Welcome to Flash Focus! In this series, we introduce you to fascinating student Flashes from all walks of life.
Meet junior art history major and English minor from Medina, Ohio, Molly Wagar. The decision on what to study was an easy one for Wagar as art history and English are both things she has always been passionate about.
“Art history is my life passion and dedication, my ‘purpose,’ if you will,” Wagar said. “And I chose English as my minor because English Literature and poetry are things that things that spark joy in me, but also have a close connection with the fine arts.”
Wagar has immersed herself in art history during her time at Kent State University. She is currently the Art History Club president and is a gallery assistant for the Cleveland Museum of Art.
“Outside of school, my whole life revolves around the humanities and a craving for expression, I do everything under the sun – from painting, to reading philosophy,” Wagar said.
In her position at the Cleveland Museum of Art, Wagar gets to share her passion for art with the museum's guests.
“I talk to visitors about art all day, and I feel so extremely grateful not just to be able to engage with my favorite thing of all time in school, but also incorporating the human experience in every conscious decision I make,” Wagar said. “The passion for expression is what I would consider my life purpose, to be as knowledgeable about the human spirit as possible.”
At Kent State, Wagar has found inspiration in the people and instructors she has met. With the dream to one day become a professor, Wagar has looked up to many faculty on campus but two stand out in her mind: Don-John Dugas, Ph.D., professor of English, and Gustave Medicus, Ph.D., associate professor of art history.
“I find not only their dedication to their fields to be extremely admirable, but I can never get over their excitement as well, they can talk about literally anything ever, and I will find it to be the most entertaining thing on Earth just due to their sheer excitement,” Wagar said.
These experiences at Kent State have made Wagar feel right at home on campus.
“Before college, I never felt like I had a lot of people around who I shared interests with, but once I came to Kent State, I found my people, and college has been the happiest time of my life,” Wagar said.
Are you a student interested in being featured in Flash Focus, or know a student who would make a great candidate? Send suggestions with name and contact information to kentstatetoday@kent.edu.