Matthew R. Geis has been named Kent State University’s vice president for philanthropy and alumni engagement, President Todd Diacon announced Thursday. Geis will start on Nov. 1.The appointment marks Geis’ return to Kent State, where he served on the university’s advancement team from 2001 to 2018. He has since been at Case Western Reserve University, first as an associate dean of development and external relations in the Weatherhead School of Management. Geis then advanced through Case Western Reserve’s Division of University Relations and Development into his current role as executive ...

As part of Kent State’s ongoing Thomas Schroth Visiting Artist Series, the university hosted designer and printmaker Simon Ungless and his partner, Jody Niederkohr, from Sept. 14-18, kicking off the 2026-27 series. Their visit included three silk-screen workshops with 45 Kent State students and faculty in the Design Innovation Hub’s Reactor Makerspace, classroom visits and a free public presentation with question-and-answer session exploring the intersection of fashion, printmaking and sustainable design.Working With What Is Already ThereDuring the workshops, Kent State students watched closel...

After serving in the United States Air Force as a crew chief and maintenance technician, Joshua Hummer came to Kent State University with his sights set sky-high. He had enjoyed his time working on military aircraft; now, Josh was ready to get into the pilot’s seat.  As he pursued his degree, Josh found himself looking for a mentor to guide him through the complexities of earning the necessary certificates and licenses. That’s where Matt Brait, ’94, another Kent State pilot stepped in.     “My cousin, he was an alumnus from here, and he graduated in the ’90s,...

Alumnus’ Winning Partnerships Lead Him to the Stanley Cup  Sean Kelty began his Kent State journey while also serving in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He enlisted to pay for his education, and in 2018, he was deployed to Kuwait. With the support of Kent State professor Brian Yim, Ph.D., Sean was able to continue his studies online. While he was at the university, he also supported game-day operations for Kent State Basketball and interned at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) through Peak Sports MGMT. During this internship, he discovered his passion for sponsorship execution and...

For 200 million people in the world with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), community can be hard to find and establish. With the help of Best Buddies International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to gathering volunteers and support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, friendships and a sense of belonging are much more accessible. While it’s an international organization, Best Buddies is also making an impact in Northeast Ohio and at Kent State University. {"preview_thumbnail":"/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/video_embed_wysiwyg_preview/...