what advice they have for incoming graduate students. Where is your hometown? I am Palestinian-Jordanian. Why did you choose Kent State University? KSU has a reputation for its strong Ph.D. program in Translation Studies and its faculty expertise. I also chose it for its location, scholarships, and vibrant campus life. What do you like most about living in/n...
Office of Global Education
After graduation, Kent State Zoology major Riley Burton would like to work with exotic animals or in the field conducting research. Participating in the Study Abroad Trip to the Galápagos program was an important step forward in her journey toward this goal.Study abroad activities and places of interestThis faculty-led education abroad program took Riley to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands, the birthplace of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.Under the guidance of Dr. Sangeet Lamichhaney, students on the program were able to observe species in their habitats, learn about cons...
Meet Maham Khan, a Graduate College Fellow and doctoral student in the English program. Read on to learn more about her favorite places in Kent, what she enjoys doing in her free time and what advice she has for incoming graduate students. Where is your hometown? I am from Islamabad, Pakistan. Why did you choose Kent State University? As a Fulbright scholar, I was placed at KSU because the English department aligned with my academic interests. However, I chose Kent personally because of its progressive values, and its commitment to diversity. It was importan...
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has appointed Renato “Ren” Camacho of North Canton, Ohio, to the Kent State University Board of Trustees. Camacho will serve through May 16, 2032. He succeeds Stephen Perry, who completed his nine-year term on the Board. Camacho brings expertise in both economic development and aviation to the Kent State Board. Camacho currently serves as president and CEO of the Akron-Canton Airport, a position he has held since 2018. He leads a 60-member team of airport employees, strategically plans for the future of the airport and directs all capital improvement projects. He has m...
College of Education, Health and Human Services
The Portager reports that EHHS grad Thomas Larkin, MA ’01, EDS ’04, Kent, OH, is named the new superintendent of Kent City School District. Larkin has been with Kent City Schools since 1996. His first year as superintendent will be his 28th in the district. Photo courtesy of The Portager ...