Week 9 Vaccination Drawing Winners Announced!
Week nine winners of the Kent State University employee vaccination drawing have been announced. Check below to see if you're one of the luck ones!
| Mahinda E. Gangoda | $100 | Research Engineer, Sr |
| Leah J. Schmidt | $100 | Faculty Part-time-Semester |
| David W. Haas | $100 | Residence Hall Director |
| Brian J. Crescenzo | $100 | Asst Dir, Admissions |
| Sue N. Averill | $100 | Assoc Provost |
| James W. Holm | $100 | Stationary Engineer |
| Cameron C. Lee | $100 | Faculty Tenure Track-9 Mo |
| Lawrence Marks | $100 | Faculty Non-Tenure Track-9 Mo |
| In Process | $100 | |
| Kimberly M. Casto | $100 | Records Technician |
| Frank Renovich | $100 | Assoc Dir, Energy Operations |
| Alicia C. Rainier | $100 | Sr Advisor I |
| Dalton Phillips | $100 | Faculty Part-time-Semester |
| Anoop Uchil | $100 | IT User Support Expert I |
| Barry J. Carlson | $100 | ACPM Specialist |
| Dawn R. Lipscomb | $100 | Administrative Clerk |
| David Schuckert | $100 | Painter |
| In Process | $100 | |
| Scott W. Hallgren | $100 | Faculty Non-Tenure Track-9 Mo |
| Kathy M. Zarges | $100 | Asst Dean, Adv, Stdt Success |
| Siobhan D. Hicks | $250 | Prog Coord, McNair Scholars |
| Cindy L. Widuck | $250 | Faculty Non-Tenure Track-9 Mo |
| In Process | $250 | |
| Tim Fritz | $250 | Faculty Non-Tenure Track-9 Mo |
| Matthew E. Rogers | $250 | Architecture Database Coord |
| In Process | $250 | |
| Matthew H. Marquis | $250 | Mgr, Information Technology |
| Susan L. Veppert | $250 | Administrative Assistant |
| Rian D. Roland | $500 | AV Support Specialist |
| David A. Hassler | $500 | Dir, Wick Poetry Ctr |
| Lisa D. Steigmann-Gall | $500 | Lead Business Systems Analyst |
| Misty D. Williamson | $500 | Sr Dir, Ops & Budget, DPAE |
| Kristin M. Reed | $1,000 | Faculty Part-time-Semester |
| Carrie A. Tomko | $1,000 | Faculty Part-time-Semester |
Stark Theatre's 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch' Premieres
Kent State University at Stark Theatre held its first theatrical production of the 2021-22 season, “Hedwig and the Angry Inch", by John Cameron Mitchell and music and lyrics by Stephen Trask.
The show premiered Friday night at 8 p.m. on Friday in The Mary J. Timken Theatre in the Fine Arts Building.
Directed by Kent State Stark Theatre Director TC Mavis Jennings, "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" tells the story of the “internationally ignored song stylist” Hedwig Schmidt, a fourth wall smashing East German rock ‘n’ roll goddess who also happens to be the victim of a botched sex-change operation. Hedwig is backed up by Yitzhak and the hard-rock band “The Angry Inch.” Hedwig transforms in this rock and roll tale by rising above the abuse, deceit and abandonment they have been carrying for many years. As Hedwig steps forward, courageously into the unknown, Yitzhak takes their rightful place as the shining star of rock and roll on the midnight radio.
Additional performances will be held at 8 p.m. on Nov. 19 and 20, and at 2 p.m. on Nov. 14 and 21. Learn more.
Kent State Tuscarawas Kicks Off 2021 For the Future Campaign
For Kent State University at Tuscarawas students, the future is now! You can make a difference for local students by joining the Tuscarawas County University Foundation as it launches the 2021 impact campaign For the Future.
Beginning this month, the community can make the future forever brighter for our students by supporting local education. Doug Sopher, of Sopher Insurance, and Dr. Mariann Harding, professor of Nursing Technology at Kent State Tuscarawas, will lead this year’s campaign.
Importantly, your generosity can provide an excellent, affordable experience for our students through the For the Future Founders Fund, which supports scholarships and student success.
For students Joseph and Anita Miller, scholarships have been a blessing and have created unbounded opportunities. Read the full story.
Program offers incarcerated individuals a chance to reenter the community with a degree
Beginning this fall, Kent State University at Trumbull will offer Trumbull Correctional Institution incarcerated individuals a chance to complete a Bachelor of Technical and Applied Studies (BTAS). With substantial funding support from local foundations, Kent State Trumbull and LaunchNET Kent State will join Sinclair Community College (Dayton, OH) to complete this new 2+2 program partnership.
Sinclair has been offering an Associate in Business Management there for two years, so its first graduates will be ready to begin working on their bachelor's this fall. Along with the degree, students can complete a certificate in entrepreneurship through the program.
"We chose the BTAS with entrepreneurship training because it is difficult for individuals with felonies to get hired by employers," said Kristenne Robison, Ph.D., assistant professor of sociology, criminology and justice studies. "By developing their entrepreneurial mindset and skills, as well as putting credentials in their hands, graduates of the program can start a business, pursue funding for their entrepreneurial efforts or offer value to local employers."
Many policymakers focus on the benefits of a college education in reducing recidivism as it increases the chances for successful reentry. A 2013 Rand study found that individuals participating in a correctional education program while incarcerated were 43% less likely to reoffend in comparison to their peers who did not participate in correctional education. There is also a high need and interest in pursuing postsecondary education while incarcerated, particularly bachelor's degree programs.
According to Daniel Palmer, Ph.D., interim dean and chief administrative officer of Kent State Trumbull, the benefits of a program like this are vast.
"As a public institution, a program like this helps Kent State fulfill its mission of 'transform[ing] lives and communities through the power of discovery, learning and creative expression in an inclusive environment,'" he said.
The Kent State prison education program, which does not have an official name yet, has been in the works since January 2020. Robison, along with Benjamin Tipton, Kent State’s executive director of foundation relations, began the process of seeking the financial support necessary to make the program a reality. Trumbull Campus Director of Philanthropy Dave Smith supported their efforts by introducing the concept to potential funders from across the Mahoning Valley.
A 2016 study by the U.S. Department of Education revealed that over the course of three decades — from 1979 to 2013 — state and local spending on prisons and jails increased at three times the rate of funding for pre-K-12.
“So this becomes a community effort to prevent recidivism and reinvest in individuals who want to make a change,” Robison said. “Many of our local foundations realized the potential benefits for this program and made significant contributions to help launch it.”
Here is a list of funders:
- Burton D. Morgan Foundation
- The Raymond John Wean Foundation
- The Youngstown Foundation
- Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley
- The Thomases Family Endowment
Congress reinstated access to Pell Grants for incarcerated students last December. The FAFSA Simplification Act is set to take effect no later than July 1, 2023. According to Robison, this should alleviate the need for additional funding and make the program self-supporting
History
In the 1990s, Pell Grants were eliminated for incarcerated learners. The U.S. Department of Education, during the Obama administration, created the Second Chance Pell Pilot Program. Pell Grant access was made available to 10,000 incarcerated learners across the country. In December of 2020, with bipartisan support, Pell Grants were reinstated for incarcerated learners (or will be by July of 2023 at the latest). The reinstatement provides a significant funding stream for college in prison programs.
Incarcerated people earn pennies per hour for the work they do in prison. Pell Grants, the primary source of need-based financial aid, has made it possible for students to access higher education. The 1994 crime bill stripped incarcerated students of Pell Grant eligibility, making a college education practically unattainable.
"Our program begins near the 50th anniversary of the Attica Prison riots, which occurred in September 1971," Robison said. "The first college degree program in prison emerged out of the Attica Prison riots as it gave incarcerated individuals something positive to do with their time while incarcerated."
2021 Winter Coat and Clothing Drive
From November 15 through December 10, Kent State University will be collecting clean, gently used or new items for all ages, including warm clothing, hats, gloves, scarves and sweaters. Look for large boxes with Winter Coat and Clothing Drive signs at the buildings listed below. Winter coat and clothing donations will go to the Winter Warm-Up Stations at the Williamson House and Schwartz Center (room 261); and the Phyllis Zumkehr Portage County Clothing Center, which provides free items to homeless individuals, families, elderly, and veterans in need. Stop by the Winter Warm-Up Stations and take what you need.
Donation bins are at the following locations:
- Student Recreation and Wellness Center lobby
- Library first floor circulation desk (lobby)
- Student Center first floor outside room 106
- Schwartz Center room 261 (above admissions)
Winter Warm-Up Stations (Take what you need to stay warm!) are located at:
- Williamson House front entrance between the glass doors.
- Schwartz Center room 261 (above admissions)
The Winter Coat and Clothing Drive is coordinated by Kent State's Career Exploration and Development; Community Engaged Learning; Kent State Student Center; Office of Sustainability; and the Women's Center.
Webinar: Winter Workouts - Feel the Burrrn, Dec. 8, noon – 1 p.m.
Staying active in the winter can be tough with snowy roads, icy sidewalks, and an overall lack of motivation. It’s no surprise most people gain a few pounds during these months and struggle to take them off during the new year.
Even if you’re not worried about weight gain, it’s still important to maintain a level of physical activity in the winter. Join Be Well Solutions on Wednesday, December 8 for a webinar, which will cover:
-
How exercise supports a strong immune system
-
Outdoor workout safety
-
Indoor workout ideas
-
Finding and maintaining motivation to exercise
Register for this webinar, which is open to all full- and part-time staff and faculty.
For questions related to health and wellness offerings for Kent State University faculty and staff, please contact the Employee Wellness office at 330-672-0392 or wellness@kent.edu.
Labor Condition Application Notice
In accordance with 20 CFR § 655.734, Kent State University is required to provide notice that a Labor Condition Application (LCA) for H-1B Nonimmigrant Alien Worker has been led by Kent State University with the United States Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, United States Employment Service Certifying Officer. All LCA postings are provided for at the university's Legal Notices website.