An’Jeanette “Ann” Beverly, ’20, MBA ’22, reached a crisis point during the COVID-19 pandemic as she was trying to finish her bachelor’s degree at Kent State University at Stark. During her last semester, this single mother in her forties was balancing the responsibilities of raising her teenage son, managing household expenses and pursuing her educational goals. Financial uncertainty threatened to interrupt the academic journey she had worked so hard to complete. “I had no money,” Beverly said. “I was so stressed out that I wasn’t going to be able to complete my schooling.” Then came...

Our PhD student, Jacob Harver, has had a busy year. Having successfully passed his prospectus defense, he’s teaching American History survey courses for the department and is writing his dissertation on Northeast Ohio economic history. But more than that, he is also a part of the fabric of Youngstown civic life. A recent interview with Youngstown’s CBS affiliate WKBN, and an article in the Youngstown paper The Vindicator, has raised his profile. Dr. Steigmann-Gall interviewed Jacob on his commitment to Northeast Ohio life and heritage.Richard Steigmann-Gall (RSG): So Jacob, tell us about the f...

When Tracy Laux, ’82, ’90, retired from Kent State in May 2025 after a 35-year career, he wanted to find a way to remain involved and continue supporting students. For Laux that connection had nothing to do with academics. Instead, he decided to take charge with a personal care items drive benefiting the CARES Center. As Faculty Senate emeritus and the emeritus representative of the KSU Retirees Association to the Kent State Faculty Senate, Laux organized the drive that brought faculty, administrators and retirees together to collect 200 personal care items for students in need. The donat...

Kent State Student Media has been selected as a featured fund for Giving Tuesday, creating exciting opportunities for alumni and supporters to make an impact on the next generation of journalists and media professionals.Donor support helps Student Media students gain hands-on experience beyond the newsroom, including attending conferences, connecting with industry professionals and developing the skills they need to launch their careers. While student fees and advertising revenue support salaries, professional staff and daily operations, philanthropic gifts help make additional learning opport...

Kent State University is responsible for the stewardship of university resources and is committed to the highest standards of fiscal responsibility. The reporting line provides a formalized mechanism to communicate concerns related to fraud and fiscal abuse.Employees are encouraged to discuss concerns with a supervisor, department head or another appropriate university official. If this is not a viable option or if you believe your concerns have not been addressed after reporting fiscal fraud or abuse, reports may be communicated through the reporting line provided by an independent company, a...

More than 80 Kent Stater alumni RSVP’d to celebrate a milestone a century in the making: 100 years of student journalism. At Kent State’s Homecoming 2026 parade, alumni served as grand marshals, rode on two floats and walked alongside fellow alumni to celebrate the newspaper that connects generations of student journalists. A special thank-you goes to Kent State’s Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement for helping bring the Stater’s history to life at the Homecoming tailgate. Attendees could explore that legacy through a timeline mural spanning the newspaper’s 100 years, a word se...