They have gone above and beyond to keep Kent State University moving forward during the pandemic, and now they are being honored for their dedication and hard work. Kent State President Todd Diacon recently notified nine faculty members and 14 staff members that they have received special awards for their work and service. The faculty members were recognized with the President’s Faculty Excellence Award, which recognizes exceptional performance that leads to the achievement of national or international recognition in the faculty member’s discipline. The staff members are the recipient...

Dear Kent State University Students, Faculty and Staff, Cuyahoga County, where Kent State’s College of Podiatric Medicine, the Cleveland Foot and Ankle Clinic and the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative are located, has been lowered from  “high” to “medium” community level designation for COVID-19 as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As a result of this change in designation, face coverings are no longer required indoors at these Cuyahoga County locations. Currently, no counties where Kent State has campuses or locations are at the high-level designat...

The Jenkinses will also contribute $25,000 annually so that student-athletes from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds can receive immediate support George L. Jenkins, a 1963 graduate of Kent State University, and his wife, Gina, of Scottsdale, Arizona, have pledged $1 million to create the Gina and George Jenkins Student-Athlete Scholarship Fund that will support student-athletes in any varsity athletics program or team sponsored by Kent State’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. This scholarship will be awarded to socioeconomically disadvantaged student-athletes, prioritizing t...

We understand how important medical care decisions are. Unfortunately, the benefits office cannot advise you about whether you should or should not sign up for Medicare and/or which part(s) you should enroll in (Part A-Hospital, Part B-Medical). No two situations are the same, as each person has unique circumstances and needs. If you are considering Medicare, it would be best to contact your local Social Security Administration office for assistance. You can find important information regarding Medicare, including how to reach your local SSA office, at https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/...

Dear Members of the Kent State University Community, It has been a full year since June 19 was established as Juneteenth National Independence Day, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. In honor of the federal holiday, Kent State offices will be closed and no classes will be held on Monday, June 20. Juneteenth celebrates the courage and perseverance of Black Americans at the end of slavery in the United States and marks the day when the news of emancipation reached enslaved Black Americans in Texas. To commemorate the holiday, I encourage the camp...

The School of Theatre and Dance is excited to announce that Aimee Johnson will join Kent State this summer as the new Costume Shop Supervisor.  Aimee holds a BFA in Theatrical Design and Technology from The University of Central Florida, and an MFA in Costume Design from The Pennsylvania State University. Both of these, along with work throughout the country, instilled a passion for making things and problem solving in costumes. As the costume shop supervisor at Brenau University, Aimee’s background in Cirque du Soleil and regional theatre elevated the costume production and the work o...

Step one foot onto the Kent State Salem Campus and evidence of Chris Carlson is everywhere. The retired tenured professor of horticulture dedicated his life and harnessed his passion to create beautiful outdoor spaces on the Salem Campus over a career that spanned nearly 30 years. Carlson retired from teaching in 2021, but his love for the campus and the horticulture program never stopped. Unfortunately, since retiring, Carlson has battled amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease and is living in Wisconsin with family members. He joined the gathering by...

Ten incoming freshmen and their families got a warm welcome to the BRIDGES program that began with a hot lunch at the Kent Student Center. An all-female group is participating in the five-week academic Bootcamp, nicknamed “The 10th Power” by Diversity Outreach and Development Director Daniel Diaz Nilsson, to reflect their total number and scholarly potential. “I believe the BRIDGES program will help these women realize and use their power to make a life-altering positive impact on themselves, each other, Kent State University, and the communities they will engage with in the future, said Nil...

Pam Hutchins Receives the Child Development Center Humanitarian Award The spirit of Robin McManus was felt by some 100 guests, including members of McManus’ immediate family – Kelly, Katie and Jerry McManus, who gathered at the Child Development Center on the Kent Campus for the annual scholarship benefit in her honor. The fundraiser provides support for student tuition scholarships, and celebrates the memory of McManus, who was a skilled teacher and student supervisor who cared deeply about children, their families, and pre-service teachers. “I feel very blessed to have known Robin an...