Community & Society

The new Flashes Fighting Hunger initiative takes the last 10 years to a new level, going beyond a kitchen that provides meals by becoming a program that prevents food waste, promotes food recovery and hosts multiple food pantries each week to serve the region.

Kent State alumnus Mike Bowen, '03, visited Kent State’s School of Emerging Media and Technology to share his knowledge about data and analysis that he uses as part of his job of Principal Quantitative User Researcher for music streaming service Spotify.

Of the 33,984 awarded computer science (CS) bachelor’s degrees in 2020, only 21% of CS graduates identified as women, 3% as Black, and 8.5% as Hispanic (Zweben & Bizot, 2021). Susan Fisk, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology, is using her expertise in social-psychology to change that and improve the field of computing. Fisk was awarded her third National Science Foundation grant to continue her work on broadening participation in computing and improving undergraduate STEM education. 

As Kent State returns to a school year that resembles pre-pandemic times, First Star Kent State Academy has begun to imagine new programs. The Academy is a free, comprehensive four-year college access program for youth in foster care. The program engages a cohort of up to 30 students in a variety of learning opportunities, including academic support, career exploration, social and cultural activities and more.

Come join Kent State University President Todd Diacon, Kent Mayor Jerry Fiala and the Marching Golden Flashes as they celebrate the opening of the new public rink, Kent Skates, on Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m. with music, free giveaways and, of course, ice skating.

Roseann "Chic" Canfora, Ph.D., joined the School of Media and Journalism as a Professional-in-Residence this fall. She was also a student at Kent State, starting in 1968, and is a survivor of the May 4, 1970, shootings. 

The Kent and Kent State University communities can head downtown to go ice skating starting Nov. 20, courtesy of Kent Skates presented by AMETEK. This special attraction has been created through a partnership between the city of Kent, the Kent State University Hotel and Conference Center, the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Kent and Kent State.

Last Spring, the Kent State University Board of Trustees approved the Anti-Racism and Equity Institute, which creates an important interdisciplinary hub for faculty, students, staff and community members engaged in race and anti-racism scholarship, activism and education. “Kent State is a university that is known for its activism,” Carla Goar, Ph.D., director of the Anti-Racism and Equity Institute, said. “Ideally this institute will serve as a hub for scholars and activists to come together to tackle issues and racial equity."

Students at Kent State Trumbull who are in need of food, personal items and clothing will now have more support from the university following Trumbull’s Care Closet official opening on Oct. 18. Trumbull’s Care Closet was created by the 2020-2021 Undergraduate Student Government (USG) and is set up as a fund that faculty, staff and the community can donate to. It’s goal is to provide necessities for students who can’t afford them.

Kent State University held its annual Veterans Day Commemoration in person at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 10, at Risman Plaza on the Kent Campus.