As the university’s chief executive officer, the 13th president of Kent State University will oversee one of the nation's largest university systems.
To the Kent State University Community:
Today is a very proud and important moment in our university’s history. Our Kent State family has waited patiently for the presidential search to reach its conclusion, and I am delighted to announce that today the Board of Trustees has unanimously endorsed the appointment of our president-elect.
Earlier this year, we launched a national search for the successor to our beloved President Beverly Warren, who has given us five years of inspiring and successful leadership. To prepare for the search, we solicited input from virtually every constituency: faculty, staff, students, donors, alumni, elected officials, the Kent community and others. You told us that Kent State needs a dynamic, experienced leader who could build on the institution’s vision and strategic direction, enhance academic excellence and research, strengthen organizational capacity and sustainability, and raise Kent State’s profile and prominence. We heard your clear preference for a person who could build on President Warren’s extraordinary legacy – you said we don’t need a “fixer,” we want an accelerator.
After a rigorous national search, we have found that leader. Today, in a unanimous vote, the Kent State Board of Trustees has elected Todd Diacon, Ph.D., as Kent State’s 13th president, effective July 1. The Board is confident that Dr. Diacon’s substantial contributions to Kent State’s advancement during the past seven years demonstrate that he is the right person at the right time to continue our remarkable momentum and progress.
President-elect Diacon has 30 years of higher education leadership experience. He currently serves as executive vice president and provost of Kent State University, the second highest-ranking position behind the president. He joined Kent State in April 2012 and is responsible for all academic functions of the university, leading the administration, faculty, and staff within more than 20 academic units, including colleges, schools, departments, and regional campuses of an eight-campus system that enrolls more than 38,000 students. Dr. Diacon knows Kent State well and has a deep understanding of the university’s strengths and potential. We all agree that he has the leadership ability to accelerate our momentum in reaching our highest aspirations.
Dr. Diacon is committed to advancing Kent State’s position as a top-tier public research university and our intense focus on strengthening student success, research and academic excellence.
Dr. Diacon’s contributions and deep experience in these priorities have been evident during his time as Kent State’s provost. He has been instrumental in developing creative ways to boost the university’s international reach and reputation, including establishing our American Academy at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR), a major university in Brazil.
He has helped the university attract world-class, talented deans, faculty and academic leaders, including most recently Christina Bloebaum, Ph.D., dean of the College of Aeronautics and Engineering; Michael Lehman, Ph.D., inaugural director of the Brain Health Research Institute; and Neil Cooper, Ph.D., inaugural director of the School of Peace and Conflict Studies. Dr. Diacon’s commitment to the recruitment of diverse faculty significantly increased the number of faculty hires from underrepresented groups, and contributed to Kent State earning the distinction as the #1 university nationwide in Forbes’ list of America’s Best Employers for Diversity 2019.
In his current role, Dr. Diacon has contributed significantly to elevating Kent State’s academic excellence. During his time as provost, Kent State has enrolled five of its largest freshman classes, increased the number of undergraduate degrees awarded, raised the academic profile of the freshman class, improved graduation rates, and achieved record retention rates.
Before coming to Kent State, Dr. Diacon served as deputy chancellor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His duties included supervising the university’s strategic plan, leading special projects, co-directing university relations with state government, coordinating town-gown initiatives and directing the UMass Community College Connection to encourage community college students to enroll at UMass. In addition to his role of deputy chancellor at UMass, he was a professor of history.
Prior to UMass, Dr. Diacon worked at the University of Tennessee from 1989-2010, joining first as an assistant professor of history. During his career there, he held various positions, including director of the Latin American studies program, head of the history department, NCAA faculty athletics representative, professor of history with tenure, vice provost for academic operations and executive director for academic assessment and program support.
Dr. Diacon specializes in agrarian history and the history of central state power in Brazil. He has authored publications on student success and on the administration of higher education, and he has written several journal articles and two books. His book, “Stringing Together a Nation,” won the 2005 Warren Dean Prize for the most significant book on Brazilian history.
The trustees extend our thanks to all members of the university community and the public who took the time to share your thoughts and aspirations for Kent State. It was wonderful to see your dedication and commitment to our strategic direction and future.
The Board of Trustees would like to express our deep appreciation to the members of the Presidential Search Committee for their dedicated service. The search process was very inclusive, and today we celebrate an outstanding outcome. We all owe a special debt of gratitude to Trustee Shawn Riley, who has given so generously of his time and counsel as Chair of the Presidential Search Committee. We are especially grateful for his engagement with the Faculty Senate Executive Committee throughout the search process, and his work to include the Committee on Administrative Officers.
Thank you for all you do to elevate Kent State’s rise among the nation’s best public research universities. Please join me in congratulating and welcoming Dr. Todd Diacon as Kent State’s 13th president.
Regards,
Ralph Della Ratta Chair,
Kent State University Board of Trustees