University News

National Guard personnel walk with weapons and jeeps in a line on May 4, 1970, at Kent State University. (Photo credit: News Service May 4 photographs, Kent State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives)

Historian Who Recorded Guardsmen’s Voices to Speak at Kent State’s 2026 Jerry M. Lewis May 4 Lecture Series

David Strittmatter, associate professor of history at Ohio Northern University, has been selected as the 2026 speaker for the fifth annual Jerry M. Lewis May 4 Lecture Series. He will share firsthand oral histories from Ohio National Guardsmen who were present during the May 4, 1970, shootings at Kent State University.

Tags: May 4 , University News , University Libraries

Kent State Today

President Todd Diacon shakes hands with Kairat Zhakupov, acting chairman of the board and president of the Civil Aviation Academy, after signing an agreement for an aeronautics collaboration.

Kent State’s College of Aeronautics and Engineering Soars Into Kazakhstan

Kent State University and the Civil Aviation Academy in Almaty, Kazakhstan, have signed an agreement to be strategic partners in establishing a joint international aviation university in Kazakhstan, to support the rapid growth of aviation throughout Central Asia.

Tags: University News , Global Reach , College of Aeronautics and Engineering , Office of Global Education

Kent State Today

Two students sit in a hammock outside on a sunny day

New Interest‑Based Theme Communities Prioritize Student Connection

Kent State University is preparing to introduce a major shift in its residential experience with the launch of Theme Communities starting in fall 2026. The new model focuses on specific interests or student experiences.

Tags: University News , Students First , Student Life

Kent State Today

University Libraries, OhioLINK logo and a screenshot of welcome page on the app

University Libraries Launches New ‘Perfectly Kent State’ App to Streamline Library Resources

Kent State University Libraries has gone mobile, so students, staff and faculty can more easily navigate the wide array of assets the library houses from anywhere. University Libraries acquired the app in partnership with OhioLINK and then configured it to make it “perfectly Kent State."

Tags: University News , Students First , Student Life

Kent State Today

Allison Herron got her perfect match on Match Day at the College of Podiatric Medine

Perfect Matches for Kent State's Podiatric Medicine Students

March 20th was Match Day at Kent State’s College of Podiatric Medicine, and for the second year running, 100% of podiatric students got their dream matches for their preferred residency programs.

Tags: University News , Health , College of Podiatric Medicine , Nationally Distinctive

Kent State Today

Before becoming a student at Kent State University, Richard Hlavaty served in the U.S. Marine Corps. One of his two combat tours was in Afghanistan (pictured). (Photo provided by Richard Hlavaty)

‘What Makes Kent State Friendly to Veterans Is That the Support Is Real and Personal’

Kent State University has earned the Military Friendly® School designation for 2026-2027, its 17th consecutive year. Marine Corps veteran and Kent State senior Richard Hlavaty shares how Kent State’s veteran support services have shaped his academic and professional journey.

Tags: Community & Society , University News , Community Impact , Center for Adult and Veteran Services , Division of Student Life

Kent State Today

Karin Coifman, Ph.D., has been named the new director of the Brain Health Research Institute.

Kent State Appoints Student Life Study Leader as New Brain Health Research Institute Director

Psychological Sciences Professor Karin Coifman, Ph.D., has been named the new director of Kent State University’s Brain Health Research Institute (BHRI).

Tags: University News , Research & Science , Nationally Distinctive

Brain Health Research Institute

A.I.D. train the trainer sessions teach participants how to offer help to those who are having mental health issues.

Kent State Program Trains Mental Health Advocates Nationwide

The A.I.D. training — which stands for Awareness,  Interaction, and Direction — was created in 2019 by the Center for Public Policy and Health in the College of Public Health, teaches participants how to recognize signs of mental distress, engage in compassionate and effective conversations with someone who may be struggling and connect that person with the resources they need.

Tags: University News , College of Public Health , Community & Society , Health , Nationally Distinctive

Kent State Today

A rainy day on the Kent State University campus.

Statewide Tornado Drill to Be Conducted Wednesday, March 18

Ohio is conducting a statewide tornado drill at 9:50 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18. Kent State University will be participating in this test.

Tags: University News , Department of Public Safety

Kent State Today

Friends hug while members of the Kent State University community and visitors gather on the Kent State Commons for the annual May 4 Commemoration to honor those who were killed and wounded on May 4, 1970. (Photo credit: Bob Christy, Kent State University)

Kent State Remembers May 4, 1970, With 56th Commemoration

This year’s May 4 Commemoration, to be held May 1-4, 2026, will include special remembrances of John Cleary, one of the nine wounded students, and Jerry M. Lewis, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Sociology, who served as a faculty marshal during the campus shootings and worked tirelessly to ensure that the legacy of May 4 would endure. 

Tags: University News , Nationally Distinctive , May 4 , May 4 Commemoration

Kent State Today