Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement

Volunteer students loading boxes of food into the Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement mobile unit

Come help Flashes Fighting Hunger, Kent State’s student-powered response to food insecurity, and observe Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week (Nov. 14-19) by filling the truck with unperishable food and toiletry items!

Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement
Illustration of five lit birthday candles with phrase "A Birthday Wish for Kent State"

Angela Neal-Barnett, Ph.D. (right), is pictured at the Doula and Community Expo hosted by Birthing Beautiful Communities in April 2024. (Photo provided by Angela Neal-Barnett)

Kent State University’s Angela Neal-Barnett has been working diligently to build up the Spirit of Motherhood program with the goal of reducing trauma and stress symptoms experienced by its pregnant Black mother participants. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation recently awarded the program another $300,000 to continue its work over the next three years.

Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement
Kent State President Todd Diacon, right, and Joe Diorio, Portage County Health Commissioner, unveil the Mobile Flashes Wellness Unit on April 4, 2024.

The brightly colored blue and gold Mobile Flashes Wellness Unit from Kent State University’s College of Public Health will be hitting the streets to help bring public health services to the people of northeast Ohio.

Kent State Today
Terrie Harris rejoices in receiving her bachelor's degree after studying off and on for 27 years.

When she walked across the stage at commencement on Dec. 16, Terrie Harris realized a dream more than 25 years in the making. Life intervened often during Harris’ educational journey, but thanks to Kent State University’s regional campus system a diploma was finally hers in December. 

Giving Tuesday graphic that indicates $2,867,333+ were raised to impact Kent State University students.

Kent State University supporters once again joined together during the university’s Giving Tuesday campaign to raise more than $2.8 million to support a variety of student scholarships and programs.

Chris Wick (left) and David Hassler (right) stand in front of the Wick Poetry Center’s Poets for Science exhibition at the Association of Writers & Writing Programs’ 2023 Conference and Bookfair.

The Wick family has a long history of philanthropy at Kent State University that began in 1984 when brothers Bob and Walt Wick first established scholarships to support undergraduate poets at the university. This most recent gift of $1 million brings the family’s total lifetime commitment to the university to more than $3.5 million.

The 2023 Kent State University Alumni Award winners smile after the Alumni Awards ceremony. Pictured (from left to right) are Sonia Karkare, Danita Brown Young, Ph.D., Scott Haws, Garret Ferrara, Morgan Dawson, Thomas Iivari, Isobel Day, Haley Dees, Avery Hall and John Van Alstine.

Kent State University recognizes alumni who, through leadership, character and hard work, are making a difference. During Homecoming Weekend, 10 Golden Flashes were presented with Alumni Awards, and nine alumni received Lifetime Achievement recognitions from the university’s Black Alumni Chapter.

Main Street Kent's Family Friendly Halloween with Flash the Mascot

On Friday, Oct. 27 Flash the Mascot made new friends at Main Street Kent's Family Friendly Halloween event.