A Kent State University professor with more than three decades of experience in the justice system has been named the university's institutional winner for the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success.Susan Kunkle, Ph.D., a professor and internship coordinator in the Department of Sociology and Criminology, was recognized as part of the MAC's seventh annual award honoring faculty who support and develop students both inside and outside the classroom.The student-focused award is distinct from academic or research-based honors, celebrating the commi...
A new study led by researchers at Kent State University and Michigan State University finds that populations of lady beetles, important natural predators of crop pests, have declined substantially over the past three decades in a Midwestern agricultural landscape. The research, published in PNAS Nexus, analyzed 31 years of insect monitoring data collected at the Kellogg Biological Station Long-Term Ecological Research Site (KSB LTER) in southwestern Michigan. Across that period, the overall lady beetle community declined by 39 percent. Native species experienced the steepest losses, declining ...
School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies
When a Stanford University-led study ranked the world’s most influential researchers, Professor Elena Novak, Ph.D., was on the list — placing her among the top 2% of scientists cited by peers worldwide. For Novak, a professor of educational technology in the School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies at Kent State’s College of Education, Health and Human Services, the recognition is less about personal accolade and more about what it signals for the field she loves.“What excites me about this recognition is that it reflects a body of work built on one central question: How can we crea...
For Ashley Costic, a communication studies major at Kent State University at Stark, creating content and connecting with audiences online has turned into a unique career opportunity.Costic, a 2023 graduate of Wadsworth High School, is already building a following as a TikTok social media influencer while pursuing a degree in communication studies.Costic chose Kent State Stark because it allowed her to stay close to home while still earning a degree from a university with a strong reputation. “I have always known that I wanted to further my education, just without having to live on c...