Leadership Transition

June 15, 2020

Members of the Kent State University Community,

As the new fiscal year approaches, I write to inform you of a leadership change at the cabinet level.

Steve Sokany, vice president for institutional advancement and executive director of the Kent State University Foundation, is among the nearly 300 individuals who chose to participate in the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program. Sokany has led the division since 2016 and served Kent State’s advancement effort for more than 27 years. We are grateful to Steve for his leadership in moving the university to a higher level of fundraising.

To ensure a seamless transition, I have asked Valoree Vargo, senior associate vice president and chief operating officer for advancement operations, to serve as interim vice president effective June 2. She joined Kent State in August 2010 as executive director of donor services and has served in her current role since 2016. Previously, she was executive director of advancement events and communications for The George Washington University. I thank Valoree for assuming leadership of the division during these unprecedented times.

I hope you are safe and well and appreciate your hard work to prepare for what will be a different, but nonetheless productive, year for Kent State. Thank you for all you do on behalf of our students and our communities. 

Sincerely,

Todd Diacon 
President