“In the News” features Kent State University’s values, cultures, high-quality academics and award-winning support and access for all in these media stories of our faculty, staff, students and alumni in action. 

On May 2-4, 2025, Kent State University will hold its annual commemoration to honor the memory of May 4, 1970 – a tragic day when the Ohio National Guard opened fire on Kent State students during an anti-war protest on campus, killing four students and wounding nine others. May 4, 1970, marked a pivotal moment in American history.

Meet Chase Brown, a senior communication studies major, for whom performing has always been a part of his life. From street magic to competing in American Ninja Warrior and now comedy and improv, Brown is no stranger to putting on a good show.  

Kent State University’s Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, John Rathje, has been named the recipient of the prestigious 2025 ORBIE® Award in the Corporate category. 

Kent State University has successfully completed a strategic bond restructuring that delivered $4 million in net present value savings.

Get ready to welcome alumni back to campus, celebrate Kent State traditions, and cheer on the Golden Flashes as they take on the University of Massachusetts Minutemen in the Homecoming football game.

As winter ends, is important to take a moment and make sure that your car is ready for the new season. From routine maintenance to staying alert and safe, here are some car safety tips to keep you prepared throughout the spring semester.  

The national trend of fully online enrollment has been decreasing since the pandemic, but Kent State’s online programs are bucking those trends. Kent State offers 90 fully online degree and certificate programs. From bachelor’s to master’s degree programs, the university provides its nationally distinctive academics completely online.

As the temperatures continue to hover around freezing, and the sun makes rare appearances, have you noticed yourself feeling unmotivated or having feelings of sadness? Have your friends and family mentioned that you do not seem like yourself? Fortunately, there are resources available at Kent State University to help you through this difficult time.  

Graduates Adam Basaran and Jessica Milandinovich speak highly of the training they received at Kent State’s College of Aeronautics and Engineering and how it thoroughly prepared them for successful careers in aviation – whether that means piloting a fixed-wing airplane or one of America’s most beloved aircraft. 

Sophia Matar, B.S. ’24 was inspired by robotics at a young age and knew she wanted to pursue a career in nformation technology (IT), majoring in computer science. See how her passion for AI and robotics has led to a career at Sherwin-Williams and an opportunity to mentor and lead the next generation of tech trailblazers.

When Kent State University alumna Aysia Kemp declared her major in the first semester of her sophomore year, she felt confident in her chosen path. However, things didn’t quite start off that way. Kemp credits her experiences in the Exploratory Program for leading her to her ideal career.

This March, senior fashion design and marketing major Rachel Stauffer will take her fashion research to the international stage.

It’s Kent State’s biggest international event of the year. Providing a fantastic finish to I Heart Travel Week’s five days of activities, Global Safari Fest celebrates Kent State’s international students with performances, a country fair and global cuisine.  

The Office of Intercultural Student Life, formerly known as International Student Affairs, has a new central location in the Kent Student Center, which has made it more accessible to international students. Along with the new location comes the mission to provide drop-in services for international students.

Driven by Kent State students, a collaborative research initiative guided by Aimee Ward, Ph.D., addresses growing concerns about mid-block crossings on East Main Street and demonstrates the urgent need for safety improvements.

For thousands of years, Manot Cave in Western Galilee, Israel, remained a silent witness to human history. Now, Kent State University’s Linda Spurlock, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Anthropology, and a team of international researchers are being recognized for bringing the secrets of Manot Cave to the surface. 

A treasure trove of historical Ohio maps that Kent State University digitized about five years ago has recently become part of the public domain, making them free for anyone to use.

In a meeting with junior mechatronics engineering technology major Jude Carver a few weeks before the KSU Combat Robotics Tournament, he was still planning and building his 'bot. He shares the details of his combat robot’s design along with the next steps in its construction before the competition. He also demonstrates his skills in drawing complex Japanese characters. 

Eboni Pringle Ph.D., senior vice president of Student Life, calls the full-time and part-time employees in the division a "dream team" for the exceptional service they render.

Mary Kay Cabot has spent more than 40 years reporting on Cleveland sports, breaking barriers as a female sportswriter. Starting with an internship at The Plain Dealer, she overcame early challenges and still works at the paper today as a respected journalist covering the Cleveland Browns.

Some days Kent State University’s College of Nursing students may need a little extra inspiration to keep going. On those days, “Some Days,” a poem capturing the art and science of nursing, serves as a powerful reminder of why they chose this path.

Collin Geter, 2024 School of Theatre and Dance alumnus, has joined the ensemble of “Moby Dick” at The Metropolitan Opera, from March 3 through March 29. We sat down with Geter to learn about his journey in the arts.

Diane Petrella, dean of Kent State University's College of the Arts, sees access as a way to provide students with many benefits, including fostering creativity, emotional expression, social interaction and personal growth, and as she shares below, she believes these benefits should be available to all.

On March 19, the Kent State Tuscarawas Golden Eagles volleyball team was recognized in the Ohio State House of Representatives by Jodi Salvo and the State Senate by Al Landis for their outstanding achievement in winning the 2024 USCAA Division II National Championship.

Kent State University alumnus Antonio Gates has begun his journey to football immortality, recently visiting the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, to meet with officials and begin preparations for his enshrinement. The former basketball standout at Kent State will become just the second Golden Flash to earn a gold jacket, joining linebacker Jack Lambert who was enshrined in 1990.

Senior Jenna Batsch surpassed 1,000 career points on Wednesday evening at the M.A.C. Center as Kent State defeated Northern Illinois, 76-58, and secured its spot in the upcoming Mid-American Conference Women's Basketball Tournament.