University News

HR and DEI departments must offer black employees relevant programs to deal with trauma from racial injustice.

When black Americans watched George Floyd being killed by a white police officer, they saw themselves and their family members. The unrelenting series of events that black Americans have witnessed before and after Floyd’s killing is racial trauma, which at its core is racism, says Kent State Psychological Sciences Professor Angela Neal-Barnett, Ph.D.

Wayne Dawson, WJW Fox 8 anchor and Kent State graduate in the class of '79.

George Floyd's death focused light on what had been America’s ugly secret, the killing of black men by law enforcement officers at a rate far greater than any other race. Wayne Dawson, WJW Fox 8 anchor and Kent State University alumnus, offers his take on what's at stake for America.

Rami Daud and Nathaniel Bailey, photographers with University Communications and Marketing, smile after receiving their Silver ADDY Awards. (Photo credit: Smithberger Photography)

Kent State University brought home the gold after this year’s Akron ADDY Awards, with both professionals and students being recognized for their work. The ADDYs, put on by the Akron Chapter of the American Advertising Federation, celebrate the area’s best creative work in advertising.

Kent State University sign on Front Campus

About 300 people attended the first in a series of virtual town halls as the Kent State community addresses systemic racism by learning, listening and taking action as a collective.

Mwatabu S. Okantah

Mwatabu S. Okantah, associate professor in Kent State University’s Department of Pan-African Studies, shares his perspective as someone who first arrived at Kent State in September 1970 as a student. Nearly 50 years later, he is an associate professor at the university.

Mike Daniels, interim director of Kent State's Student Multicultural Center (SMC)

Is this America? Where popular culture is largely represented by Black culture? Where musicians, artists, and athletes can be praised and celebrated for their talents, but criminalized for their skin color? Mike Daniels shares his insight. 

Members of the Kent State University Esports team compete in the finals of a League of Legends tournament held at Kent State.

The Mid-American Conference (MAC) announced Wednesday a historic esports venture with a newly created independent esports conference – Esports Collegiate Conference – to facilitate and foster high-quality gaming competition among collegiate esports teams. Kent State University is among the 12 founding members of the new esports conference. 

Photo collage of Kent State women's teams

Kent State University has won the Mid-American Conference’s Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) for women’s sports award for the first time in school history.

Kent State students walk to and from class.

University and student leaders share their personal insights into America's current unrest and whether protests will lead to lasting change. 

Tayjua Hines, president of Kent State's Black United Students, speaking at a George Floyd protest in Kent.

Tayjua Hines, president of Black United Students at Kent State, shares this student perspective about racism in our country and says now is the time to enact change.