Residents in the East Liverpool area can have water samples tested for free, thanks to a research project being conducted by Qunxing Ding, associate professor of biology at Kent State University at East Liverpool. Ding is seeking water samples from areas within city limits, as well as from surrounding communities, for an independent study on water quality. He intends to geographically map samples to determine if there are any correlations with location and water quality. “Water content in the human body is about 65 percent and may be more than 70 percent in children," he explains. "All the m...

Weighing in at barely 100 pounds, Brooke Mullins summoned every ounce of strength she had, and even more she didn’t. Her muscles were shaking; her mind was exhausted. The Kent State University junior had one last shot at overcoming the most grueling portion of a physical exam. If she could pass it, Mullins would follow in the footsteps of her father and brother as a certified volunteer firefighter. Her task? Remove a 30-foot extension ladder off the side of a firetruck, carry it to a nearby building, lean it against the side and successfully extend it within 10 minutes. The problem ...

Kent State University is honored to welcome Academy Award-winning actress and author Octavia Spencer as the keynote speaker for the first university-wide Commencement ceremony on May 13. Best known for critically acclaimed starring roles in films such as The Help, Hidden Figures and The Shack, Ms. Spencer is also the co-author of two children’s books. Her acting roles highlight stories of perseverance and tenacity that motivate and inspire audiences of all ages. Ms. Spencer’s mother, Dellsena, worked as a maid, and Ms. Spencer, the sixth of seven children, earned a bachelor’s degree from Au...

Kent State University earned 14 Mark of Excellence awards at the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Region 4 spring conference, including first place regional honors for The Burr (best student magazine) and KentWired (best affiliated website). SPJ’s Region 4 comprises colleges and universities in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and western Pennsylvania. SPJ awarded a winner and two finalists in 36 categories. (Some categories awarded winners and finalists separately for small and large institutions. JMC students placed in the large institution category.) First-place win...

Kent State University is honored to welcome Academy Award-winning actress and author Octavia Spencer as the keynote speaker for the first university-wide Commencement ceremony on May 13. Best known for critically acclaimed starring roles in films such as “The Help,” “Hidden Figures” and “The Shack,” Ms. Spencer is also the co-author of two children’s books. Her acting roles highlight stories of perseverance and tenacity that motivate and inspire audiences of all ages. Ms. Spencer’s mother, Dellsena, worked as a maid, and Ms. Spencer, the sixth of seven children, earned a bachelor’s degree f...

Kent State University was one of 51 schools to compete nationally in Game Day Challenge, the fourth-annual event hosted by the College and University Recycling Coalition, RecycleMania, Keep America Beautiful and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WasteWise. The Game Day Challenge is a national waste minimization and recycling competition held during football games to increase awareness of recycling at universities across the country. Kent State placed second in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) schools in pounds recycled per person category. During Kent State’s Game Day Challe...

April 15:  David Hassler is the director of the Wick Poetry Center at Kent State and part of a team of scholars and researchers who compose the Brain Health Institute. He discusses how poetry can be used to enhance wellness.  Full Interview Poetry Reading: Thank You Tree Poetry Reading: My Soul David Hassler Interview: Bonus Track    Brandon Johnson introducing "My Soul"  Fatou M’baye introducing “Thank You, Tree”  Traveling Stanzas   Wick Poetry Center ...