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Rollie, ’64, and Frances Layfield Help Students Build Skills for Success

Hard work and discipline are a driving force for Rollie Layfield, ’64, and they have served him well throughout his life and his career in business. He credits both his degree program in business administration and his time in the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program at �������� for helping him develop the leadership, entrepreneurship and organizational skills to thrive after graduation.

Legacies Change Lives: Dylan Cahill

The moment Dylan Cahill stepped foot on the Kent Campus, he knew that �������� was the place for him.

Modern Humans Using Ancient Tools

�������� anthropology professor Metin Eren, Ph.D., has a hands-on approach when teaching students about prehistoric stone tools that involves immersing themselves in a specially equipped lab in Lowry Hall that features everything from flint arrowheads to a ballistics station.

Dean Kahler’s 'One Bad Day' Fuels a Lifetime of Purpose

Dean Kahler, ’77, one of the nine wounded in the May 4, 1970, shootings, wasn’t supposed to be at �������� that day. 

Increasing Belonging for Graduate Students

A new program will foster a stronger sense of belonging to address research that demonstrates that graduate students are less likely to feel a sense of identity attached to their graduate school than those connections to undergraduate school experiences.

Alumni Support Global Education Experiences

�������� has received two $1 million donations in support of Global Education experiences for students. These gifts will make education-abroad experiences available to more students through the Global Education Endowment fund that was created in 2022.

Grant Supports Black Mothers and Children

�������� has received a grant from the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation for the Spirit of Motherhood Program, an innovative program with a goal of reducing trauma and stress symptoms experienced by its pregnant Black mother participants.

Making the Local Justice System Easier to Access

Summit County Domestic Relations Court Judge Kani H. Hightower is on a mission to make the justice system in Summit County, Ohio, more accessible for underprivileged and underrepresented citizens. Whether it’s related to transportation challenges or helping them sort through the red tape of documentation, Hightower, a �������� graduate, is creating solutions to streamline the process for Summit County residents.

Gaining International Business Experience

Business students who participate in an annual study abroad experience to Ireland gain awareness about Ireland’s culture and people while acquiring hands-on skills and learn about the country’s dynamic role in the European Union and global economy.

Mobile Flashes Wellness Unit Makes Its Debut

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

Propelling Future Aviation Professionals

�������� has received a significant grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to create an initiative to bolster the workforce for aircraft pilots and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operators in Northeast Ohio.

Ann Mariko Walter, ’96

Will Matthews, ’19, adds some flavor to Northeast Ohio’s food scene with Southern Comfort Kitchen, his New Orleans-inspired restaurant and food truck.

Daring Mighty Things - Lighter Than Air

First-year students in ��������’s College of Aeronautics and Engineering were challenged to engineer and build propeller-driven aircraft suspended by helium balloons as part of the college’s “Lighter Than Air” competition.

Championing a Place for Women in Science

Aleisha Moore, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, is exploring how the brain can influence hormones and fertility. One area of research for Moore is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a condition that affects nearly 10 percent of women worldwide.

Celebrating KSU’s First Female President

Carol A. Cartwright, Ph.D., became ��������’s first female president in 1991 and was the first female president of any Ohio public college or university then. She was also a driving force in the establishment of �������� Women’s Center.

Global Experience Fuels Alumna’s Career

McKenzie Morgan, ’22, appreciates the opportunities �������� provided her that included completing her academic journey with the university’s education-abroad program in Florence, Italy. “Studying abroad was definitely my all-time highlight,” Morgan said.

Alumnus Brings Wild Animals (in Sunglasses) to Public Library

Black United Student Leader Thrives

Julian Grimes, a �������� junior, is president of Black United Students (BUS) and is working to keep the organization thriving. BUS is one of ��������’s oldest student organizations and is credited with starting the formal observance of Black History Month in 1970.

Community of Caring Supports Student

Shane Reese found a network of support and a community of caring at �������� that surrounded him after his mother passed away during his freshman year. As a result, Reese became a resilient leader who is committed to giving back.

LaunchNET Supports Student Radio Program

�������� architecture student Joel Semancik is the creator of Gulp Radio, a program and podcast that airs on ��������’s Black Squirrel Radio. He and his guests discuss songs that have had an impact on their lives and discuss their favorite �������� memories and life stories.

Will Matthews, ’19

Will Matthews, ’19, adds some flavor to Northeast Ohio’s food scene with Southern Comfort Kitchen, his New Orleans-inspired restaurant and food truck.

Alumni Spotlight - Dexter Shreve, '13

Dexter credits the hands-on learning experiences for preparing him for the real-world challenges of his career. In particular, the Materials and Processes class provided him with essential skills in machining, welding, and casting, which he later applied in various engineering roles.

Adventures in Italy: A �������� Love Story

Despite living in the same residence hall on the Kent Campus, Andrew “Andy” Wyatt, ’16, had to travel nearly 4,500 miles to get

Global Experience Transforms Student’s Future

When �������� alumnus Carlton “CeeJay” Scott Jr., ’23, returned from his 2023 Spring Semester abroad as an exchange student in Cairo, he brought with him a transformed vision for his future as a filmmaker.

�������� Alumna Tiffany Roper Has a "Flair" for Entrepreneurship

Tiffany Roper, ’07, M.Ed. ’12, is a two-time alumna and recipient of one of the microgrants for , her events, personal styling and public speaking business.

Danny Pellegrino, ’07

For Danny Pellegrino, ’07, being an author and comedian has allowed him to meld his love of storytelling with making others laugh. Whether he’s on stage, on screen, behind the mic or at his computer, Danny is following his “true North,” as he says, by celebrating the things he loves and sharing them with others.

Former �������� Educator and Student-athlete Honored with First-gen Award Named in Her Honor

Each November, the �������� College hosts I AM FIRST Week to celebrate not only the students who will soon be the first in t

Regional Students Receive Intel® Scholarships

Two students in the College of Applied and Technical Studies at �������� at Tuscarawas received Intel^® Semiconductor Scholarship for Women awards. The scholarships support education-related expenses (tuition, fees, books,etc.) as well as other expenses including transportation and childcare.

I PROMISE Students Study Brain Health

��������’s Brain Health Research Institute recently welcomed 94 fourth-grade students from the I PROMISE School in Akron, Ohio, for a day of activities aimed at sparking their interest in science and technology.

Planned Gift Endows Executive Director Position at ��������’s Wick Poetry Center

The Wick family has a long history of philanthropy at �������� 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.

Scolin MacLean, ’90, Turns His Love of Athletics into Philanthropy

“I look at �������� as a family member – everyone collectively – that I am connected to and plan to be for as long as I possibly can.

Personal Obstacles Inspire Alumnus to Champion Future Researchers

The experiences Earl K. Miller, ’85, Ph.D., had at �������� inspired him to give back.

Scholarship Supports Student Leader’s Goals

Jenna Gilbreath, ’23, had a chance encounter with Michael John Gallagher II, '19, during one of her student visit days. He gave her some great advice about her future as a �������� student.

Rising Scholars Students Partner With NASA

Rising Scholars students at the Columbiana campuses are partnering with NASA to create personal hygiene kits that astronauts may use during simulation training exercises. The goal is for each scholar to complete one hygiene kit.

Roe Green, MA ’80, To Receive Honorary Degree

��������’s Board of Trustees will award Roe Green, MA ’80, a Doctor of Humane Letters honorary degree in recognition of her contributions to the university and her advocacy for the arts in Northeast Ohio, the nation and around the world.

Legacies Change Lives: Emily Butz

Emily Butz is a junior music education and music performance major with an anticipated graduation date of fall 2022.