KENT STATE...Gretchen Woods, MA ’05, Avon, Ohio, the winner of the random drawing from correct submissions to the Squirrel Search contest. She received a box of squirrel-themed swag

History LessonsAs Kent State continues its yearlong50th commemoration of May 4, 1970,President Todd Diacon wants you toreflect on the dangers of polarizationand the power of reconciliation.SEE PAGE 10

KENT STATEM A G A Z I N E

FALL/WINTER 2019-20 | New Frontiers for Liquid Crystal Research | Rising Scholars | Wi-Fi Pioneer | KSU Bucket List

CONTENTSFALL/WINTER 2019-20On the cover: President Todd Diacon, PhD, was inaugurated asKent State’s 13th president on November 1, 2019. See page 10.

COVER PHOTO: RAMI DAUD

FEATURES10 A Dialogue with President DiaconA Q&A with the university’s 13th president—plus hisquiz to test your knowledge of Kent State.

16 Comeback ChampKent State football wide receiver Antwan Dixon hasn’t leta rare blood disorder derail his dreams.

18 Together We RiseHow the Rising Scholars Program at Kent State helpsunderserved students with potential prepare for apromising future.

24 Picture ThisA selection of student photos from recent Kent Statestudy away/study abroad programs and internships.

26 Future ForecastTorsten Hegmann, PhD, new director of the AdvancedMaterials and Liquid Crystal Institute, talks about newfrontiers in the field.

28 Check it Off !The top things Kent State students think everyone should dobefore they graduate. How many have you done?

32 Wi-Fi WhizWhere would we be without Wi-Fi? Jerry Pohmurski,BS ’88, helped pioneer wireless devices, but he neverfigured the technology would be so widely used today.

02 Readers Respond03 President’s

Perspective04 Flash Forward

36 Alumni Life48 Flashback49 Giving Voice

EDITORJan [email protected]

DESIGNERKaren Hurguy

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERSBob Christy, BS ’95Rami DaudNathan Tranbarger, BS ’17

STAFF CONTRIBUTORSLisa AbrahamAngelique CunninghamApril McClellan-CopelandBethany Sava, BS ’12Ashley Whaley, BS ’06, MEd ’12

CHAIR, BOARD OF TRUSTEESRalph Della Ratta

PRESIDENTTodd A. Diacon, PhD

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FORSTRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONSAND EXTERNAL AFFAIRSKaren B. Clarke

INTERIM EXECUTIVE VICEPRESIDENT AND PROVOSTMelody Tankersley, PhD

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENTFOR FINANCE ANDADMINISTRATIONMark M. Polatajko, PhD

WEBSITEwww.kent.edu/magazine

CORRESPONDENCEKent State Magazine, 160 ASBP.O. Box 5190, Kent, Ohio [email protected]

Kent State Magazine is publishedby Kent State UniversityCommunications and Marketing.It is mailed free to faculty, staff,alumni, donors and friends ofthe university two times a year(fall/winter, spring/summer).

Printed by Angstrom Graphics,Cleveland, Ohio

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DEPARTMENTS

Take NoteKent State is a university on the rise, as isevidenced on almost every page of thisissue. As former provost Todd Diacon hastaken over his new role as Kent State’s 13thpresident, he says he’s been gaining aneven greater appreciation for Kent State’spotential to impact Ohio and the world.

Students are taking advantage ofexciting research opportunities and studyaway/study abroad programs that expandtheir horizons, boost their growth andpropel their career prospects.

Rising Scholars, a program first started atKent State’s Columbiana County campuses,is being rolled out to all regional campusesto help promising middle school studentsreach their full potential—and lift up theircommunities for generations to come.

The new FedEx Aeronautics AcademicCenter is accelerating the university’scommitment to graduate increasednumbers of aviation professionals who willsoar to greater achievements.

And speaking of things on the rise,recent news reports have noted that KentState’s iconic black squirrels are increasingtheir range and becoming more common inthe greater Cleveland area.

However, Greg Smith, PhD, an assistantprofessor of biological sciences at KentState at Stark, says squirrels typically don’ttravel that far. It’s more plausible that smallpockets of black squirrels naturally arose inCleveland due to a genetic mutation in thegrey or fox squirrel and their numbers areslowly growing.

Smith also says the minimal researchavailable suggests that the squirrels’ darkcolor could make them more resistant tocold, increasing the population farther north.

In any event, they’re still hanging out onthe pages of this magazine!

Squirrel SearchIn each issue, we hide an image of a blacksquirrel on three pages (not counting theTable of Contents). If you find all three,you qualify for a drawing to win a squirrel-themed prize. Each squirrel will appear likethis: (shown actual size and will notbe distorted or rotated).

When you find them, send us an email [email protected], listing the three pagenumbers and places they appear, plus yourname and mailing address. For rules andeligibility requirements see www.kent.edu/magazine/rules. Good luck!

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2 | KENT STATE MAGAZINE

readers RESPONDAnd the WINNER is...

Congratulations toGretchen Woods,MA ’05, Avon, Ohio,the winner of the random

drawing from correct submissions to theSquirrel Search contest. She received abox of squirrel-themed swag from McKayBricker Framing & Black Squirrel Gifts indowntown Kent.

The black squirrels can be found inthe spring/summer 2019 issue onpages 9 (on top rail of bell stand, toright), 28 (at bottom right of pink neonsign) and 38 (on stool to right of seatedgirl’s head).

Thanksto all whoentered!

via EMAIL

Help for Healing Brain InjuryAs a Kent State psychology departmentalum who worked in brain function researchfor my masters (but jumped to clinicalpsychology for my PhD), I was excited andproud to hear of the launch of the BrainHealth Research Institute and Dr. MichaelLehman’s vision for it [“Brainstorming,”page 22, spring/summer 2019].

My husband incurred a traumaticbrain injury in July 1999. Writing poetryhas played a big part in his recovery that,given the extent of his injury, has beenamazing. He is living proof of the benefits ofa multidisciplinary approach that includesplayers like the Wick Poetry Center and[director] David Hassler.

JANEANE REAGAN, MS ’70, PHD ’81Altoona, Fla.

Protect Your PasswordsGreat article about security [“The MeanStreets of Cyberspace,” page 24, spring/summer 2019] and the example of the couplewith shared passwords. The only time I’veever shared a bank password was with myfriend (ironically, also named Susy). Luckily,I don’t think she memorized it, and I knowshe didn’t write it down. She hasn’t takenanything from me . . . yet.

JEFFREY ALI, DPM ’98Broadview Heights, Ohio

Another PathwayOn page 21 of the spring/summer 2019 issuethere is an article about “KSU Pathways toBecoming a Registered Nurse.” There isanother “pathway” that was overlooked. TheCollege of Applied and Technical Studiesoffers the ADN [Associate Degree in Nursing]program on four campuses: East Liverpool,Tuscarawas, Twinsburg and Ashtabulacampuses. It also has an LPN to ADN bridgeand a Paramedic to ADN bridge.

All ADN graduates are eligible to takea state license test to become an RN. It is agreat option that costs less than a four-yeardegree and gets students working sooner.Many of our graduates go on to earn theirBSN and higher degrees as well.

JANET PETERSON, RN, MSN, CNSNursing Skills Lab CoordinatorKent State University at East Liverpool

As a tenured member of the nursing facultyand having served previously as the interimdean of the College of Nursing, I am wellaware of the Institute of Medicine’s reportand recommendation regarding the needto increase the number of BSN preparedgraduates. However, you ignored anotherKSU pathway to becoming a registerednurse. The Associate of Applied ScienceDegree is offered on the Ashtabula, EastLiverpool, Twinsburg and Tuscarawascampuses of KSU. Students who completethese [ADN] programs sit for the samelicensing exam as the BSN grads.

Students who graduate from theseprograms continue to be hired at theCleveland Clinic, University Hospitals andcommunity hospitals in our region. Between

the four regional campus sites offeringthe associate degree, we are supplyinghundreds of qualified registered nurses tothe workforce. One advantage to this pathis that once hired, employers will oftenprovide tuition reimbursement to theseRNs to complete their BSN. We stronglyencourage students to obtain their BSNfrom the day they walk in our doors, and wehighly encourage them to make a seamlesstransition from our program to the onlineRN to BSN offered thru the KSU College ofNursing. Many of the courses in the RN toBSN are taught by faculty from the ADNprogram on the regional campuses.

SUSAN STOCKER, PHDDean and Chief Administrative OfficerKent State University at Ashtabula

Portrait of a PresidentGreat spring/summer [2019] edition.Excellent articles all, and a beautifulportraiture of President Warren. Her warmth,personality and energy leap off the pages.No doubt she has provided remarkableleadership and will be missed greatly.MEL GROSSMAN, BS ’55Bellbrook, Ohio

Reason for OptimismI enjoy reading this magazine each time itarrives. It’s amazing what young studentsaspire to these days. I feel a little moreoptimistic about the future after readingsome of the stories about these young menand women. Thank you!

DONNA DUNN, RN ’94Great Falls, Mont.

We want to hear from you!Respond to magazine contentor comment on topics related toKent State by writing:Kent State MagazineP.O. Box 5190Kent, Ohio 44242-0001or [email protected] may be edited for style,length, clarity and civility.

Visit us onlinewww.kent.edu/magazine

FALL/WINTER 2019-20 | 3

president’s PERSPECTIVE

O ne of the most enjoyable and invigoratingparts of my job as president is to celebratethis great institution and its dedication to

changing the world. Kent State is a university with unmatched potential

for meaningful impact in the state of Ohio and beyond.We graduate nearly 10,000 students annually who are

and we have an incredible network of nearly 250,000alumni worldwide.

Kent State is a motor for democracy, both for thefortunate few and the meritorious many. Our challenge,our mission and our commitment is: Every student wetouch graduates.

opportunity to meet some amazing alumni. Recently,I had a wonderful talk with a prominent graduate whoretired as the senior vice president for one of the top

family to go to college, and he had a transformativeexperience here at Kent State. I hear that all the time.

Kent State is distinguished by the knowledge andcreative work generated by our researchers, architects,engineers, artists, poets and historians. Their workmakes all our lives better and richer.

history. A tragedy on our campus shook the nation andshaped our future. We thrive today because the lessonsof that day are more relevant than ever: that we avoid

and act with empathy and compassion.Shaped by the American dream, steeled by tragedy

and singular among universities in the lessons we canteach a divided nation—WE are Kent State.

Todd A. Diacon, PresidentEmail: [email protected], Twitter: @PresTDiacon

Kent Stateis a university with

unmatched potentialfor meaningful

impact in the stateof Ohio and beyond.”

Making a Difference

flash FORWARD

Goldwater ScholarsTwo Kent State University undergraduatestudents have been awarded prestigious2019 Goldwater Scholarships fromthe Barry Goldwater Scholarship andExcellence in Education Foundation.The foundation awards the scholarshipsannually to students studyingmathematics, natural science orengineering. This year they awarded496 scholarships, each for as much as$7,500 per year.

Hayley Shasteen, a junior from BerlinCenter, Ohio, is pursuing a dual degreein molecular and cellular biology andpsychology. She hopes to eventuallyobtain a doctoral degree in cognitiveneuropsychology and conduct researchregarding cognitive impairment in patientswith autoimmune diseases, with emphasison systemic lupus erythematosus.

Gracen Gerbig, a senior from Dover,Ohio, is studying cellular and molecularbiology. She hopes to pursue a doctoraldegree in microbiology, conduct researchin infectious disease and eventually teachat the university level.

Summer DiscoveriesSara RomanHometown: Wellington, OhioClass: JuniorCollege: College of Aeronautics andEngineeringMajor: Mechatronics EngineeringTechnology

Internship: Space Communicationsand Navigation (SCaN) InternProject, a paid internship hosted by

Cleveland, Ohio, for 10 weeks in thesummer, with potential continuationduring the school year. Students areintroduced to space communicationsand navigation knowledge andpractices, and they communicate

to NASA management. Each studentis paired with an experienced,multidisciplinary mentor whocounsels the student and helps withcareer planning.

Summer project: High Speed Delay-Tolerant Network Heat Sink andPackaging Plan, which will be sent upto the International Space Station.Roman worked on plotting where each

and taking precision measurements ofcomponents that need to be thermallyinterfaced with the cold plate on theInternational Space Station.Preparation: “Kent State provided mewith classes that built my skills froman early start, as well as teachers whoencouraged me to challenge myself inand out of the classroom. Without

apply to this NASA internship.”Key insight: “My internship helpedme discover a newfound passion forlearning, as I can now see how theprocesses taught in class are appliedto real-life problems. I have even beeninspired by my mentor, Norm Prokop,to pick up a programming minorbecause after working with him, Ihave learned how applicable the skillis to every project I encounter. Collegealways felt to me like the last steps ofeducation, just one more to go, but

larger world.”Future plans: “Besides looking to pickup a minor in computer science, I aminspired to continue my educationand pursue a masters and/ordoctorate after college.”

College alwaysfelt to me likethe last steps ofeducation, butnow I realize it’smy first step intoa larger world.”

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Megan Schinker (Stow, Ohio), got a jump onher peers by helping identify a tiny specimenof an extinct, 300-million-year-old, unknowncrustacean. While still a junior at Stow-Munroe Falls High School, she participatedin Kent State’s College Credit Plus ScienceExperience Internship program by workingin Kent State’s geology lab with RodneyFeldmann, PhD, a Kent State professoremeritus of geology, who continues to teachgraduate-level courses in paleontology andconduct grant-funded research.

Feldmann presented her with a tinycyclid specimen to identify, and Schinkerbegan comparing it to anything she could

find in literature and online sources. Thetwo requested samples and pictures oflost samples from all over the world andexamined them closely, cataloging theirphysical and structural attributes. Theycouldn’t find a match—and began exploringthe morphology of these cyclids.

Their research collaboration has led toarticles in several scientific publicationsand presentations on their findings—andignited Schinker’s passion for geology. Now afreshman at KSU, she plans to double majorin geology and chemistry and continue herwork in Feldmann’s lab.

While still in high school, Megan Schinkerseized on a research opportunity in Kent State’sgeology lab.

Michael Marhefka (Mansfield, Ohio)participated in the Young EntrepreneursAcademy, a national program offered forstudents in grades 6 to 12 who have a driveto launch their own businesses. A yearago, he created a clothing company thatgave back to Destiny Rescue, a Christianorganization dedicated to rescuing childrentrapped in exploitation and the sex trade.

His support of Destiny Rescue ledhim on a two-week adventure to theorganization’s headquarters in Cambodiaand Thailand. There, he discovered apassion for photography.

“This was my first time in a thirdworld country, and I was heartbroken bya way of life that I was previously oblivious

to,” Marhefka says. “I began taking photos,trying to remember every moment,journaling incessantly to preserve thesounds, the smells, the passion,the heartbreak.”

He returned from the journey with astrong desire to study photography andis a recipient of the Wallace J. HagedornScholarship in Photography in Kent State’sCollege of Communication and Information.

“I want to use my abilities as aphotographer to create new perspectivesin people around me,” says Marhefka,“and to help organizations such as DestinyRescue convey their mission and create aneed for change.”

Michael Marhefka discovered a passion forphotography through foreign travel and exposureto other ways of life.

Meet the Kent StateClass of 2023

More than 20,000 people applied tobe part of Kent State’s Class of 2023,and 4,270 now call themselves GoldenFlashes. Three of every 10 studentsare the first in their families to attendcollege, while 20 percent come from38 states outside of Ohio and from theDistrict of Columbia. The class alsoincludes 82 international studentsarriving from 29 countries.

Numbers aside, this incoming classarrives with a wide range of experiencesand backgrounds, as exemplified by thefollowing two students.

CLASS OF 2023BY THE NUMBERS

29 COUNTRIESOTHER THAN USA

REPRESENTED

1,280 FIRST GENERATION

39 STATESOUTSIDE OHIO

(38+ Washington, DC)


flash FORWARD

50th Commemorationof May 4, 1970The yearlong 50th commemoration of the May 4, 1970shootings at Kent State is well underway. Here are justtwo of the fall semester’s many highlights:

Voices for Change Educators Summit: The kickoff event ofthe 50th Commemoration year, the three-day 2019 EducatorsSummit at Kent State University, titled “May 4, 1970 Then & Now:Voices for Change,” took place from July 31 to August 2. It wasdesigned to prepare middle school and high school teachers toeducate students about the history and legacy of May 4, 1970,and to inspire a new generation of student activism.

One of the two featured speeches, which were free and opento the public, was “Facts are Stubborn Things: Kent State—theSixties at Fifty” by Thomas Grace, BA ’72, a historian, scholar,researcher, author of Kent State: Death and Dissent in the LongSixties (2016, University of Massachusetts Press) and one of thenine Kent State students wounded during the May 4 shootings.

The other featured speech, “I Am a Student—I Am a Voice forChange” was given by Sara Abou Rashed, a poet, motivationalspeaker and Syrian refugee who moved to Columbus, Ohio, withher family in 2013. Rashed’s work has appeared in more than 12publications, and most recently, she wrote and stars in her debutone-woman show, “A Map of Myself,” in which she discussesidentity, belonging, immigration and finding home.

Other presenters and speakers at the summit included AlanCanfora, BA ’72, MLS ’80, who also was one of the nine injured onMay 4; his sister, Roseann “Chic” Canfora, a longtime educatorand activist in Northeast Ohio; and Laura Davis, BA ’76, Kent Stateprofessor emerita of English and founding director of the May 4Visitors Center. All three were Kent State students on May 4, 1970.

Thomas Grace, BA ’72

Howard Ruffner, BS ’71

Sara Abou Rashed

Moments of Truth Book Launch: Howard Ruffner, BS ’71,was a college sophomore, working as a photographer for KentState’s student newspaper and yearbook, as well as a stringerfor Life magazine on May 4, 1970. During the September 19launch of his photographic memoir, Moments of Truth: APhotographer's Experience of Kent State 1970 (2019, KentState University Press), Ruffner highlighted several of thenearly 150 photos that appear in the book, including the onethat appeared on the cover of Life. Purchase a copy at www.KentStateUniversityPress.com at a 20 percent discount throughNov. 30, 2019 (promo code: FALL19).

By the end of the spring semester, Kent State will havehosted more than 100 events, speakers, programs andexhibits providing insight into the history of May 4,1970, its meaning today and its lessons for the future.

Visit the 50th Commemoration website www.kent.edu/may4kentstate50 to learn more about upcoming events.Check back often for updates as we continue to releasenew events and information.

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flash FORWARD

CELEBRATING 50YEARS OF GLASSKent State’s Studio Glass Program, one of thefirst of its kind in the country, was started in1969 by Henry Halem, professor emeritusand cofounder of the Glass Art Society.

To celebrate the program’s 50thanniversary, KSU’s School of Art Collectionand Galleries presented three exhibitionsfeaturing local and national artists (KentState Glass@50, Emerging Glass, TimStover (MFA ’13): Linear Integration) whichwere on view September through earlyOctober at galleries on and off campus.

In addition, the celebration includeda lecture, “The History of Kent State’sGlass Program,” by founding directorHenry Halem, a curator talk on Kent StateGlass@50 by current director and assistantprofessor Davin Ebanks and visiting artistlectures. See a video at www.kent.edu/magazine/glassprogram.

RankingsLGBTQ friendly: KSU named one of themost LGBTQ-friendly campuses in theUS by the Campus Pride Index.

One of best in fashion: KSU’s School ofFashion Design and Merchandising wasnamed one of the best fashion schoolsin the world for 2019 by world renownedfashion publication The Business of Fashion.

One of best in graduate schools: KSU’sSchool of Information (iSchool) recognizedas one of the nation’s top 20 graduateschools for its library and informationscience program by a US News and WorldReport study that examined 51 campuses.

AwardsWKSU wins awards: The radio stationreceived top honors for General Excellence-Radio for the fifth consecutive year fromOhio Associated Press Media Editors(OAPME), along with nine other awards forstand-out work created in 2018. WKSU alsoreceived 10 Ohio Excellence in JournalismAwards by the Press Club of Cleveland and10 Ohio’s Best Journalism Awards by theSociety of Professional Journalists.

Podiatric device wins prize: The “ShearForce Mat” podiatric device took top prizeat the Burton D. Morgan Foundation’sLaunchtown Soar Competition in April,

developed by an interdisciplinary teamfrom KSU’s College of Podiatric Medicineand the Advanced Materials and LiquidCrystal Institute.

GrantsStudent mental wellness: With a$375,000 three-year grant from the USDepartment of Health and Human Services,KSU’s Center for Public Policy and Healthwill partner with Black River Local SchoolDistrict and the Medina County Alcohol,Drug Addiction and Mental Health Boardto improve student mental wellness. Theproject, called Medina County Aware, will beled by associate professor Deric Kenne, PhD,and research associate Kim Laurene, PhD.

Suicide prevention: KSU’s Divisionof Mental Health and Substance Usereceived the Garrett Lee Smith CampusSuicide Prevention Grant for $306,000from Substance Abuse and Mental HealthServices Administration. The project, MoreAware, is a collaboration with StudentAffairs, University Health Services, StudentSupport Services and other divisionsacross Kent State, and is intended to raiseawareness and promote mental health forKent State students.

Educating Nigerian children: Aninterdisciplinary team of KSU faculty willparticipate in a $13.3 million grant from theUS Agency for International Development(USAID) to improve educational outcomesfor Nigerian children. The grant has beenawarded to the American University ofNigeria with partners Kent State Universityand Columbia University for a three-yearproject, “Addressing Education in NortheastNigeria.” KSU’s portion of the grant is$3.9 million.

Preserving the past: Kent State UniversityLibraries’ May 4, 1970 Collection wasawarded $30,561 through the Recordings atRisk grant program, funded by The AndrewW. Mellon Foundation to preserve audio andaudiovisual recordings contained in KentState University’s May 4 Collection.

Teaching English to Palestinianstudents: Kent State researchers wona diplomatic grant from the US Departmentof State to help Al-Quds University developEnglish courses for Palestinian students inbusiness and technology fields through aprogram developed by professor Sarah Rilling,PhD, and assistant professor Ryan Miller,PhD, in the Department of English’s TeachingEnglish as a Second Language program.

Noteworthy

A Time to GiveEvery fall since 2014, Kent State University celebratesphilanthropy for the entire month of November during its

recognized on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, whichfalls on Dec. 3 this year.

From student scholarships to research opportunities,from athletics to poetry programs and everything in

between, there are more than 40featured giving options across theKent State system. In additionto making individual donations,Kent State supporters can createindividual peer-to-peer fundraisingpages for the featured fund of theirchoice to help encourage theirfriends and family to support theuniversity, as well.

maximize the impact of their gift, as each featured fund hasmatching dollars—which means a gift of $50 becomes$100, a gift of $100 becomes $200 and so on. The featuredfunds are also eligible for many incentives throughout the

donors and gifts.

most generous annual tradition because there is an

students and friends,” says Danielle Hupp, senior associate

the impact that can be made in such a short amount oftime when people come together.”

Tuesday campaign has raised funds in support of more than50 areas throughout the university network. In 2018, Kent

with a grand total of $1,030,000 in gifts that came from allaround the world. Kent State Baseball raised the most fundswith $36,500, and Kent State Track and Field attractednearly 170 unique supporters.

How will you make an impact? You decide!

featured funds and support the one that matters to you!

flash FORWARDWe call the Giving Tuesdaycampaign our most generousannual tradition.”

—DANIELLE HUPP, senior associatedirector of Special Giving Initiatives

Kent State University’s new FedEx Aeronautics Academic Centerprovides a world-class training ground to help aviation studentsand future pilots soar to even greater achievements.

The sleek, modern learning center, made possible with giftstotaling $6.5 million from FedEx Corporation, was unveiled during agrand-opening event in September. The celebration showcased boldnew technologies and innovative teaching tools essential for world-class pilots of the future. The event finale featured a dramatic flyoverby Kent State alumni and student flight instructors.

The new 17,800-square-foot center is the second building forthe College of Aeronautics and Engineering, but the first located atthe Kent State University Airport in Stow, Ohio. The state-of-the-art learning facility—housing classrooms, collaborative spaces,briefing rooms, flight simulator rooms, and faculty and staffoffices—will allow the college to accommodate more students tomeet the growing demand for commercial pilots, predicted to bemore than 804,000 new pilots worldwide by 2038.

Kent State President Todd Diacon says the FedEx AeronauticsAcademic Center will accelerate the university’s commitmentto graduate aviation professionals able to lead and excel in thecomplex, rapidly growing global transportation sector. “We aregrateful that FedEx recognizes the value and impact our graduateshave in the aeronautics industry and their reputation for industrypreparedness and leadership.”

A student trains in one of the new flight simulators.

Accelerating Takeoff

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Enrollment in Kent State’s AeronauticsProgram has increased by 55 percentsince 2010, and this new space will allowthe university to continue to expand itsenrollment. “FedEx has made a long-terminvestment in our students,” says ChristinaBloebaum, PhD, dean of the College ofAeronautics and Engineering. “The FedExAeronautics Academic Center empowersus to broaden our educational reach,expanding student access to a nationallydistinctive education and innovative spiritwe inspire in our students.”

Above: The new FedEx Aeronautics AcademicCenter provides space for the growth of KentState’s Aeronautics Program.Below right: the Goodyear blimp pays a visitat the grand opening event.

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ranked Flight Technology programis one of only three nationwide thatDelta Air Lines selected this year tobecome a Delta Propel Partner, aprogram creating career

opportunities for students studyingto be commercial pilots.

Pilot Career Path Program, theairline will interview, help train andrecruit high-quality pilot candidatesamong Kent State students who

requirements. Delta will employsuccessful candidates as pilotsupon graduation from the FlightTechnology program, located in

and Engineering.

Partners in Flight


flash FORWARD

10 | KENT STATE MAGAZINE10 | KENT STATE MAGAZINE

Todd A. Diacon, PhD, became Kent State University’s 13th president on July 1, 2019. As the university’s provost since 2012, Diacon

(pronounced DIKE-en) has been a tireless advocate

and access, he has earned national recognition for his

academic achievement. He brings more than 30 years of experience in higher

coming to Kent State, he served as the deputy chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Amherst and spent 21 years at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, serving as a tenured professor, department head and vice provost.

We listened in on several of President Diacon’s recent interviews to learn more about him and to garner his thoughts on a variety of university issues.

Why did you want to be president of Kent State University? From having been here seven years as provost, I know that Kent State is a great place. I wanted to continue contributing to the success of a great university.

What is it about Kent State that you find special? With multiple campuses and degree programs that span from associate to doctorate—plus, particularly on our regional

uniquely positioned to be all things to all people, in a good way.

You speak often about the transformative power of education. What role did education play in your family? When I was named president, I thought about the powerful impact that education has had on both sides of

My mother’s side of the family are college educated individuals going back hundreds of years. Not only that, but my grandmother and my great-aunts all earned bachelor’s degrees and in the case of my great-aunts, master’s degrees right around World War I. So, on my mother’s side, I never was around anyone who wasn’t college educated; I grew up with that example.

At the same time, my father and his brother were the

in utter poverty in the panhandle of Oklahoma during the Great Depression. My grandfather, who died in 1929, was a gas station attendant. My grandmother took in people’s washing. My father made ends meet as a shoe-shine boy when he was a kid, and we still have his shoe-shine kit. He taught me how to iron because his job was to iron when his mother washed other people’s clothes.

Then at 17, my father joined the war in December 1941, after Pearl Harbor. He was in the Navy and saw

through undergraduate school and medical school in six years and became a physician. His life was transformed by education and higher education.

Part of the reason I got into higher education is

You are a historian and were a longtime history professor before you entered academic administration. What made you want to study history? I knew from the time I was about a sixth grader that I wanted to be a historian. I was always a reader. I grew up in a little town in Sumner County, Kansas—right on the Kansas-Oklahoma border—and I can remember clearly when we went to Wichita, and Wichita had a Macy’s and Macy’s had a book section.

There I bought a book on World War I that now,

became fascinated by World War I. I read that book from cover to cover, mapped out and drew the plans of various battles—and from that point on, I knew I was going to be a historian.

grew up on the Kansas-Oklahoma border. It actually has


Kent State’s newest president answers questions about his past, his present and his vision for the university’s future.By Lisa AbrahamPhotos by Rami Daud

I wouldn’t be sitting in this seat today if I hadn’t engaged in study abroad as a student. It opened my eyes to the world.”

— Todd A. Diacon, PhD

A DIALOGUE WITH

President Diacon at home in the president’s residence.

nothing to do with that, it has to dowith the impact of study abroad on meas a freshman in college.

How so? I studied for three weeksin Copenhagen, Denmark, as afreshman, and we studied the Danishpolitical system, Danish cultureand Danish arts. That opened up

a committed proponent of study

engaged in study abroad as a student.It opened my eyes to the world.

I see that kind of impact here atKent State. We have students who

been out of the country. Those arelife-changing experiences.

Kent State now has the secondlargest American universityenrollment in Florence, Italy. Wejust surpassed Syracuse Universityto become the second largest; NewYork University is the largest. Howgreat is that? We had 300 students

time when I got here seven years ago;

As a historian, what are yourthoughts on the upcoming 50thanniversary of May 4, 1970? You

understand the importance of May4th in the history of the UnitedStates, but I am a historian and Ido understand the seminal role that

history. For that reason, especially,it is my honor to be president duringa year when we commemorate thoseevents, those shootings, that tragedy.

When you look back on thenational conversation that was goingon at the time, you see how polarizedit was, how dangerous the publicutterances were on each side. Fast

a similar level of poisoned discourseand dialogue.

As educators, we are committedto learning lessons, and we have aunique opportunity over these nextmonths to teach the world about thedangers of polarization and poisoned

campus that include a seminar inour architecture program on howphysical space has shaped protest,

production of the musical Hair, andprograms sponsored by our School of

look at how nations, including ourown, recover from civil war.

Our unique opportunity is to applylessons of the past to a charged anddangerous situation in America today.

What is your vision for theuniversity’s future? I have threeinitial visions for Kent State.

One, I want Kent State to continuebeing a university that reaches new

heights of excellence, even while wehonor our history of accessibility.

over the decades has been educatingstudents—not all of whom come fromthe upper reaches of society; many

students—and then watching themdo great things. On the Kent Campus

generation and about a third are Pell

60 percent in both categories for ourregional campuses. My vision is tocontinue that.

Two, I want Kent State to continuebeing a university that explores the lifeof the mind—and we have this great

exploring how the mind works, even

President Diacon at home with his wife, Moema Furtado (who previously taught in KSU’s School of Art,curated the Uumbaji Gallery, and recently was senior international partnership coordinator for the Office ofGlobal Education), and their son, Natan Diacon-Furtado, an architect in New Orleans, who came for a visit.The couple met in 1986 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where they both earned master’s degreesand he earned his doctoral degree.

while we feed our soul with our greatarts programing.

Three, I want Kent State tocontinue achieving world-class

often see at universities. For example,we have the third-ranked fashiondesign and merchandising program

that program at most universities,and we are third in the country.

program and roughly 300 of our

airlines right now. We recentlycreated two new degree programsin aeronautical engineering andin mechatronics (a combinationof mechanical and electricalengineering). Enrollments in thoseprograms are growing and fundedresearch in those areas is increasing

We are regarded as the birthplaceof liquid crystal displays and arecontinuing to do innovative researchthrough the Advanced Materials andLiquid Crystal Institute.

scholars from around the world. They

program in library and informationscience. We have an excellent musicschool. We have one of the bestpoetry programs in America. Wehave wonderful musical theater andart departments.

We do all these great things.

in advanced materials and liquidcrystals and, at the same time, weexcel in the arts and in culture. I lovethat about Kent State.

So my vision is to continue withthe things that Kent State does reallywell and to enhance them.

How do you keep college affordablefor students?doubled the four-year graduation

graduation rate is now the same as sixyears. Through messaging to studentsand rethinking our academic policies,

13 Fast Facts aboutPRESIDENT TODD DIACON

Kent State’s 13th president is a noted Brazilian historian and—according to his Brazilian-born wife, Moema Furtado—speaksPortuguese better than most native Brazilians. We asked him tofill us in on a few more facts and favorite things.

1. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?Peeling potatoes at Kentucky Fried Chicken in Wellington, Kansas,my hometown.

2. WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE SINGER OR SINGING GROUP?The Grateful Dead

3. HOW DID YOU GET TO BE AN ELVIS IMPERSONATOR?I first dressed up like Elvis to celebrate Stephane Booth’s retirement,because she is a big Elvis fan.

Booth was an assistant professor of history at Kent State (1986-2002)and a longtime Kent State administrator.

4. WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?The Years of Youth by Phillip Shriver and Why this World: A Biographyof Clarice Lispector by Benjamin Moser.

Shriver’s book, a history of Kent State, was published in its semicentennialyear 1960; Clarice Lispector was a Brazilian novelist and short story writer,considered to be among the greatest women writers of the 20th century.

5. WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE AUTHOR?Ha Jin

Ha Jin is the pen name of Xuefei Jin, a Chinese-American poet and novelist.

6. ANY PETS?Not currently. Our dog, Smiley, died two years ago, and we haven’thad the heart to get another.

7. WHAT’S YOUR CURRENT RIDE?Tesla Model 3

8. FAVORITE SPOT ON THE KENT CAMPUS?The Brain

9. FAVORITE FOREIGN CITY?Rio de Janeiro

10. FAVORITE FLAVOR ICE CREAM?Coffee

11. FAVORITE COCKTAIL?Caipirinha

The national cocktail of Brazil is made from limes, sugar and cachaça (aBrazilian liquor distilled from fermented sugarcane juice) and served over ice.

12. WHAT HISTORICAL FIGURE, LIVING OR DECEASED, WOULD YOULIKE TO ENJOY THAT COCKTAIL WITH?Marechal Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon (I wrote a book about him.)

A Brazilian military engineer, Marshal Rondon led what came to beknown as the Rondon Commission in a massive undertaking: the buildingof telegraph lines and roads connecting Brazil’s vast interior with itscoast. Diacon’s book, Stringing Together A Nation: Cândido Mariano daSilva Rondon and the Construction of a Modern Brazil, 1906-1930 (DukeUniversity Press), received the Warren Dean Prize for the best bookpublished in 2003-04 on the history of Brazil.

13. FAVORITE QUOTATION?The old Brazilian saying, “For my friends, everything. For my enemies,the rules.”


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improving our completion rates, so Iam exceptionally proud of that.

The single best thing you can do tocontrol the cost of higher education isto graduate in four years. One of thebiggest problems we face as anation is student debt. But the biggesttragedy we face are students who

If you borrow $25,000 andgraduate, we know that over the course

a million or more because of that

But if you take out loans and then

and the training and the knowledge tomake the additional income to recoup

What is your favorite thing aboutbeing president so far?

Part of it is meeting great students, so

appreciation for the impact that KentState has on not just Northeast Ohio,but all of Ohio and even the countryand the world. For example, you thinkabout the fact that we graduate somany great nurses and we dominatenursing in Northeast Ohio—andNortheast Ohio dominates healthcareworldwide because of the ClevelandClinic and University Hospitals.

the most, so far, is realizing what apowerhouse university we are.

President Diacon’s first meeting as president was with the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce and cityleaders. Here, he shares a table with Kent City Manager Dave Ruller, whom he meets with monthly totouch base and discuss opportunities that benefit both the university and the city of Kent.

Kent State first year students kick off the schoolyear at the University Library’s pizza party,where they had the opportunity to pose for aphoto with Elvis, aka President Diacon, and pickup a t-shirt.

The single bestthing you can do

to control the costof higher education

is to graduate infour years.”

— Todd A. Diacon, PhD

6


1 Kent State University enjoys goodrelations with the city of Kent. The universityand the city are linked by Ohio Rt. 59, whichbegins just outside of Ravenna and endsin downtown Akron. This state route is just22.99 miles long. How many of those milesare in the city of Kent?

A. 5.87 milesB. 6.32 milesC. 7.20 milesD. 8.14 miles

2 When it comes to places to eatdowntown, Ray’s is a favorite hangout forKent State students. When did Ray’s beginfeeding the Kent community?

A. 1935B. 1936C. 1937D. 1939

3 Kent State has more than 11,500parking spaces on campus. How many ofthose are reserved for students only?

A. 4,800B. 7,000C. 8,600D. 10,000

4 The black squirrel is Kent State’sunofficial mascot. We all have probablyheard it was introduced to campus in the1960s from Canada. What year was the blacksquirrel brought to campus and how manywere brought here?

A. 12 squirrels in 1964B. 10 squirrels in 1963C. 12 squirrels in 1962D. 10 squirrels in 1961

5 Our official mascot is Flash the GoldenEagle. But before we settled on Flash, we hadseveral other mascots over the years, whichincluded all but one of the following. Whichone was NEVER a Kent State mascot?

A. A DalmatianB. A silver foxC. A cave manD. A horse

6 For years, first-year students wereissued a blue and gold beanie to wear thatmarked them as freshmen on campus byupperclassmen. The beanies were knownas ‘dinks.’ What year marked the first time afreshman class was not issued dinks?

A. 1966B. 1967C. 1968D. 1969

7 What were Kent State’s original colors?A. Green and whiteB. Orange and blueC. Blue and whiteD. Green and gold

8 Our support for diversity at Kent Stateis longstanding. Perhaps our most famouspoint of pride is Dr. Oscar Ritchie, who, whenhe was appointed a full-time faculty memberhere, became the first African American toserve on the faculty of any predominantlywhite university in Ohio. What year was Dr.Ritchie appointed to our staff?

A. 1946B. 1947C. 1950D. 1951

9 Diversity at Kent State includesreligious diversity, too. Our current facultyand teaching staff—including adjunctprofessors and graduate assistants—includes at least one Christian minister, oneJewish rabbi, one Muslim Imam, and howmany Catholic nuns?

A. 1B. 2C. 3D. None

10 This academic year we commemoratethe 50th anniversary of May 4, 1970. Over theyears, much has been written about May 4,from plays to poems, novels to investigativetextbooks. Approximately how many bookshave been written about May 4?

A. 50B. 70C. 90D. 100

11 President Todd Diacon took over aspresident of Kent State on July 1, 2019. Whowas the longest serving president of KentState?

A. John McGilvreyB. George BowmanC. Michael SchwartzD. Carol Cartwright

12 Which Kent Campus building isthe oldest?

A. Lowry HallB. Moulton HallC. Kent HallD. Merrill Hall

13 Pictured (below left) is a photo oforiginal Kent farm buildings, with Kent Statebuildings in the background. Where is this?

A. What is now the entrance toKent State

B. The newest Starbuck’s locationC. Kent City Manager Dave Ruller’s

new officeD. Both B and C

14 Kent State has worked diligently toincrease its four- and six- year graduationrates and is proud to award record numbersof degrees. In the 2018-19 academic year,how many degrees did we award?

A. 8,512B. 8,922C. 9,042D. 9,915

“So You Think You Know Kent State?”New President Todd Diacon was the speaker for fall semester’s Bowman Breakfast, an event sponsored by KentState and the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce to bring together people from the university and the city of Kent.During his talk, President Diacon presented a trivia quiz that audience members could take by downloading anapp on their phone. We’ve adapted it for readers of Kent State Magazine who may not have been able to attend theevent. Let’s see how well you know Kent State!

1) B. Rt. 59 in Kent begins at the Stow line. From there to the border of FranklinTownship in the east is just 6.32 miles.2) C. 1937.3) B. 7,000 of our 11,500 parkingspaces are reserved for students.4) D. In 1961, 10 black squirrels were brought here,and they have done a good job of multiplying over the last 58 years.5)A. Flash wasa dog at one time, but he was a golden retriever, not a Dalmatian.6) D. The dinkstradition ended in 1968.7) B. In the 1910 State Charter, Kent State’s school colorswere designated as orange and blue. But when the basketball uniforms were sentto a local laundry the hot water turned them gold and blue. The team and studentbody liked the new colors, so they adopted them instead.8)B. Oscar Ritchie Hallwas named in his honor in 1977, 30 years after his appointment and 10 years after hisdeath in 1967.9) B. Sister Joann Caniglia, of the Dominican Sisters of Peace of Akron,is an associate professor of teaching, learning and curriculum studies in the College

of Education, Health and Human Services. Sister Mary Theresa Sharp, of the Sistersof Notre Dame in Chardon, is an associate professor of mathematical science in theCollege of Arts & Sciences.10) C. According to the May 4 Archive at University Libraries,approximately 90 books have been written on May 4, 1970, including poetry, novels,textbooks and historical nonfiction. As more books are expected to be publishedduring the anniversary year, that number is expected to grow to 100 or more.11) B.George Bowman, for whom the Bowman Breakfast is named, served for 19 years, from1944 to 1963. Presidents McGilvrey and Cartwright each served 15 years, and PresidentSchwartz, nine years.12) D. Merrill Hall was built in 1912. Lowry Hall was built shortlyafter and was the first dormitory on campus.13) A.14) D. 9,915 degrees includingassociate, bachelor, master, education specialist, doctorate, professional andcertificates. That’s nearly 10,000 degrees!

ANSWERS

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Antwan Dixon beat arare disease. Now he

does the heavy liftingfor others in need.

By April McClellan-Copeland


I n summer 2016, when a rareand serious blood disorderstruck Kent State football wide

receiver Antwan Dixon, it could haveended his college football career.

Dixon had made his debut atKent State in fall 2015 by scoring a20against Delaware State, and duringhis rookie season he led the Flashes inreceiving yards (355 on 26 catches).

Then a recurrence of aplasticanemia, a condition that occurswhen the body stops producingenough new blood cells, forced himto leave school for treatment. Doctors

blood disorder—which can causeexhaustion, high risk of infectionsand uncontrolled bleeding—when hewas 16, attending South Fort MyersHigh School in Florida.

During his second go-round withthe disorder, his weight dropped to125 pounds, he was hospitalized,and he underwent chemo treatmentsbefore receiving a life-saving bonemarrow transplant from his father,Anthony, in April 2017. He returnedto Kent State in January 2018 anddoctors cleared him to play sixmonths later.

With grit and determination,Dixon fought his way back to thegridiron for the fall season.He led the team with 52 catches, themost by a Kent State player since2014team with 532 receiving yards.

“I had a lot to prove to myself,”he says. “I felt like I had to comeback and show people that I hadnot given up, that I was performingbetter than before.”

unnoticed. In addition to beingone of three athletes to receivethe 2018 Mayo Clinic ComebackPlayer of the Year Award, he wasnamed 2018 Male Athlete of theYear by the Touchdown Club ofColumbus and nominated for the2018 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award.

he says his illness has proven to be acatalyst that challenges him to push

“One out of every million teensget this disorder,” Dixon says. “Allmy awards are a blessing, but myblood disorder is a blessing, too. Itis something that makes me pushmyself harder.”

“It is great to have [Antwan]Dixon back,” says Head Coach SeanLewis. “He has a full year under hisbelt; more importantly, a full year ofgrowth and training. He has worked

am excited to see what he can do withhis mental and physical development.His energy and the excitement hebrings on a daily basis is contagious.”

Dixon recently demonstratedthat enthusiasm as he championeda cause in which he believes. In July

, as he trained for the upcomingfootball season, he served as a leaderfor the Kent State football chapter of

inaugural Lift for Life fundraiser tosupport the rare disease community.

catalyst for the medical community

200,000 Americans and typically

and market new treatments, according

The event was a competition

defense to see who could averagethe most repetitions lifting 225-pound weights.

“This is a rare event,” Dixonnoted on Instagram prior to thecompetition, “where we raise money

hospital bills and people who haverare diseases like mine.”

Dixon, who previously had been a11th Uplifting Athletes

Rare Disease Champion Award, ispresident of the Kent State chapter,and teammate defensive back JamalParker is vice president. Both liftedduring the event.

How did Dixon—who ismajoring in organizationalcommunication with a minor

in psychology—make such a strongcomeback to Kent State with enoughvigor to attend classes, play collegefootball and lead a charity event?

“I have been following theplans from my coaches and doingeverything they ask me to do,” hesays. “They want the best for us—thebest training facilities, the best foodplans and the best practice plans. Ifollow the process that the coach hasmapped out for us.”

Dixon fell in love with footballat the age of four, when at 6 a.m. onSaturday mornings he would wakehis dad to play football. Now hecontinues to have tremendous supportfrom his parents and extended family.

During the 2018 season, hisgrandmother surprised him byattending a game against HowardUniversity, but he did not get to playbecause of a hip injury. His mother,Shemariah, and his aunt came to seehim play in the Ole Miss game laterin the month.

Now embracing his senior year as

that he is back—all the way back.“This year [ ] will be a

year to know who Antwan Dixon isand who the Kent State Flashes are,”he says with a smile.

All my awards area blessing, but myblood disorder isa blessing, too. Itis something thatmakes me pushmyself harder.”

How the Rising Scholars Program at Kent State helps promising students from lowsocioeconomic backgrounds get on track for a productive future.

By Jan Senn and Julie Miller, BS ’87

On a morning in July, a group of seventh graders, attendinga weeklong summer workshop through Kent State’s RisingScholars Program, are taking a tour of Coldwell Tree

Farm. The farm, which includes 620 acres of certified woodlands insouthern Columbiana County, is owned and managed by Dave andLisa Coldwell and their three grown sons.

The Coldwell family intensively manages their tree farm fora combination of timber production, wildlife habitat, forestryconsulting services, salvaged lumber and live edge wood slabsales, education and community outreach.

Tour leader Jed Coldwell shows the students how to use atree scale stick to measure the diameter and height of standingtrees. Measuring tree girth is a common educational techniquethat enables students to learn about their local environment ina practical manner. Woodland owners and foresters take suchmeasurements periodically to monitor tree growth and makemanagement decisions.

Tree farming is not about a quick sale; it takes patience andplanning. The Coldwell family currently plants more than 3,000 treesa year—but what they plant this year won’t be ready to harvest for80 years. It’s a slow process, but they do it to protect the land, towatch something grow and to plan for future generations.

In that sense, the process of tree farming is an apt metaphorfor Kent State’s Rising Scholars Program, which supportsunderserved students in grades 7–12 who have been identified bytheir middle schools as having the potential to be the first in theirfamilies to complete a four-year degree—an outcome that wouldbe life changing for future generations.

Putting a tree scale stick into students’ hands and showing themhow to use it passes a baton to the next generation. It’s a tangiblemeans of emphasizing the importance of basic math skills andencouraging students to care for their local environments.

And, just as woodland managers take measurements tomonitor growth and make decisions, Rising Scholars managers

At the end of the program, the goal is for students to enroll in college or technical school, enlist in the military or enter the workforce.


At a summer workshop, seventh grade Rising Scholars are taught how to use a tree scale stick to measure the diameter of a tree by Jed Coldwell of Coldwell Timber Consulting, LLC in Columbiana County.

use an evidence-based approach to measure the program’s growth, evaluate its effectiveness and make a case for its continued expansion (see chart on pg. 23).

The program, known as Rural Scholars when David Dees, PhD ’00, dean and chief administrative officer of the

Columbiana County campuses, created it at the Kent State Salem campus in 2011, was renamed Rising Scholars when rolling it out to the other Kent State regional campuses.

In the program, eligible middle school students are nominated by their teachers and guidance counselors at the end of the sixth grade to take part in the program, which combines mentoring with community and corporate assistanceto create a support system that prepares the young adults for life after high school.

Beginning in the seventh grade and continuing through high school, students in the program receive a combination of individual mentoring, career and college-knowledge workshops and structured program guidance as they work toward specified program outcomes.

The five core outcomes are listed as being: successful students, engaged learners, workforce ready, socially savvy and committed to community.

Program participants who attend Kent State University may receive scholarships and work in the program as mentors, receiving support on their college journey while also giving back by becoming role models to younger students in the program.

The program specifically addresses the workforce ready and brain drain issues that many Ohio communities face. Program activities are designed to teach young adults the skills necessary to succeed in life after high school, and the program promotes a commitment to community service.

The hope is that students who have gone through Rising Scholars will attend Kent State, but the program is designed to help each student find a suitable vocation or career. At the end of the program, the goal is for students to enroll in college or technical school, enlist in the military or enter the workforce.

B ased on the program’s success at the Columbiana County campuses, Kent State decided to

implement Rising Scholars at all regional campuses, beginning in fall 2019. “When fully implemented, the collective impact of the Rising Scholars Program over Northeast Ohio will be significant,” says Nathan Ritchey, PhD, vice president for Kent State System Integration. “Our regional campuses are small, but together our resources, talent and footprint are quite impressive.”

Ritchey is convinced the timing is right for this program to expand across the Kent State system. “When we look at educational attainment in our region, we see that there are many gaps that affect economic development, personal stability and the overall health of the communities we serve,” Ritchey says. “Through the success of the Rural Scholars Program at our Columbiana County campuses, we are confident that we can begin to address these important societal issues.”

W hen it comes to finances, Dees says providing a free education for qualified Rising

Scholars is not as expensive as it may sound.

“Many of these students, because of their background, qualify for a lot of financial aid—Pell Grants and things like that,” says Dees. “When I first started the program, I thought the secret was to get the college paid for. But eight years later, looking back, I see the most important thing is the mentors. The mentors are the secret sauce; those are the individuals who keep the students on the right path all the way.”

In addition to mentors, support from community members is essential. “The importance of private support cannot be overstated,” says Stephen Sokany, vice president of Institutional Advancement. “We have been successful raising initial funds for the Columbiana County program and are looking forward to this program being elevated to a cross-university priority.

“Thanks to the performance-based results from the existing Columbiana County program, we have a great narrative to show the communities surrounding our other regional campuses. It’s easy to see how this program can change lives and lift up the community.

“I believe each campus is eager to roll this out—and we need philanthropic support to make that happen.”

When the program is fully implemented, Kent State will have the capacity to assist nearly 1,000 underserved students from seventh grade through bachelor’s degrees, Ritchey says. “We are reaching students long before they enter college with a program that ensures they are ready for college in terms of academic preparation, finances and confidence. This program is a game changer.”

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Morgan Briand (at right) with one of her mentees, Kaitlin S., an eighth grade studentat Leetonia Middle School.

Kent State’s Rising Scholars Programat Columbiana County campuses (EastLiverpool and Salem) recognized its secondgraduating class in April 2019. After six years ofcomprehensive educational experiences,15 area high school seniors who participated inthe program graduated.

To mark this milestone, a celebrationwas held on the Kent State Salem campus torecognize students who have completed theprogram. David Dees, PhD ’00, dean and chiefadministrative officer of the Columbiana Countycampuses, presented each scholar with a stolethat could be worn at his or her high schoolgraduation ceremony.

M organ Briand was beginning seventh grade when

Anderson Junior/Senior High School in Lisbon,

in trouble or if there was a problem of some sort,” recallsBriand, who had just moved to Lisbon from Leetonia.

had been selected by teachers at her school to be part ofthe Rural Scholars Program, whose purpose is to identify

path toward higher education and careers.After six years of participating in the program, Briand

graduated high school in 2018 and enrolled at the KentState University at Salem campus, where she is mentoringnew scholars in the program and majoring in businessmanagement—a path she chose after talking with agentsat an insurance agency she visited with other scholars

She will transfer to the Kent Campus to complete the lasttwo years of her degree.

“Before I got into this program, I was really shy and

part of Rising Scholars taught me about career paths thatI never would have thought of on my own and helped mewith my personal skills, like just talking to people.”

Through her years in the program, Briand realized

places in the world. “I knew I wanted to give back in someway,” she says. “Wanting to be a mentor pushed me to be a

example for my mentees. When they see that I went throughthe program and am overcoming my challenges, it makesthem realize they can do the same.”

go to college without this program and, knowing what I knownow, I realize I had a lot to learn before I ever got here.

“Even my parents see a big change in me—I am goal-oriented and much stronger as a person. Rising Scholars haschanged my life.”

Scholar and Mentor

Wanting to bea mentor pushed meto be a better personand to do betterin school. Now I’msetting an examplefor my mentees.”

—MORGAN BRIAND, 2018 RisingScholar Program graduate, mentorand sophomore at Kent StateUniversity at Salem.BO

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Any story of a student who navigates successfully from highschool to college is heartening for David Dees, PhD ’00,dean and chief administrative officer of the Columbiana

County campuses, who created the Rural Scholars Program atthe Kent State Salem campus in 2011. He had started thinkingabout the need for such a program in the early 2000s, partly as areflection of his own journey as a college student.

A self-described “rural Appalachian hillbilly from Kentucky,”Dees was in college at the same time as his mom and brothers.He earned a bachelor’s degree in communications with a minorin biology and a master’s degree in theatre from the Universityof Kentucky. After short stints as a college football coach, discjockey and theatre teacher, he went on to earn a PhD in culturalfoundations of education from Kent State University.

Along his educational journey, he experienced many of thechallenges that first-generation college students face: beingunfamiliar with academic terms, feeling reluctant to ask for helpor talk with professors, struggling with the time commitment andnavigating the system and the culture change with family andfriends who weren’t able to assist with the process.

“Although my family was supportive, when I went away tocollege, I was getting lost in the shuffle, and I was struggling,” saysDees. “Even then, I thought, ‘There’s got to be a better way to helpstudents navigate from high school to a university or college.’”

That thought kept coming up as he became a professorand later an administrator. One of his graduate students wasinterested in college access and studied programs across theUnited States that focused on rural or urban students. The two

of them wrote a white paper in the early 2000s, taking the bestideas from those programs and creating a system to increasecollege access, retention and graduation rates. Although theirconcept—which included mentoring in middle school—waspowerful, financing remained a stumbling block.

Then, while Dees was working at the Kent Campus directingthe Center for Teaching and Learning, a colleague suggested heapply for an AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America)grant to help implement the program. He received the grant,and Americorps VISTA volunteer Wendy Pfrenger came to helphim create the community partnerships and program designnecessary to support the program’s first cohort of admittedseventh graders in fall 2012.

“We went to the community and asked, ‘What are theissues in Columbiana County that we, as a university, can helpserve?’” says Dees. “And they told us, ‘We are losing our best andbrightest; we have high-paying jobs we can’t fill; we need moreeducational opportunities; we need kids who are ready for theworkplace—not just ready for college, but ready for whatever isnext in life.’

“To build the program, we took the best practices and ideasfrom programs around the country we had identified throughresearch and put them together with the community input we hadobtained over yearlong conversations.

“I think that’s why we’ve had so much success. We did ourresearch, we followed through, and we had a lot of communitybuy-in for what we were trying to accomplish.”

The mentorsare the secretsauce; those arethe individualswho keep thestudents on theright path allthe way.”

—DAVID DEES, PhD ’00, dean andchief administrative officer,Columbiana County campuses

Founder and Facilitator

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D 18, could be a poster child forthe Rising Scholars Program, even though he grewup prior to its founding.

He started out as a mentor in the program threeyears ago, while he was studying psychology at KentState University at Salem, and his psychology professor,Rachael Blasiman, PhD, recommended him. After

May, he became a master mentor to coach new mentorsand assist with programming. Recently, he was namedinterim program director for the Rising Scholars Programat the Columbiana County campuses.

Scholars, it resonated with him. “I immediately fell in love

devoted to helping kids.”

start. Both he and his older brother, A.J., were removed fromtheir biological mother and stepfather when he was sevenyears old and his brother was eight. They were placed in agroup home before going to live with foster parents Richardand Kathryn Larabee, of Muskegon, Michigan. The coupleadopted them at ages 11 and 12, when their biological

retired, and both have since passed away.

memory ever present, having tattooed reminders of themon each of his forearms. On his left forearm is the logo ofthe Detroit Tigers in memory of his dad, who was a Tigersfan, along with his initials, RAL; on his right forearm isa lilac blossom in memory of his mom, who loved lilacs,along with her initials, KLL. His parents gave him aloving, stable home, but both of them had worked

college admissions process.

Larabee joined the military and was in active dutyfor eight years, stationed in Alaska and Kentucky, withthree tours in Iraq during that time. After meetinghis wife, Katie, who is from Ohio, the couple movedto Columbiana County six years ago when he left themilitary. Katie Larabee, who recently gave birth to theirsecond son, is taking courses at Kent State Salem inbusiness management and is also a mentor in the Rising

all these life experiences,” says Larabee of his new position.

guide me, to having the right people come into my life at

pizza delivery, telemarketing, cook in a hospital kitchen,military and college student. So in this program, I want toshare my experiences with the students and give them an

can live an amazing life without it. But the experience ofgoing to college is what got me to where I am today.”

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Proponent and Program Director


In this program, I wantto share my experienceswith the students and givethem an idea of what’savailable out there.”—DONNY LARABEE, BA ’18, interim programdirector, Rising Scholars, ColumbianaCounty campuses

This summer, tenth grade Rising Scholars participated in a workshop titled “Locationology” andlearned about regional enterprise and the economy, as well as geology, astronomy, geography,archaeology and history. Above, they are helping identify different species found in river water at alocal park during a lesson on soil and water conservation.

Read with them every daywhen they are younger;keep them in the habit ofreading as they get older.

Encourage them toparticipate in a varietyof extracurricularactivities, allowing themto be involved in theircommunity.

Talk to them abouttheir interests; help themlook into related careers.

Check in on their academicprogress using onlinetools like ProgressBook,an integrated studentinformation and learningmanagement program.

Push them to takechallenging classes ratherthan seek easy As; makesure they are meetinghigh school requirementsfor graduation andcollege readiness.

As they get older,accompany them oncollege visits and help themmake the decision that isbest for them.

See bigfuture.collegeboard.orgfor more checklists and advice.

Learn more aboutRising Scholarsat www.kent.edu/supportrisingscholars

HOW TO HELPYOUR CHILDRENGET ON TRACKFOR COLLEGE:

The Rural Scholars Program assesses the developmental assets of program participants via an annualhealth and wellness survey. Results are extrapolated and compared with the participants’ peerswithin Columbiana County. Rural Scholars students outperformed their Columbiana County peers onboth internal and external developmental assets as indicated on the chart above, which gives just asample of the findings. See the complete 2018-2019 Rural Scholars Impact Report at www.kent.edu/supportrisingscholars.

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Select Developmental Assets

Columbiana County 2018 Rural Scholars 2018

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

PersonalPower

33%

71%

CulturalCompetence

40%

97%

Resolution

42%

74%

AchievementMotivation

72%

91%

Leah Cavanaugh (Richmond, Ohio)Senior (dual major, environmental conservation

biology and environmental studies)Tropical Field Biology Research Program

Winter break, December 2017-January 2018La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Small But Dangerous“On a tour our first day there, the La Selva

Biological Station staff pointed out thisbaby eyelash viper, one of Costa Rica’smany native venomous snake species.

This one was so small we hadn’t noticedit, even with its bright yellow coloring. InLa Selva, my research group studied the

effect of forest complexity on the diversityof herpetofauna [reptiles and amphibians

of a particular region] in a secondaryforest, which made this observation of

an eyelash viper exciting!”

Acacia Freeman (Westerville, Ohio)Senior (major, applied communication;minor, advertising)RA International Exchange ProgramNovember 2018Melbourne, Australia

Loch Ard Gorge“Ten resident assistants (RAs) were thefirst group from Kent State chosen to goon an RA International Exchange trip for aweek in November to learn about residenceservices at Deakin University in Melbourne,Australia—and their resident leaders (RLs)came to see us for a week in June. It wasa great experience, and we still talk witheach other on a regular basis. During ourtime in Australia, we got to go sightseeing.This photo [taken at Port Campbell NationalPark, Victoria, Australia] is of one of theprettiest beaches I have ever been to. Thewater was extremely blue, but ice cold.”

Each year, Kent State students participate in off-campus study away/study abroadprograms and internships in locations across the country and around the world.And they take photos—lots and lots of photos. Here are just a few shots studentsshared with us from the past year.


Show Us Your Best Study Away/Study Abroad Shot!

With study away/study abroad programs in place for majors from accountingto zoology and numerous places to go, we’re sure you have taken someamazing photos over the years. Current students and alumni are invited toenter our Study Away/Study Abroad Photo Contest by July 1, 2020, for yourchance to win a $25 Amazon gift card. Entries will be judged by UniversityCommunications and Marketing staff photographers and by popular vote.

Selected photos will be published in the fall/winter 2020-21 issue ofKent State Magazine.

Submit your high resolution photo and fill out the requested form atwww.kent.edu/ksuphotocontest.

Pacifique Niyonzima, MA ’19 (Rwanda, Central Africa)(Major, higher education administration with certification ininternationalization)“Rwanda After Genocide” courseSpring semester 2019Rwanda, Central Africa

Helping Hands“In summer 2018, I received an internship at the University ofRwanda to establish a mutual partnership between KSU and theUniversity of Rwanda. On my return, I connected with Dr. LeslieHeaphy, a professor of history at the Kent State Stark campus,who designed a study abroad course to focus on the eventssurrounding the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda, my native country,and how the country and people have searched for peace andreconciliation since.

I organized all of the activities to meet the learningoutcomes of the class and led a group of 13 KSU students,who arrived in Rwanda on March 22, 2019, for 10 days. Theyparticipated in activities and lectures at the University ofRwanda, public institutions and private organizations. Thisphoto shows the soil-stained hands of the KSU students andother volunteers who took part in a local community serviceknown as “Umuganda,” a national cleanup day, which happenson the last Saturday of every month.”

Nathaniel Bailey (Kent, Ohio)Senior (major, journalism)2019 Reinke Grant for Visual StorytellingSummer 2019Harrison County, Kentucky

High Startle Response“As a 2019 Reinke Grant Recipient, my goal was to documentthe people and places of Harrison County, Ky. Here, OdenOraelosi and Parker Harris of Lexington, Ky., react as airportchairman Bobby Craft sends his plane into a dive during theYoung Eagles event at the Harrison County Airport. The twoboys were making noises into the headset, and Craft put theplane into a dive to quiet them down.”

BOB

CHRI

STY,

BS

’95

The new director of theAdvanced Materials andLiquid Crystal Institute seesa broader, even brighterfuture for the institute.

By Lisa Abraham

Future


“He has demonstrated a true commitmentto multidisciplinary collaborativeapproaches to answering importantquestions, which is a major goal of thisinstitute,” adds DiCorleto.

A native of Germany, Hegmann wasworking as an associate professor ofchemistry at the University of Manitobain Winnipeg, Canada, when he came toa seminar at Kent State’s Liquid CrystalInstitute in 2011. He learned of thestate-sponsored Ohio Research Scholarsprogram to attract young internationalresearch talent to the state, applied andwas hired the same year.

Hegmann says coming to theLiquid Crystal Institute was an excitingopportunity: “This is where a lot of theresearch in this field started.”

Kent State’s Liquid Crystal Institutewas founded in 1965 by Glenn H. Brown,a chemistry professor and pioneer inthe field of liquid crystal research; laterthe institute was named in his honor. Itis regarded globally as the birthplace ofliquid crystal displays and the world’s firstresearch center focused on the basic andapplied science of liquid crystals.

In fall 2018, the Liquid Crystal Institutewas renamed the Advanced Materialsand Liquid Crystal Institute and its focusexpanded to include a broad array ofadvanced materials research and science.

“Liquid crystal research is partof the backbone of Kent State,” saysKent State President Todd Diacon. “Dr.Hegmann understands its importanceto the university’s history and shares mycommitment that Kent State remain aworld leader in the research of the newestphases of advanced materials science.”

The Hegmann Group research labalready has cross-collaboration expertisein medicine, pharmacology, nanochemistryand engineering; and Hegmann says akey goal will be encouraging the instituteto work collaboratively with morenontraditional partners.

Those partners will include biologists,materials chemists, biophysicists,engineers, members of Kent State’s DesignInnovation group and the university’sBrain Health Research Institute, of whichHegmann is a member.

“Some of my own research is innanomaterials used for drug delivery to thebrain,” he says. “There are, perhaps, many

more connections we can make betweenthe brain and materials science, especiallyliquid crystals, which are regarded as amodel system for cell membranes.”

Hegmann says he is looking forward tothe “collaboratories” in the terrace levelof the Integrated Sciences Building (to becompleted in fall 2020)—spaces wherescientists from various fields can worktogether and conduct joint research acrossmultiple disciplines.

Demonstrating the benefits ofmultifaceted research that crosses varieddomains will take the institute to a higherlevel, he says, and is key to increased funding.

“We need to build critical mass inother materials research domains tocomplement our existing liquid crystal, softmatter expertise.”

Learn more about Kent State’s AdvancedMaterials and Liquid Crystal Institute atwww.kent.edu/amlci.

The flat screen television on yourwall, the laptop on your desk andthe smartphone in your pocket

may be the first items that come to mindwhen you think about liquid crystaldisplays. Yet the future of liquid crystalscience is heading in new directions,predicts Torsten Hegmann, PhD, who wasnamed the new director of the AdvancedMaterials and Liquid Crystal Institute(AMLCI) in July, after a national search.

“Liquid crystal research is movingmore toward biology and materials thatrespond to their environment in unique andunexpected ways,” he says. “These are thenew frontiers for the field.”

Hegmann, who has been associatedirector of the institute since 2018 and afaculty member at Kent State since 2011,says the future of liquid crystals will be itsapplications in biology and medical scienceas well as sensors and active, responsivesystems—already part of his research.

“Dr. Hegmann is a highly accomplishedresearcher in the fields of liquid crystals aswell as biomaterials and nanomaterials,”says Paul DiCorleto, PhD, vice president forResearch and Sponsored Programs at KentState. “He has not only made importantcontributions to our fundamentalknowledge in these fields, but he has alsoshown entrepreneurial spirit and a passionfor the societal impact of his research.”

DiCorleto notes that Hegmann hascofounded a company [with his wife, EldaHegmann, PhD, assistant professor ofbiological sciences], Torel LLC, that usesliquid crystal sensors to detect toxic gasesand vapors, which can help save the livesof firefighters and other first responders.

Liquid crystal researchis moving more towardbiology and materialsthat respond to theirenvironment inunique and unexpectedways. These are thenew frontiers forthe field.”

— Torsten Hegmann, PhD

Dr. Hegmann’s maingoals for the AdvancedMaterials and LiquidCrystal Institute:

INCREASING the institute’sdistinctive role in the futureof liquid crystal and materialsscience to inspire a higher level of competitiveness forresearch funding.

STREAMLINING andmodernizing the look of theinstitute’s buildings andlaboratories, so that they reflectmodern materials science.

ELEVATING the level ofsymposiums held at Kent Stateto national and internationalprominence beginning in 2020.

RENEWING the researchinfrastructure so that allinstruments and equipment arestate-of-the-art. The purchaseof such equipment will be tied tobetter fundraising.

We asked current students for a list of top things they think every Kent State student should dobefore graduation. How many items on the list can you check off? How many do you even recognize?

Illustrations by Jason Zehner

LISTBUCKETSTATEKENT

Sample andStroll downtown KentOrder a late-night treat at Insomnia CookiesHave a drink at Ray’s PlaceGet a grilled sandwich at Twisted MeltzFind your bliss at Peace, Love and Little DonutsBuy fresh produce at the Haymaker’s Farmer’sMarket (Saturdays)Create a costume for Kent HalloweenDress in green for Fake Paddy’s DayCelebrate our nation’s independence at Kent Heritage Festival

Explore the Kent CampusAdd another layer of paint to the RockGo sledding on campusFeed a black squirrelVisit the May 4 Visitors CenterVisit the Fashion MuseumVisit the Herrick ConservatoryHang out on the Student GreenDine at Rosie’s after midnightSee what’s on every floor of the Kent State University LibraryWalk the Lefton Esplanade from Risman Plaza to downtown Kent


Be your Best selfJoin a student organization or twoVolunteer for Super Service SaturdaySign up for supplemental instruction or tutoringGo on an Alternative Spring BreakParticipate in a Peer Leader Training CourseFind your niche with an Involvement Expert(Center for Student Involvement)Polish your prose at Writing CommonsTake a Financial Literacy Workshop

AttendKent Campus Events

Check out the Black Squirrel FestivalCelebrate HomecomingCatch a movie at Real Late ReelsStart off the new school year at BlastoffCheer on the Golden Flashes at anathletic eventWatch a Dive-In MovieSee a show at the Center for thePerforming ArtsGive something back at a fraternity/sororityphilanthropy event

Practice wellnessStroll by the Cuyahoga River downtownWalk the stairs of the Kent State University Library(tallest building in Portage County)Travel the Portage County Bike and Hike TrailKayak the Cuyahoga River with CrookedRiver AdventuresPlay intramural or club sportsSkate at the Ice ArenaClimb the Rec Center’s rock wallRun a 5K on campus: Bowman Cup, BlackSquirrel or Run the World

Make a friend in each classGet to know your academic advisorChat with your resident assistantSnap a selfie with President DiaconDrop in during your professors’ office hoursGive Flash the Golden Eagle a high-fiveJoin a team at a Hackathon

Meet and greet


StarkJoin first-year students for the lightning bolt photo during SmartStart OrientationChomp on homemade chips at the Emporium GrilleAttend at least one Featured Speaker presentationTake in the campus wildlife at the Pond and Wetlands Research AreaVolunteer at one of the longstanding community events, Boo Uor Earth DayStudy by the clock in the heart of campus

East LiverpoolEat lunch at theHot Dog ShoppeTalk to the ghosts inthe Mary Pat BuildingSit at the wharf and watch boatsand barges on the Ohio River

SalemIgnore the “No Fishing” signs at the pondFeed and/or dodge the geeseGather around the fireplacein Centofanti HallTry to figure outthe numberingsequence for theclassrooms

Regional Campuses

TuscarawasEnjoy a Broadway show, comedy act or musicalentertainment at the Performing Arts CenterDesign and 3D print something funin the MakerspaceRecord a video, song or a narrativein the Video2Go Studio


Score Yourself50 - 73 You’ve totally embraced the Kent State community.25 - 49 Maybe you’ve spent a little too much time studying.15 - 24 You really ought to get out more.1 - 14 Are you sure we’re talking about the same place?

0 “I just picked this up in my doctor’s waiting room. Who are you people?"

What did we forget? Send us your list at [email protected]!

AshtabulaGrab your books, walk across the street toLake Erie and study on the beachTake a selfie with friends—or with Flash—in front of the “Wave Wall”Meet your friends and classmates atHarbor Perk or another great spot onBridge Street

Regional Academic CenterAttend Twins Days in Twinsburg(first full weekend of August)Eat lunch on the patio to enjoy freshair between classes

GeaugaVisit the GreatGeauga County Fair(and the KSU Geauga Booth!)on Labor Day weekendGo to a pancake breakfast in Burton(Sundays in March), the heart of maplesyrup countryPlay in the faculty/staff vs. students kickballgame each fall semester

RAM

I DAU

D

Jerry Pohmurski, BS ’88, was among the early pioneers of Wi-Fi—and he’s not done tinkering with it yet.

By Deb McGuinness, BA ’78


For many of today’s college students,there has never not been Wi-Fi.That amazing, ubiquitous wireless

technology that makes our laptops portableand our movies streamable has only been inexistence since 1998, thanks, in part, to JerryPohmurski, BS ’88.

A self-proclaimed “radio geek,” hewas interested in ham radios and radiofrequencies from an early age. His father,Joseph Pohmurski, was a professor ofengineering at Kent State from 1969 to 1987,and Jerry Pohmurski grew up tinkering withequipment and components.

After graduating from Kent State witha degree in engineering, Pohmurski wentto work at a small start-up company inCleveland that was trying to integrate cellphone technology into a laptop.

When that company ran out of money,he ended up at a company called Telxon inAkron, Ohio, that made electronic handhelddevices used for inventory control inwarehouses. Telxon spun off another radio-based division called Aironet, also basedout of Akron, that focused on wirelessdata communication.

“They wanted us to find a way totransfer the barcode data collected onthe handhelds’ backup to their mainframecomputer without using a physical dockingdevice, using radio waves instead,”says Pohmurski.

“We wrote a little software program todo that and tested its limits by playing videogames to see how much data it could handlewithout crashing. Video games chew up a lotof bandwidth. Basically, we broke it and thenfigured out how to fix it, time and time again,until we could send larger and larger amountsof data at faster and faster speeds.”

In 1995, Pohmurski became the liaisonbetween Telxon and Aironet, which was partof a consortium of companies working on theoriginal spec for Wi-Fi—there are hundredsof names on the spec called 802.11B.

“We were conducting interoperabilitytesting so that different devices could talk toeach other,” he says. “That’s easy to do

within one company, but we have to be ableto talk to many different systems in the worldand interact with them. We ran teststo ensure that everything worked together toget the spec to finally go through.”

Wi-Fi wasn’t actually called “Wi-Fi” inthe beginning; it was known by the acronymWECA (for Wireless Ethernet CompatibilityAlliance - 802.11B direct sequence). By2000, Pohmurski was working as anengineering manager for Cisco, which hadacquired Aironet that March.

“Needless to say, my boss at Ciscowanted a name that was a bit more flashy,”he says. “He hired a marketing firm,Interbrand, to come up a better name, andthey came up with seven options, one ofwhich was Wi-Fi.”

When his boss went to Seattle to pitchMicrosoft, he gave them the names. “Ithink Bill Gates was the one who pickedWi-Fi,” Pohmurski says. “The thing is, itdoesn’t really stand for anything. It wasjust a take-off on hi-fi [high fidelity]. Just acatchy name.”

A lthough he got to know manyof the people working on Wi-Fidevelopment and remains friends

with several of them, Pohmurski, one ofthe top experts in 802.11 wireless test andquality, says none of them thought Wi-Fiwould become the commodity that it is now.

“We never, ever thought that thetechnology would be in such wide use asit is today. It just never occurred to us,” hesays. “We didn’t start out to do what it hasbecome today, it just happened. In 2003,when people started using it in their homes,is when it really took off.”

Pohmurski and his co-workers haveformed lasting relationships that havespanned many years. They play in bandstogether and golf together.

“I met so many cool and smart peoplewho could do all kinds of amazing things,”he says. After several years with Cisco,then directing new product developmentat a communications company, Pohmurskiworked as a consultant and is now officially“retired.” But lately his friends have reachedout to him to work on some new applicationsfor Wi-Fi.

“I have some ideas I’d like to explore,”he says. “So many things have been createdas an offshoot of Wi-Fi, especially in themedical field. We’ll throw them against thewall and see what sticks. Should be fun.”

Pohmurski is keeping those ideas underhis hat for now, but stay tuned. The futureis still being made in Wi-Fi, so don’t besurprised if the name Jerry Pohmurski popsup again as part of the “next big thing.”

A sample of early models of Aironet wireless devices.

Jerry Pohmurski stands in an anechoic chamberat the Cisco Richfield facility. Anechoic means“without echo.” An anechoic chamber isa room designed to completely absorb reflectionsof either sound or electromagnetic waves.

Basically, we brokeit and then figuredout how to fix it, timeand time again, untilwe could send largerand larger amountsof data at faster andfaster speeds.”

alumni LIFE

The morning kicks off with the 19th Annual Bowman Cup 5K Race. Named after formerKent State President George Bowman, the chip-timed race started and ended in frontof the Beverly J. Warren Student Recreation and Wellness Center.

Alumni, family and friendsenjoy the festive WelcomeHome Party hosted byKent State Alumni at theCenter for Philanthropyand Engagement. Thecarnival-style eventincluded food, giveaways,games—and a lot of fun.

Kent State President Todd Diacon, this year’s Homecoming Grand Marshal, and hiswife, Moema Furtado, lead the Homecoming Parade as they ride down Main Street ina 1969 Oldsmobile.

As the bell tolls 12:30 pm, couples who feel Kent State played an important role in theirrelationship kiss on the “K” at Risman Plaza, serenaded by the Kent Clarksa cappella group.

Kent State President Todd Diacon poses with 2019 Homecoming Royalty RobbySpeaks and Haylee Hoyt. The Homecoming Court—more than 30 representativesfrom all Kent State campuses—were recognized at the game.

The Kent State Golden Flashes ring the Starner Victory Bell after winning the2019 Homecoming Game 62-20 over the Bowling Green State University Falcons.

Kent State celebrated Homecoming on Saturday, Sept. 21, asKent State alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff and the communitytook part in one of the university’s long-standing traditions.


class NOTES1950s

Harvey Dunn, BBA ’59, Encino, Calif., wrote:“My book, AttentionSeniors: A Complete Guideto Wealth and Happinessin Your Retirement,contains four manuscripts:1) “How to become amillionaire at the age of80” (I just need 45,000

more copies of my book sold to become one!);2) “The 12 things to do in retirement to makeyou a happier person”; 3) “How to still behappy after 55 years of marriage” (fact orfiction?); 4) “How a sense of humor will addyears to your life: My 35 years as an MC at theworld-famous Laugh Factory comedy club inHollywood.” Available on Amazon or on myhome page, harveydunnbooks.com.”

Donovan Kline, BBA ’57, Hendersonville, NC,wrote, “As one of six diplomatic couriers duringthe Cold War years of the 1950s, I’m on avideotape of our experiences traveling behindthe Iron Curtain, which will be availablepermanently for public viewing at the DiplomaticCenter Museum at the State Department inWashington, DC.

Between 1957 and 1977, I traveled 1,813,357official miles on 326 trips (from 1 to 59 days) to140 countries, including 32 trips to Moscow byair and rail. Personal travel during 12 years ofliving overseas took my total mileage over twomillion miles.”

1960sLance Buhl, BA ’61, Rockville, Md., is a retiredbusiness and nonprofit executive andconsultant. He earned a PhD in Americanhistory from Harvard in 1969, taught history atNew Bedford Institute of Technology (now theUniversity of Massachusetts, Dartmouth),Harvard and Cleveland State University(where he served as assistant dean of Artsand Sciences and founding director of theCenter for Learning).

From 1981 to 1993 he served as programofficer, manager and then director of BritishPetroleum’s corporate contributions program inthe United States, where he created andmanaged the company’s programs in urbanrevitalization. Since leaving British Petroleum, heas provided consulting services to some 60foundations, corporations and nonprofits.

From 2002-11 his work was based at DukeUniversity and included being deputy director ofthe United States–Southern Africa Center forLeadership and Public Values, a partnershipbetween the Sanford School of Public Policy atDuke University and the Graduate School ofBusiness at the University of Cape Town.

He has written extensively in each career.Currently he is a busy retiree, living in aretirement community just north of the Districtof Columbia.

David Parkinson, BBA ’67, Belvedere Tiburon,Calif., received a Silver Rose Award, given bythe Legion of the Silver Rose to Vietnam Warveterans exposed to Agent Orange dioxinswhile serving in the war. One of the missions of

the Legion of the Silver Rose is to informVietnam veterans of the importance of yearlymedical exams to detect potential AgentOrange-related illnesses.

Barbara (Hille) Sposet, BA ’68, PhD ’97,Strongsville, Ohio, marked50 years in teaching inMay 2019. She taught inBrooklyn City Schools(Ohio) for 32 years andcurrently is a tenuredprofessor of education atBaldwin Wallace

University in Berea, Ohio.

David Duda, BS ’68, Cooper City, Fla.,received the G. Harold Martin Award,presented by the International Swimming Hallof Fame, Inc. (a nonprofit educationalorganization in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) for longand exceptional leadership, insight anddedication to the water safety of children andthe cause of making Every Child A Swimmer.

Since 2010, he has been an adjunct collegeprofessor at Broward College, where heteaches sport, recreation and fitnesscurriculum. The founder and CEO of MDMAquatics/Safety Training and Consulting,Duda’s focus is to teach aquatic skills tochildren and mentor instructors in diversepopulations to help reduce child drownings.

Flash MobWhen the Antonczak family gets togetherfor a family reunion, the theme is always thesame—blue and gold. This flock of Flashesincludes seven members who are all KentState alumni, including three who marriedother Flashes.

Parents James Antonczak, BA ’80, andMichelle (Cligrow) Antonczak, BSN ’81,Olmsted Twp., Ohio, met their first weekat Kent State in 1976 at an ice cream socialduring freshman orientation. Michelle wasplaying the piano when James walked overand told her she was a lovely pianist. Thirty-five years later, they are still a happy “Kiss onthe K” couple.

James and Michelle’s son, AndrewAntonczak, BS ’08, met his future wife, Lisa (Thumm) Antonczak,BSN ’10, at the Zephyr Pub on a blind date in 2007 set up by a mutualfriend while they were both in school. They were married in 2012. Lisais a nurse practitioner, and Andy is a pilot for Spirit Airlines, based in Ft.Lauderdale, Fla.

The Antonczak’s daughter, Andrea (Antonczak) Tyrell, BSE ’15, mether husband, Matthew Tyrell, BBA ’15, at Kent State, as well. Theymet online when Andrea noticed a picture of Matt sitting in a Kent Stateairplane (her brother, Andrew, was Matt’s flight instructor). Their firstdate was at Taco Tonto’s, topped off by a visit to the Victory Bell on the

KSU Commons. Both graduated in 2015 and were married in 2016.Andrea is a children’s book author, and she and Matthew are also bothemployed at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.

Finally, James’s brother, John Antonczak, BS ’66, was a proud KSUalumnus who worked for more than 40 years as an aeronautical engineerin General Electric’s Aircraft division, before passing away in 2018.

The Antonczak family still enjoys participating in activities at KentState—walking the grounds of the Kent Campus, visiting facilities likethe May 4 Center and joining in on university events like the BowmanCup 5K. This family is the epitome of “Flashes Forever.”—Deb McGuinness, BA ’78

Pictured left to right (in 2015): Andy Antonczak, Lisa (Thrumm) Antonczak, Jim Antonczak, ChelleyAntonczak, Andrea (Antonczak) Tyrrell and Matt Tyrrell


alumni LIFE


Roberta De Pompei, BS ’64, MA ’69,Stow, Ohio, (dean emerita, College of HealthProfessions, and part-time instructor at TheUniversity of Akron), and Jean (Prinzo) Blosser,MA ’74, South Pasadena, Fla., (president ofeducational consulting firm Creative Strategiesfor Special Education), coauthored PediatricTraumatic Brain Injury: Proactive Intervention(3rd Ed), released by Plural Publications, SanDiego, Calif., in January 2019.

They both completed master’s degreesin speech-language pathology at Kent StateUniversity, and became colleagues at TheUniversity of Akron, where they researchedthe effects of brain injury on children andadolescents and how they could be reintegratedinto home, school and community.

The book, which provides practicalrecommendations for assessing andtreating children and adolescents who havesustained a head injury, can be found at www.pluralpublishing.com, with a 15 percent discountto Kent State University students and alumniusing promo code AP2013. Pictured (l to r):Jean (Prinzo) Blosser and Roberta De Pompei.

1970sAnita Bixenstine, MA ’70, PhD ’89, andhusband, Edwin Bixenstine, PhD, Kent, Ohio,celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary at afamily event in March 2019. She was an HonorsCollege advisor at Kent State from 1969 to 1990,and he is a professor of psychology (emeritus)at Kent State, who retired in 1984. They have 14grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

John Carden, BS ’70, MS ’72, Liberty Lake,Wash., a licensed professional geologist inthe state of Washington, has over 35 yearsof experience in exploration management,teaching and research. He has been a directorof Paramount Gold Nevada Corp. since February2015 and a director of Paramount Gold and SilverCorp. from September 2006 through completionof a merger with Coeur Mining Inc. in April 2015.

He received his doctorate in geology from theGeophysical Institute at the University of Alaskain 1978. Since 2001, he has been a geologicconsultant and a director of a number of juniorresource companies. From 2010 to the present,he has been a consultant to Otis Gold Corp.

Stanley Harrold, MA ’70, PhD ’75,Orangeburg, SC, professor of history at SouthCarolina State University, recently publishedAmerican Abolitionism: Its Direct Political Impactfrom Colonial Times into Reconstruction(University of Virginia Press, April 2019). Itprovides the only systematic examination of theAmerican abolition movement’s direct impactson antislavery politics from colonial times to theCivil War and after. He is also the author,recently, of Lincoln and the Abolitionists (ConciseLincoln Library, March 2018) and Border War:Fighting over Slavery before the Civil War(University of North Carolina Press, reprintedition, February 2013).

Donna Krause, BS ’70, Wausau, Wis., wrote,“I ran for and was elected the Marathon CountyBoard Supervisor for District 10. MarathonCounty, known as the ginseng capital of theworld, is the largest county in Wisconsin andincludes many small rural towns,manufacturing businesses and dairy farms. TheMarathon County Board is the largest countyboard in the United States with 38 county boardsupervisors. We now have nine women on theboard. In addition to attending the monthly fullboard meetings, I serve on the seven-memberHealth and Human Services Committee forMarathon County.”

Bart Bixenstine, BA ’71, Cleveland, apartner at Vorys, Sater, Seymour andPease LLP, and a former KSU board member,received the Distinguished Honors AlumniAward from the Honors College in April 2019.He periodically teaches a course at Kent Stateon the First Amendment.

Michael Chanak Jr., BS ’71, Cincinnati, Ohio,appears in the P&G-commissioneddocumentary, Out of the Shadows: RiskingTheir Careers in the Name of Equality, whichdebuted at the Cannes Lions InternationalFestival of Creativity in June 2019.

The short film, created by P&G in partnershipwith Great Big Films, picks up where theiraward-winning 2018 documentary The WordsMatter: One Voice Can Make a Difference, left off.

The Words Matter documents Chanak’s rolein getting P&G to add “sexual orientation” to itsdiversity policy in 1992. (See http://bit.ly/thewordsmatterfilm.) Out of the Shadowshighlights the courageous employees whopersevered for 10 more years to gain domesticpartner benefits and turn the tide of prejudicein the company and community.(See http://bit.ly/outoftheshadowsfilm.)

Chanak’s efforts were also listed in theCincinnati Enquirer’s coverage in June 2019 of“Stonewall Riot 50th anniversary: The momentthat changed gay life in Cincinnati.”(See http://bit.ly/stonewallanniversary.)

Norman Macklin, MA ’72, Rensselaer, NY,received a doctorate degree in ministry fromEvangelical International College and Seminaryin Tacoma, Wash., in June 2014. Macklinwas consecrated a bishop in the Baptistdenomination in October 2017.

Richard (Rico) Hawkes, BS ’73, Ellenton,Fla., wrote, “I am currently senior director ofoperations risk/safety for Field Entertainment,Inc., the world’s largest producer of liveentertainment, based in Palmetto, Fla. Since1992, I have produced all aspects of Supercross(motocross racing in major stadiums) andMonster Jam (monster truck performances instadiums, arenas, fairgrounds, both domesticand international). I have been working on theproduction and safety side of these live eventsfor more than 50 years.

“My time in Kent (1969-1976) was turbulent,but rich and rewarding. May 4, 1970 (my 19thbirthday) was an eye-opening experience, onethat is indelibly etched onto my heart.

“The times following these events wereexciting as I watched a country deal withinevitable changes. Being with the on-campustelevision station, I was introduced to DickGregory, Julian Bond, Buckminster Fuller,Andrew Young, John Froines, attorney WilliamKunstler, and also had the advantage ofproducing live coverage of the many on-/off-campus activities that seemed to happenalmost daily.

“Whenever I’m in Ohio, I always find time tovisit the Tree City. Wow . . . all of the changes!”

Carter Strang, BS ’73, MEd ’79, Cleveland, apartner at Tucker Ellis, LLP, and president-elect ofthe Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation, wasinducted into the Cleveland-Marshall College ofLaw (C|M|LAW) Hall of Fame on October 25, 2019,in recognition of his contributions to the successand reputation of C|M|LAW. He is a Cleveland-Marshall Leader-in-Residence and a member ofits Visiting Committee.

Elizabeth (Sappenfield) Blakeslee, BA ’74,Washington, DC, wasappointed by the mayor tothe District of ColumbiaReal Estate Commission.The Commission regulatesthe licenses of professionalreal estate agents andprotects consumers by

upholding the District of Columbia real estatelicense law.

Mark Landers, BBA ’74, Dayton, Ohio,would like to connect with former friends andclassmates. Please email [email protected] to get in touch.

Larry Lapidus, BS ’74, Poland, Ohio, iscelebrating his 42nd year of providing mentalhealth counseling services. He was honoredwith a Distinguished Alumni Award throughYoungstown State University CounselingDepartment’s 50th AnniversaryCommemoration in April 2019.

James Vittek, AA ’75, BS ’75, MEd ’76,EdS ’78, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, enjoyed longcareers as a writer and psychologist. Duringretirement, he earned a Doctor of Ministryfrom the Ashland Theological Seminary inAshland, Ohio. Also during retirement, herenewed his love of animals; he has fourCavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Paul Hedeen, BA ’76, Monroe, Mich.,published his second novel, The Butterfly, onFebruary 21, 2019. Hedeen is an award-winningprofessor and writer and a Fulbright scholar. Hisother publications include a poetry collection,Under a Night Sky (Final Thursday, 2016); anovel, The Knowledge Tree (Wide Water, 2013),another poetry collection, When I Think aboutRain (Final Thursday, 2009); and a coeditedcollection of essays, Unrelenting Readers: TheNew Poet-critics (Story Line, 2004).

Richard Breedon, BS ’77, PhD ’88, Davis,Calif., wrote, “I retired as a research professoremeritus from the University of California, Davis,in 2016. I then spent two years teaching highenergy particle physics at Yale-NUS College inSingapore. From there, I took my students tovisit the CERN laboratory in Geneva,Switzerland, where I remain a member of theCompact Muon Solenoid experiment on theLarge Hadron Collider.” [Check out a story fromhis freshman year at KSU above.]

Mark Flash, BBA ’77, Bay Village, Ohio,was appointed executivedirector of the LakeHealth Foundation,responsible foroverseeing the fundraisingand philanthropicactivities of thefoundation. Flash is a

member of the Association of FundraisingProfessionals, a trustee for the Bay VillageFoundation and philanthropic advisor for theBay Village Food Project.

Cheryl Lewis, MA ’78, Cleveland Heights,Ohio, wrote, “I’m a proud and grateful graduateof Kent State University. I attended graduateschool in the Department of History, where Iwas mentored by the best professors/scholarsand fellow students. Best years of my life!”

Ruth Ava Lyons, BFA ’78, Charlotte, NC,has been selected for a 2019 residency withThe Arctic Circle, thearticcircle.org, alongwith scientists, researchers and other artistswho will participate in an expedition to theNorth Pole. Her work can be seen at HidellBrooks Gallery in Charlotte and at www.ruthavalyons.com.

Robert Steffen, BS ’78, Spring Green, Wis.,retired after a 40-year advertising career.Most recently, he was senior director–brand campaigns at Carter’s, Inc. in Atlantaand was previously at Lands’ End inDodgeville, Wisconsin.

Virginia Schaefer Horvath, MA ’79,PhD ’84, Fredonia, NY,retired as president of SUNYFredonia on July 1, 2019,after more than 40 years ofservice and leadership inpublic higher education. Afirst-generation student, shewas the first female

president of Fredonia when she officially steppedinto the role as the university’s 13th president onJuly 1, 2012. Prior to coming to Fredonia as vicepresident of academic affairs, she taught in theEnglish department at KSU for several years andserved as dean of Academic and StudentServices for Kent State’s regional campuses andassistant to the president for strategic planning.

Ivan “Tex” Gilmore, BA ’76, Washington,NC, retired on St. Patrick’s Day, March17, 2019. During his career he served onthe North Carolina Board of Licensing ofGeologists for six years, the North CarolinaMining and Energy Commission for fouryears and the Board of Directors of theAurora Fossil Museum for 16 years. He waschief geologist and superintendent of mineplanning at the world-famous Lee CreekMine for over 30 years. During his 42-yearcareer as a professional geologist, Gilmorewas awarded the John T. Galey public serviceaward in 2007 by the American Institute ofProfessional Geologists and the United StatesCongressional Achievement Award in 2006.

Stamp of Approval?“I went to Kent State starting in 1973 becausemy father was an assistant dean in the Collegeof Arts and Sciences. The activities offeredfor one night during Freshman Week werea reception upstairs in the Student Unionfeaturing the university president, Glenn A.Olds, and a welcome party downstairs at theRathskeller pub.

“I attempted to enter the Rathskeller, but at thetime I was 17 years old. The bouncer at the door,who was a Delta Tau Delta fraternity brother ofmy sophomore older brother, recognized me ashe checked my ID and said I could not come inbecause I was underage. Instead of stampingthe back of my hand, he playfully stamped myforehead and, forgetting this, I resigned myselfto attending the upstairs reception.

“At the reception, I first met my father’s boss,the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.I next shook hands and briefly talked withPresident Olds, who told me he knew myfather. I then recognized one of my father’sstudent office assistants. She was there withher parents, and I was introduced and sat downwith them. After a short time, she leaned overtoward me and whispered, ‘Do you know that itsays “F#@* You” on your forehead?’

“Immediately after I graduated from KSU, Iended up working directly for President Oldsat his next position as president of what wasthen called Alaska Methodist University inAnchorage for most of 1978 before I went tograduate school in upstate New York. I neverbrought up this particular incident with him.”— Richard Breedon, BS ’77, PhD ’88,Davis, California

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Dennis O’Connell, MA ’79, and Janelle(Pohlman) O’Connell, MA ’79, Abilene,Texas—both professors of physical therapy atHardin-Simmons University (HSU) in Abilene,Texas—were selected to receive the AmericanPhysical Therapy Association (APTA)Humanitarian Award, which honors “individualswho exemplify the compassionate nature of thephysical therapy profession by activelyexpressing a commitment to humanity andexhibiting admirable degrees of selflessness inaddressing key health concerns.”

The O’Connells started the HSU PhysicalTherapy ministries in 1999 and have ledstudents on annual mission trips to servecitizens locally, state-wide and abroad. Theaward was presented by APTA’s Board ofTrustees during the APTA NEXT conference andexposition in Chicago in June 2019.

Michael Tewell, MA ’79, Palm Harbor, Fla.,wrote: “I received my Juris Doctor degree fromThe George Washington University NationalLaw Center [now known as The GeorgeWashington University Law School] in 1982, andI have been a member of the Florida Bar since1983. I retired in 2016 after 25 years as anassistant public defender in Florida’s Pinellasand Pasco Counties.

“In my recent self-published book,Immortality: The Science of Forbidden Fruit, Ipresent a compelling theory that ourmemory-encoded personalities are preservedafter our bodies die. The book is available inpaperback and ebook through most majordistributors, including Amazon andIngramSpark. Contact [email protected] to inquire about my availability for lecturesand speaking engagements.”

1980sDavid Malick, BA ’80, Birmingham, Ala.,

joined as partner in theBirmingham office ofWeinberg Wheeler HudginsGunn & Dial, a national trialfirm. He representsemployers and companies indefense of various types oflitigation. Prior to attending

law school, Malick was a professional musicianand played for Tony Bennett, Bob Hope, DizzyGillespie and President Ford, among others. Hereceived a Master of Theology in Bible Expositionwith honors from Dallas Theological Seminaryand a law degree from Capital University Law.

Daniel Taliano, BS ’80, Sheffield Village,Ohio, retired in February 2018 from 25 years inthe exhibit industry.

Steve DeBolt, BS ’81, Reynoldsburg, Ohio,was sworn in as the village administrator inHebron, Ohio—known as the “historiccrossroads” of Ohio—after serving similarroles in Shawnee Hills, Ohio, and WhisperingPines, NC, and as safety/service director inReynoldsburg, Ohio. He received an MPA in1988 from the University of Toledo, earned thedesignation of certified public manager at theOhio Certified Public Management consortiumand is a graduate of the Public ExecutiveLeadership Academy at the University of NorthCarolina, School of Government in Chapel Hill.

Jeffrey Kurtz, BA ’81, MA ’89, Ravenna,Ohio, was inducted into the Northeast OhioAthletic Director’s Associations Hall of Fame inApril 2019.

Pamela Gent, MEd ’83, PhD ’96,Youngstown, Ohio, wasnamed provost andacademic vice president ofClarion University,beginning in December2018. Gent, who came toClarion in 1988 as anassistant professor in the

Department of Special Education andRehabilitation Sciences, had served as interimprovost since summer. Gent will continue tooversee $42.9 million in budgets; academicplanning and curriculum development; andrecruitment, hiring and staffing.

Adele Green, PhD ’84, Washington, DC, waspresented with the Albert Nelson MarquisLifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who’sWho as a leader in the fields of education andpsychology. She specializes in assessinglanguage, attention, executive functioningdisorders, learning disabilities and emotional/social challenges in children (ages six andabove), adolescents and adults.

Sherri Lewis, BS ’84, Columbus, Ohio,wrote: “After 32 years of teaching in ColumbusCity Schools, I retired in 2017. I am enjoyingretirement and being a grammie to twolittle grandsons.”

Mark Stockman, BArc ’84, MArc ’86,Lakewood, Ohio, a partnerin the ConstructionPractice Group at FrantzWard LLP in Cleveland, wasrecognized in the 2019edition of The Best Lawyersin America in the practicearea of Real Estate /

Construction. His article, “Building onBlockchain: Considering potential applicationsin design & construction” was published in theFebruary 2019 issue of Properties magazine.

Brian Wilson, BA ’84, North Canton, Ohio, ofBrian Wilson Law Offices, was recognized withthe Esther S. Weissman Optimist Award from theOhio Association for Justice. The award,presented in May 2019 during their annualconvention in Columbus, Ohio, honors a triallawyer who demonstrates relentless resolve andundying enthusiasm in the face of seeminglyinsurmountable odds. Wilson, who has beennamed to the Ohio Super Lawyers list from2008-2019, has litigated and tried personalinjury cases throughout Ohio and has arguedtwo cases before the Ohio Supreme Court.

Amy Butler, BS ’85, Elyria, Ohio, was namedassociate superintendent for secondary schoolsfor the Diocese of Cleveland, Office of CatholicEducation, where she will lead the system thatencompasses 20 secondary schools in thediocese, including 15 that are independentlyowned or sponsored by religious orders.

Tim Fry, BS ’85, Summerton, SC, haspublished his first novel, The Truth and Nothingbut the Truth: A Fictional Adventure of Findingthe Truth in a Dark World (Christian FaithPublishing, June 2018). An engineeringtechnology graduate, he currently worksin manufacturing, developing products fororiginal equipment and replacement tires.

Patrick Liverpool, DBA ’85, Henrico, Va., hasbeen named interim provost and vice chancellorof academic affairs at North Carolina CentralUniversity. He began his tenure on June 1, 2019.Most recently, he served as provost and vicepresident for academic affairs at the Universityof Maryland Eastern Shore.

Earl Miller, BA ’85, Somerville, Mass.,professor of neuroscience at MIT, was awardedthe 2019 George A. Miller Prize in CognitiveNeuroscience for his innovative research.

Sandra (Halman) Ranck, BSN ’85,Ashtabula, Ohio, was reappointed to theOhio Board of Nursing for four years, term2019-2022.

John Hale, AAB ’86, East Liverpool, Ohio,wrote: “I was named publisher of Herald-Star(Steubenville, Ohio) and The Weirton Daily Times(Weirton, W.Va.) on November 7, 2018. I amemployed by Ogden Newspapers and have over33 years’ experience in the newspaper industry.”

Bradley Pees, BBA ’86, Alexandria, Va., wasnamed lead–federal and state tax controversyat Nestlé in October 2018. He was recentlyelected as 2019/2020 Region 8 VP by the TaxExecutives Institute.

Peter Zeidner, BBA ’86, Kent, Ohio, receivedthe Cathleen Lyle Murray Foundation Award atthe American Academy for Cerebral Palsy andDevelopmental Medicine annual meeting inOctober 2018—selected for his impact onsociety through humanitarian efforts toenhance the lives of persons with severemultiple disabilities. Zeidner, significantly


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impacted by cerebral palsy, started thePedal-with-Pete Foundation (PwP) in 1993 withthe goal to raise $1,000,000 for cerebral palsy(CP) research, which he reached in 2015.Pedal-with-Pete is now at $1.2 million andcounting for funding CP research projectsnationally and internationally.

In 2016 Zeidner completed his autobiography,It Sucks to be a Gimp: Pedaling to Freedom(Lulu.com, July 2016), and turned over thepublishing and profits to Pedal-with-Pete. [Werecently learned that Peter Zeidner died onMarch 15, 2019.]

Carolyn Robinson, BA ’87, MA ’14, Wooster,Ohio, has been awarded an eight-monthinstitutional journalism fellowship at theDonald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute at theMissouri School of Journalism. Robinson, oneof seven fellows chosen for the 2019-20 class,is the regional director of newsroom practicechange for the Solutions Journalism Network,an organization that trains journalists to coverhow and where people are effectivelyaddressing important community problems.

Lori Saidleman-Yoh, BA ’87, Milford, Ohio,has joined The Kenwood by Senior Star,Cincinnati, as assistant executive directorand director of health services. She hasmore than 29 years of experience in thehealthcare industry.

Andre Burton, BA ’89, Cleveland, hasbeen appointed vice president for humanresources and diversity at Northeast OhioMedical University. He previously served inthe role as interim vice president. Burtonearned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice

from Kent State University and a JD fromCleveland-Marshall College of Law at ClevelandState University.

Mike Hermann, MA ’89, Salina, Kan., washonored by the National Association ofCollegiate Directors of Athletics as one of 28winners of the 2018-19 Under Armour AD[Athletics Directors] of the Year Award. As thevice president and director of athletics atKansas Wesleyan University, he helpedfundraise to build a football stadium, addedsport programs and guided a department thathas won 25 conference championships whilemaintaining a department GPA above 3.00.Hermann has served as athletic director for18 years at Niagara, Towson and KansasWesleyan universities.

James Wrobel, DPM ’89, Grayslake, Ill.,received the American Diabetes Association’s2019 Roger Pecoraro Award in recognition andappreciation for outstanding contributions tothe knowledge and treatment of the diabeticfoot. He is the fifth podiatrist in 27 years toreceive the award, which was presented at theADA’s 79th Scientific Sessions, June 7-11, 2019, atthe Moscone Convention Center in SanFrancisco. Wrobel, a clinical associate professorin the Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology,and Diabetes at the University of Michigan,delivered the Roger Pecoraro Award Lecture,“Artificial Intelligence for Predicting Diabetes-Related Foot Ulcer Outcomes,” on June 8.

1990sKevin Cordi, BSE ’90, Columbus, Ohio,released You Don’t Know Jack: A StorytellerGoes to School (University Press of Mississippi,

February, 2019). The book examinesstorytelling and story making using Jacktales—“Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Little JackHorner,” and “Jack the Giant Killer”—as ametaphor to talk about teaching and telling.With their roots traced back to England, Jacktales are an important oral tradition inAppalachian folklore; Cordi, a professionalstoryteller, was introduced to them through hisAppalachian upbringing.

While working as a high school teacher, hebegan telling stories in the classroom, whichenabled him to connect with students in newways. In his book, he argues that engaging withthe stories of others, valuing every person’svoice or identity, and listening (especially tostories of difference) are of utmost importanceto education and growth.

Michael Lanstrum, BS ’91, Middleburg Heights,Ohio, wrote: “I presented‘Historical Women inMathematics’ for theWestlake Active Seniorsat the Westlake Centerfor Community Servicesin Westlake, Ohio, onMay 17, 2019.”

R. Charles Byers, PhD ’92, Dunbar, W.Va.,was named interim provost and vice presidentfor academic affairs at West Virginia StateUniversity (WVSU), effective July 1, 2019.Byers, a 1968 graduate of the university, hadpreviously served at WVSU for nearly 41 yearsin professorial and administrative capacities,including professor of teacher education, vice

Cupid Hits the BullseyeShopping at Target has been a favorite pastimeof Tony DiPasqua, MEd ’12, and current KSUstudent Aaron Damron, since the beginningof their relationship several years ago.

“When we first started dating, we quicklyfigured out that we shared the same interests—including shopping,” DiPasqua says. “We’doften grab lunch on Saturday and head to Targetafterward. We love wandering the aisles lookingfor deals and spending time together.”

So when the couple discussed potentialengagement photo locations, they decidedto forgo more typical settings in favor of theirlocal Target store in Erie, Pa. Their engagementphotos, taken in mid-July, show them cruisingthe aisles, tracking down deals and stocking upon essentials.

Like many couples these days, they sharedtheir photos on Facebook. Little did theyknow the post would go viral: it was sharedalmost 20,000 times and liked over 100,000times. Within 24 hours, many major newsorganizations were covering their funengagement shoot.

“We never thought (or intended) for it to beshared so widely, but love that it brought asmile to so many people,” DiPasqua says.“We’ve received countless comments andmessages from all over the world saying howmuch the photos have touched their hearts.”

A love for Target isn't the only thing the couplehas in common. Both of them love Kent State.

“The people at Kent State made me feel like amember of the family,” DiPasqua says. “I madeso many friends that I’m still in contact withtoday. Aaron is currently enrolled in theLPN-RN bridge program at Kent StateAshtabula and says the same thing about hisexperience—the Kent State community trulycares about their students.”

DiPasqua and Damron’s wedding will takeplace on New Year’s Eve 2019. “Our first datewas in December, and we became engaged inDecember,” DiPasqua says. “We wanted ourceremony to be one big celebration with familyand friends and decided on New Year’s Eve.”

We wish them a Target-filled gift table andmuch happiness! —Ashley Whaley, BS ’06,MEd ’12

Aaron Damron and Tony DiPasqua (front), had aTarget-themed engagement photo shoot.

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president for planning and advancement, TitleIII director and executive director for the WVSUResearch and Development Corporation. Heretired as university provost and vice presidentfor academic affairs in 2014.

Michael Austin, BBA ’93, Coral Springs, Fla., hasbeen named director of strategic partnerships forABB Optical Group, a leading provider of opticalproducts and business services in the eyecareindustry, based in Coral Springs, Fla. In his newposition, Austin will be instrumental in identifying,developing and maximizing the relationshipsbetween ABB Optical and leading organizations inthe optical industry.

Cheryle Snead-Greene, MEd ’93, Houston,has been promoted to assistant provost inthe Office for Academic Affairs at Prairie ViewA&M University, a member of the Texas A&MUniversity System.

John Staats, BFA ’93, Copley, Ohio, who wasthe World of Warcraft’s first 3D level designer,wrote The WoW Diary: A Journal of ComputerGame Development (whenitsready, June1, 2019). Written from notes he took duringWoW’s creation, it offers a rare, unfiltered lookinside the gaming industry—explaining whydevelopers do things and debunking popularmyths about the games industry. Availableon Amazon.

Tony Alves, BA ’95,Bridgeport, Conn., wasnamed director of alumnirelations and parentengagement of AlbertusMagnus College, NewHaven, Conn., as ofDecember 2018.

Melissa (Berger) Hoch, BBA ’95, Dover,Ohio, has been named the new chief financialofficer at CommQuest Services, as of January2019. She has more than 20 years of experiencein financial leadership roles. Most recently shewas director of oncology business operationsfor the Aultman Health Foundation.

Kathy Korcheck, MA ’95, MA ’97, Ottumwa,Iowa, was recently promoted to professor ofSpanish at Central College in Pella, Iowa, whereshe also serves as honors and emergingscholars director.

Donald Sparks, BSE ’95, Brunswick, Ohio,was hired as athletic director by the NorthRidgeville City Schools Board, beginningAugust 1, 2019. Previously, Sparks served asParma’s Normandy High School athleticdirector for nine years.

Pam DeFino, MLS ’96, Berea, Ohio, BereaBranch Library manager, retired from herhometown library on February 28, 2019. While astudent at Berea High School in the 1970s, shevolunteered as a page at the Berea Branch andyears later became its branch manager in 2012.

Carrie (Newtz) Wible, BA ’96, Wadsworth,Ohio, teaches ESL at Norton City Schools. Sheis a freelance writer and also serves theWadsworth Community Band as secretary,soloist and music arranger.

Marsha Deem, BSE ’97, Canton, Ohio, an artteacher at Northwest Primary School, wasnamed Teacher of the Month for NorthwestLocal Schools in April 2019.

Paul Santell, BBA ’97, Astoria, NY, received aCNN Hero award for his cat rescue efforts. Hestarted out feeding neighborhood cats, butthen realized that trapping, fixing and returningthem could save generations of feral felinesfrom danger and disease. After taking a coursesponsored by the ASPCA, the New York CityFeral Cat Initiative and Alley Cat Allies, Santellbecame a rescuer.

His nonprofit trap-neuter-return efforts haveearned him the moniker “Paul the Cat Guy.”Since 2014 he has helped trap, fix and, in somecases adopt out more than 2,000 cats inQueens, New York, and the surrounding areas.See a video at http://bit.ly/PaulSantell

Marianne Senvisky, AS ’97, BA ’08, Kent,Ohio, is the CEO/Chief Navigator of PathfinderCareer Consulting, which she founded thispast year. She also earned her SHRM-CP andCESP credentials.

Jaime Bowman, BS ’98, Spokane, Wash.,recently joined Washington State University’sfirst community-based medical school, theElson S. Floyd College of Medicine, as clerkshipdirector of Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship.Bowman, MD, FAAFP, is designing thefirst-of-its-kind program, across a four-campusdistributed model, that accounts for 25 percentof these future physicians’ education.

Cheree Davis, BSE ’98, Middle River, Md.,began an adjunct faculty position at JohnsHopkins University School of Education inBaltimore, Md., in June 2019.

Aimee Hagerty Johnson, BA ’98, Northfield,Minn., author and illustrator,has had her debut picturebook, The Fir and I,purchased by publisherPage Street Kids, slated forproduction in 2020.

Scott Maidman, BA ’98, Pittsburgh, wasnamed to Forbes “Best in State WealthAdvisors” 2019 and Forbes “America’s Top NextGeneration Wealth Advisors” list in 2018.

Matthew Bryant, BSE ’99, Bowling Green,Ky., a physics teacher at South Warren HighSchool, is one of nine science, technology,engineering and math teachers from acrossthe United States named a 2019-2020 AlbertEinstein Distinguished Educator Fellow by theUS Department of Energy in June 2019. He willspend 11 months serving in a federal agency orUS congressional office in Washington, DC.

Bryan Fowler, MBA ’99, Peoria, Ill., is vicepresident and chief information officer at RLIInsurance Company, where he is responsiblefor leading RLI’s IT strategy and initiativesto support company business goals. Hepreviously served as VP and CIO of OregonMutual Insurance and in various IT leadershiproles at Progressive Insurance.

Cynthia Wilkinson, BS ’99, Tampa, Fla.,has a 17-year medical career as a registereddiagnostic medical sonographer (RDMS) and aregistered vascular technologist (RVT).

2000s

David Basler, BS ’00, Centennial, Colo., wasrecently named vice president of membershipand marketing at ARVC, an associationrepresenting 3,000 private RV parks andcampgrounds in the US and Canada.

Megan (Nellis) Burnside, BS ’00, and ChrisBurnside, BA ’01, Dayton, Ohio, members ofthe Dayton Writers Movement (known for theirfirst audio drama Unwritten with fans across60+ countries), launched a new fiction podcastthrough all major podcast outlets acrossthe globe on February 14, 2019. The HiddenPeople podcast—a 22-episode audio dramaseries with murder, mystery and madness—is brought to life with full audio design,original music scoring and compositions, andperformances by trained actors.

Megan Oakleaf, MLS ’00, Manlius, NY,associate professor and director of instructionalquality at Syracuse University, is the winner ofthe 2019 Association of College and ResearchLibraries (ACRL) Instruction Section’s MiriamDudley Instruction Librarian Award, whichrecognizes a librarian who has made a significantcontribution to the advancement of instructionin a college or research library environment.

Theresa Haskins, BA ’01, Hartville, Ohio,received a 2019 Dissertation of Distinctionaward from USC Rossier School of Educationfor her research on autism employment.


Craig Whitaker, BSE ’00, Massillon, Ohio, aphysical geology teacher at Perry High School,recently was awarded the 2019 Pipeline Awardfrom the Ohio Oil and Gas Energy EducationProgram (OOGEEP), given each year to anindividual who has made a positive educationalimpact in the state—in his case, a teacherworkbook he helped create that has lessonsfocusing on geology. The sixth recipient toreceive the industry’s annual award, Whitakerwas honored during the OOGEEP’s presentationat the Ohio Oil and Gas Association’s annualindustry meeting.

Dana Jancik Eggers, MA ’01, Bay Village,Ohio, was hired for the new role of coordinatorof pupil personnel by the North RidgevilleCity Schools Board, beginning August 1, 2019.Eggers most recently was the autism programdirector for the Geauga County EducationalService Center, a position she had held since2010. She received a Bachelor of Sciencedegree in hearing and speech sciences fromOhio University, a Master of Arts degree inspeech language pathology from Kent StateUniversity, and a pupil services personnellicensure from Cleveland State University.

Lauren Worley, BA ’01, Cincinnati, chiefcommunications and engagement officer forCincinnati Public Schools, was named a Womanof Influence by LEAD Venue Magazine andCincinnati Business Courier’s Forty Under 40.

Jason Dorfman, BGS ’02, Aliso Viejo, Calif.,is the cofounder and president of KrispNutrition/Keto Krisp and serves as the vicepresident of pet products for Medterra. Heis also the senior vice president of sales forbDirect Companies, LLC.

Carolyn Carvalho, AAB ’03, BTec ’05,MTec ’07, Ashtabula, Ohio,associate lecturer at KentState University atAshtabula, was named afinalist by the NortheastOhio Council on HigherEducation (NOCHE) for TheExpys 2019 Best College

Advisor. The annual awards program “recognizesthe best-of-the-best in Northeast Ohio’sinternship and experiential learning ecosystem.”Carvalho teaches in the information technologyprogram at Kent State University at Ashtabulaand coordinates internships and practicums forstudents in the IT majors.

Westleigh Harper, BS ’03, BArc ’04,and Michael Horton, BS ’05, BArc ’06,Cleveland, are principals of Horton Harper

Architects, an award-winning contemporarystudio specializing in urban residential design,with an eclectic portfolio of custom residential,multifamily and mixed-use ventures.Headquartered in the Caxton Buildingdowntown, the practice has six employees anda 30 percent year-over-year growth rate sinceits 2011 launch.

Claudia Kovach, BS ’03, MA ’09,Canfield, Ohio, vice president of City MachineTechnologies, Inc., in June received the 2019Small Business Champion award from NFIB,Ohio’s leading small business association. Eachyear, NFIB awards an individual, among itsmembership of 22,000 Ohio small businesses,who gives of his/her time and resources topromote small-business causes throughinvolvement in NFIB activities anddemonstrates a spirit of service toward the

Golden YearsWith the last name Golden, an illustriouscollegiate career at Kent State University seemedalmost destined to be for this student-athlete.In reality, it was through focused effort anddetermination that Alexa Golden, BA ’18,MA ’19, Kent, Ohio, made a name for herself atKent State.

On the basketball court and in the classroom,Golden strove for excellence and achieved it.Her accomplishments in academics, athletics,service and leadership throughout her collegecareer led to her nomination for this year’sNCAA (National Collegiate Athletics Association)Woman of the Year Award—among a recordhigh of 585 graduating female college athletesnominated by NCAA member schools to honortheir top graduating student-athletes.

Golden, a three-time Academic All-MAChonoree, has the distinction of being the onlyplayer in Kent State women’s basketball history

to total 500 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists,200 steals and 100 three-point field goals. Thispast season, Golden’s senior year, she started

all 33 games and averaged 7.6 points, 5.6rebounds, 2.8 steals and 2.5 assists per game.

In April, she received the Judith K. DevineExcellence in Leadership Award, whichrecognizes a senior Kent State student-athletewho demonstrates leadership abilities withintheir team, department, collegial unit andcommunity. “I hope to help other student-athletes with the [leadership] skills I learnedalong the way,” Golden says.

This unrelenting drive is nothing new to Golden,who maintained a 3.7 GPA while competing andcompleting two degrees in four years. She tookcollege-level classes during high school, whichallowed her to earn her bachelor’s degree incriminal justice/safety studies in two and ahalf years. Earlier this year, she completedher master’s degree in sport and fitnessadministration/management, adding thatacademic accomplishment to her mounting listof achievements. —Bethany Sava, BS ’12

Alexa Golden dribbles down the court in a gameagainst Youngstown State this past spring.

Eric Meek, MFA ’03, Painted Post, NY, seniormanager of the Hot Glass Programs at TheCorning Museum of Glass, was featured in theNetflix series Blown Away, the first-ever glass-blowing competition, which launched on

July 12, 2019. He served as the guest judge forthe finale and helped select the winner of theshow. Pictured: Eric Meek, at far right, withcontestants on the show.


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community and a commitment to advancingthe concept of free enterprise. Her parents areformer recipients of the award, and she hasbeen with her family’s business since 2006.

Todd McLaughlin, BSE ’03, Salem, Ohio, wasnamed the new principal of Salem High School,effective August 1, 2019, with the three-yearcontract expiring July 31, 2022. The 1997 SalemHigh School graduate joined the district asjunior high dean of students and districtwideclerk of the works in August 2014 and mostrecently has been serving as assistant juniorhigh principal.

Heather Trepal, PhD ’03, San Antonio,professor and clinical mental health counselingprogram coordinator at the University of Texasat San Antonio, was named the 68th presidentof the American Counseling Association,

beginning July 1, 2019. A member of theAmerican Counseling Association ProfessionalStandards Committee, she has been an ACAmember for more than 17 years. Her researchand publications focus on professionaladvocacy, self-injurious behavior, body image,bilingual counselor supervision and training,integrated behavioral health care andrelational-cultural theory.

Haraz Ghanbari, BS ’04, Perrysburg, Ohio,was sworn into the Ohio House on March 27,2019, to fill the Wood County seat vacated bynow Senator Theresa Gavarone. Fresh fromPerrysburg City Council, he was selected bynow fellow House Republicans to complete the21 months left in Gavarone’s unexpired term.He is expected to run in 2020 for a two-yearterm of his own.

Elizabeth Mowers, BS ’04, Mogadore, Ohio,wrote, “In March, I celebrated the release of myfirst novel, A Promise Remembered (HarlequinHeartwarming, 2019). Years ago, when my firstchild wouldn’t nap without being held, I rockedher to sleep while typing a book idea on mysmartphone. After three years (and anotherbaby), I had written the entire novel on myphone. While that book was rejected, itconnected me to the woman who is now myeditor and kicked off my full-time writingcareer. Follow me on Facebook or check out mywebsite at www.elizabethmowers.com.”

David Strukel, MEd ’04, Massillon, Ohio, anassistant professor in communication at HiramCollege, was named an Apple DistinguishedEducator for 2019.

Susan Chylik, BBA ’05, Litchfield, Ohio, hasbeen selected to participate in the LeadershipCouncil on Legal Diversity’s 2019 Fellowsprogram, which aims to identify, train andadvance the next generation of leaders in thelegal profession. Chylik is a member inMcGlinchey Stafford’s Cleveland office,

providing regulatory compliance and riskmanagement advice to consumer financialservices companies, with a focus on dataprivacy and credit reporting issues. She wasnamed a 2019 “Rising Star” in Banking by OhioSuper Lawyers and is active in local andnational bar associations.

Kaitlyn Black, BA ’05, Sherman Oaks,Calif., starred in the Off-Broadway premiere ofRobyn Lynne Norris’ musical comedy improvshow #DateMe: An OKCupid Experiment at theWestside Theatre from June 20 to Sept. 15. Theshow follows a down-on-her-luck dater as shegoes online and creates 38 fake dating profilesin hopes of better understanding the randomnature of love and dating.

Earlier this year, the short film, RelationshipDeli, written by and starring Black, wasfeatured in the 2019 Cleveland InternationalFilm Festival and on the popular Funny orDie site in October 2018. The film depictsa desperate woman and a deli workerattempting to build the perfect relationship,sandwich-style.

Black appeared on the CW series Hart ofDixie, playing fan-favorite character AnnabethNass from 2011-2015.

Samuel “Blitz” Bazawule, BBA ’04, NewYork, NY, hip-hop artist, filmmaker and visualartist, is known by the stage name Blitz theAmbassador. He wrote, directed and scoredthe independent movie, The Burial of Kojo,which was acquired by Ava DuVernay’s filmdistribution collective, ARRAY Releasing.The dramatic feature, streaming on Netflixas of March 31, 2019, played in select movietheaters in cities nationwide in spring 2019.

Set in Bazawule’s native country of Ghana,the film (which has elements of magicalrealism, but is rooted in truth) is aboutfeuding brothers and the journey of oneof their daughters to save more than theirrelationship. It caught the eye of DuVernaywhen it played at the 2018 Urbanworld FilmFestival in New York, where it became the“Best Narrative Feature Winner (WorldCinema)” at the festival.

The film recently won the Luxor AfricanFilm Festival grand prize for “Best NarrativeFeature” in Egypt, and it was screened atthe 2019 Whitney Biennial, an invitationalexhibition at the Whitney Museum ofAmerican Art.

Elizabeth Treiber, MSN ’05, Cleveland,Sara Dorris, AAS ’06, BSN ’11, Youngstown,Ohio, Austin Jeffers, AS ’17, BSN ’17, EastPalestine, Ohio, and Michele Radovanic,AAA ’15, Madison, Ohio, were among 10finalists for the “Nurse Hero” award honoredon the court during a pregame ceremony

when the Cleveland Cavaliers hosted NurseNight 2019 on March 2, 2019. Learn about theirachievements at http://bit.ly/nursefinalists.Pictured (l to r): Jessica Robinson, DawnMacKay, Kristina Smith, Austin Jeffers,Antanette Gott, Elizabeth Treiber, MicheleRadovanic, Sara Dorris


flash FORWARD

Russell Galeti Jr. BA ’05, Washington, DC,has a new position as a strategic planner in theBureau of Political-Military Affairs within the USDepartment of State in Washington, DC. He isalso a major and serves as operations officer forthe 2nd Squadron, 107th Cavalry, Ohio Army

National Guard. In addition, he serves on theKent State University Alumni AssociationNational Board of Directors.

Justin Williams, BBA ’05, MBA ’07,Orlando, Fla., is the new chief operating officerfor Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital forChildren, a 158-bed pediatric hospital inOrlando, Fla. He has had more than 14 years ofexperience in finance, strategic planning andhospital operations. Prior to this, he wasdirector of operations at University HospitalsRainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital

Jeremy Martin, BGS ’07, Venice, Fla., wasrecently promoted to head coach of the girls’varsity basketball team at Venice High Schoolin Florida. He had previously coached the juniorvarsity boys’ basketball team at Venice High forseven years.

Erica (Hudkins) Cofojohn, BBA ’08, Stow,Ohio, was appointed senior vice president ofhuman resources at Associated Materials inCuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

Caitlin Faas, BA ’08, Gettysburg, Pa., wrote,“I earned tenure and promotion to associateprofessor of psychology and departmentchair at Mount St. Mary’s University inEmmitsburg, Md.”

William Yoder, DPM ’08, Oak Creek, Wis.,was named a 2019 “Patient Preferred Foot &Ankle Surgeon” for the state of Wisconsin inJune, in recognition of his dedication andexcellence in patient care.

2010sCarolyn Conway Novak, BA ’10, Cleveland,received a “25 under 35” award from her highschool, Saint Joseph Academy, in recognitionfor compassionate leadership, service in aglobal society, overall achievements andspirituality. Novak, who majored in politicalscience at KSU, is a social activist who fostersrelationships with community leaders, citizensand those working for positive change.

Speaking Up for InfantsKatie Campbell, BS ’18, Brighton, England,is putting her Kent State education in publichealth to work at the global level. This May,Campbell presented at the 72nd WorldHealth Assembly annual meeting in Geneva,Switzerland. The assembly is the decision-making body of the World Health Organization(WHO) and provides a forum to discuss, debateand decide global health policies.

Campbell testified on behalf of theInternational Baby Food Action Network, aglobal network of organizations dedicatedto reducing infant mortality by promotingoptimal infant feeding practices. She waspresented this opportunity as a result of herinternship with UK–based Baby Milk Action,part of the network.

In her first statement, Campbell called on theWHO to support efforts “to ensure publiclyfunded universal health coverage, with primaryhealth care and prevention” and to makebreastfeeding promotion available to all. Shewarned delegates of the risks associatedwith relying on privatized health services

that prioritize commercial interests. In hersecond statement, she called on the WHOto avoid conflicts of interest that arise whennoncommunicable disease prevention effortsare created via corporate partnerships.

After graduating from Kent State’s College ofPublic Health, Campbell enrolled in a master’sprogram at the University of Brighton inEngland, where she studied health promotion.With her coursework completed, she is focusedon writing her master’s thesis, which consistsof an analysis of interview data from fathersin 12 different countries regarding the role offathers in breastfeeding.

Her future aspirations are to work in thehealth policy arena. “My experience with BabyMilk Action and my involvement in the WorldHealth Assembly have convinced me thatmajor changes in health can be accomplishedthrough health policy,” Campbell says. “That’swhy I want to pursue a career either at thefederal level back home in the States or with aUN organization.”

When asked for any advice to students, shesays, “Take any opportunities that come to you;

don’t be afraid. I was terrified to speak, but itwas a once-in-a-lifetime chance that I knew Ihad to take.” —Julie Miller, BS ’87

Katie Campbell, BS ’18, speaking at the 72ndWorld Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

Patrick Snyder, BS ’08, Westerville, Ohio,member of the Kent State Bowling Club from2003 to 2008, in May was designated Men’sSingles Champion (among 199 bowlers) atthe 2019 Columbus [Ohio] City 10-Pin BowlingChampionship ($640 prize) and earned aB(etter) than A(verage) D(awg) trophy and$120 at the TOP DAWG Tournament (among60+ bowlers), where he was 161 pins overhis league-based average. In July, his high6-game handicap series at the Tony BlackDoubles competition added $500 to this year’searnings, which so far total $1,260. Pictured:left, Patrick Snyder with his trophy.

Josef Kotermanski, BSN ’10, Chesterfield,Mich., obtained a Master of Science in Nursingafter working in a Detroit emergency roomfor six years. He currently works in traumasurgery in the Detroit area.

alumni LIFE

Meghan Hennessey Shimmin, BSE ’10,Cleveland, received a “25 under 35” award fromher high school, Saint Joseph Academy, inrecognition for compassionate leadership,service in a global society, overallachievements and spirituality. Shimmin, whomajored in early childhood education at KSU,has spent her career working in low-incomeschool districts and works to create andimplement enjoyable, school-wide activitiesthat foster learning.

Stephanie (St. Jacques) Walker,MEd ’10, Whitmore Lake, Mich., is nowassociate director of the Science LearningCenter at the University of Michigan. Prior tojoining the SLC, she served as director of theKent State University Academic Success Center.

Carolyn Drummond, BS ’11, Durham, NC,has been promoted to program marketingmanager, NA field marketing at Red Hat (whichacquired Ansible Automation), focusing onevent management, content marketing andproject management.

Lauren Kotmel, BA ’11, Cleveland, wasnamed to Crain’s Cleveland Business’s “Twentyin Their 20s” list (in their June issue) ofupcoming community leaders to watch inCleveland’s future.

Parva Markiw, BS ’12, MArc ’14, Greentree,Pa., joined the professionalstaff at WTW Architects ofPittsburgh, where she iscurrently assisting theWTW team designing anew residence hall at SUNYPolytechnic Institute inUtica, New York.

Jessica Stuck, BA ’12, BS ’12, MArc ’13,Washington, DC, has joined Quinn EvansArchitects as a project architect in theirWashington, DC office.

Rachel Walter, MEd ’12, Cleveland, currentlythe main academic advisor to studentsmajoring in special education and ASL/Englishinterpreting at KSU’s College of Education,Health and Human Services, recently began anew position as an independent career coachat CareerArc, assisting outplaced employeessearching for their next career move.

Amelia (Chamberlain) Plunkett, BA ’13,Dayton, Ohio, who moved up the ranks fromintern to sales development manager sincejoining LexisNexis in 2014, was named one ofthe 2018 Top 25 Women to Watch in Dayton byWomen in Business Networking, a program ofthe Better Business Bureau of Dayton and MiamiValley. The women were honored at the 25Women to Watch gala in February 2019.

She and her husband, Max Plunkett II,BA ’13, family wealth advisor/financial advisor atThe Plunkett Group at Morgan Stanley, are bothinvolved in their community and met when theywere freshmen at Kent State University.

Kathryn Clarkin, BA ’14, Los Angeles,started a new position as special assistant tothe governor at Office of the Governor, State ofCalifornia, in May 2019.

Corey Conners, BS ’14, Palm Beach Gardens,Fla., who played golf for Kent State from 2010-2014, won the Valero Texas Open at the TPC SanAntonio Oaks Course in San Antonio, Texas, inApril 2019. He finished 20-under-par with a finalround score of 66 to secure his first PGA Tourwin, banking a winning purse of $1.35 millionand earning a trip to the Masters.

Alexander Evans, BS ’14, BBA ’14,BSPH ’14, MBA ’15, MGISC ’19, Columbus,Ohio, joined Franklin County Public Healthas an epidemiologist. His work will focus onunderstanding the public health impacts ofclimate change and implementing a GIS toenhance environmental health programs.

Meghan Marano, BA ’14, Willoughby, Ohio,associate banking advisor at PNC Bank, wasnominated for the inaugural Young NonprofitProfessional of the Year Award in 2019 bythe Young Nonprofit Professionals Networkof Cleveland. Previously, she was awardedVolunteer of the Year from Youth OpportunitiesUnlimited in 2017 for her service to youth incommunities across NE Ohio.

Sarah Roman, BA ’14, Lakewood, Ohio,received a “25 under 35” award from her highschool, Saint Joseph Academy, in recognitionfor compassionate leadership, service in aglobal society, overall achievements andspirituality. Roman, who majored in art historyat KSU, uses art to help others work throughpainful experiences and difficult times.

Hattie Tracy, MPA ’14, Medina, Ohio,was named senior vice president of clinicalservices for Coleman Professional Services.Most recently, Tracy was senior director ofclinical strategy, community outreach andhealthcare integration at Child Guidance andFamily Solutions of Summit County. She is both alicensed independent social work supervisor anda licensed chemical dependency counselor III.

Angela Jameson, BSE ’14, MLIS ’18,Kent, Ohio, library media specialist at ChagrinFalls Schools, was honored by Kent StateUniversity School of Information (iSchool)with its Dan MacLachlan Award in Library andInformation Science on April 25, 2019. Theaward is given to a library media specialist whoexhibits creativity, leadership and dedication inhis/her school.

Sara Courie, BA ’13, MAT ’14, Tallmadge,Ohio, a 2nd grade teacher at DunbarElementary School in Tallmadge, and MatthewClaney, BS ’13, Greensburg, Pa., a graphicdesigner, became friends their first weeks oncampus through the KSU Marching GoldenFlashes—and collaborated after graduation.

Courie’s 2nd grade class at Dunbar noticeda lot of trash on the school playground, so shechallenged the students to do something tohelp keep it clean.

When Claney heard that the students haddecided to create signs, he volunteered toassist and met with the class through videoconferencing. Students came up with sign ideasand voted on the best designs to send him.

To raise funds for the signs, the studentsrecycled plastic water bottles into glitter jarsthat they sold at school. Claney created a videofor the students to illustrate the design processand reveal their final product (see http://bit.ly/CourieClass).


alumni LIFE

Laura Roch, BS ’16, Youngstown, Ohio,accepted a position with Notre Dame MissionVolunteers AmeriCorps as the site directorfor Northeast Ohio (Cleveland/Youngstown).Among other duties, she will be recruitingpotential AmeriCorps members and nonprofiteducational sites in the Northeast Ohio area,doing member training, and assisting withleadership skills and professional development.’

Torey Frame, BA ’17, Atwater, Ohio, is the firstfull-time female police officer in Streetsboro inover 20 years. She graduated with a degree incriminology and psychology and decided topursue law enforcement as a career.

Jasmine Hoff, BSN ’17, MSN ’19,Cleveland, was appointedby Ohio Governor MikeDeWine to a two-year termas a graduate studenttrustee of the Kent StateUniversity Board ofTrustees. Hoff’s termbegan June 11 and ends

May 16, 2021. She is pursuing a doctorate innursing practice and an adult gerontology acutecare nurse practitioner graduate certificate.

A registered nurse who has achieved boardcertification, she currently serves as assistantnurse manager at Cleveland Clinic’s Heart andLung Transplant Unit in Cleveland and as adjunctfaculty in Kent State’s College of Nursing.

Fellowship in FashionJasmine Summers, BA ’16, Phnom Penh,Cambodia, KSU Fashion School graduate,wrote, “I’ve spent the last year living in thecapital city of Cambodia, running a fashionvocational training program for Nomi Network,a nonprofit economic development agencythat seeks to eliminate human trafficking inIndia and Cambodia through education andeconomic empowerment.

“I’m returning to Cambodia in September for asecond year to continue giving back my skillsand education by supporting the education,up-skilling, capacity building and marketgrowth of rising designers, social enterprisesand producers who employ and empowerimpoverished women in Cambodia, so thatthey have more options than just factory work,sex work or migrant work.

“In my role as Nomi Network’s internationalfashion fellow, I oversee curriculumdevelopment, volunteer trainer recruitmentand teach within my own areas of expertise. Ialso manage design and product development

for Nomi’s fashion brand, mostly accessoriesand apparel, made in Cambodia and sold in theUnited States. My first collection will launchlater this year.”

Jasmine Summers (in center, wearing black floral top) with students in her Basic Patternmakingclass in Cambodia.

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Madison Viering, BS ’16, Carmel, Ind.,received a master’s degree in schoolcounseling from Butler University’s Collegeof Education. Upon graduation, sheaccepted a position as school counselor atSuncrest Elementary School in Frankfort,Ind. Pictured (l to r): Holly Viering (mother),Maddie Viering, Chip Viering, BS ’86(father), Patrick Viering (brother)

Brandon Bounds, BS ’19, Columbus, Ohio,associate producer at 10TV.com, was partof a team of top journalism students from 19universities who earned the 2019 StudentEdward R. Murrow Award for Excellence inDigital Reporting for their project “Hate inAmerica.” Their package of multimedia storiesfocused on acts of intolerance, racism and hatecrimes across the country, as part of theCarnegie-Knight News21 program, an in-depthjournalism collaborative based at Arizona

State University’s Walter Cronkite School ofJournalism and Mass Communication.

Kent State’s School of Journalism and MassCommunication recognized Bounds earlierthis year with the Robert G. McGruder StudentAward for Diversity, for his work on the project,which also received a 2019 Robert F. KennedyJournalism Award in the college category.

The 2019 winners were recognized at theEdward R. Murrow Awards black tie eventhosted by the Radio Television Digital NewsAssociation on Oct. 24 in New York City.

“Voice of Mission Control”This year’s 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11moon landing on July 20, 1969, brought tomind a KSU alumnus who served as NASA’sfirst news director during early missions tothe moon.

“We have liftoff.”Three iconic words interwoven with

mankind’s journey into space; three iconicwords that will forever live in history.

While growing up in Tallmadge, Ohio,Paul Haney, BA ’51, probably neverdreamed he would be the one to make thisprofound announcement to the world aftera dramatic countdown to a mission in space.But as the National Aeronautics and SpaceAdministration’s (NASA) “Voice of MissionControl,” he delivered that line and more in hisfamous, measured tones.

Building a Foundation of JournalisticExcellence Haney put himself through KentState University by working nights for theAssociated Press. While at Kent State, hemajored in journalism and worked at the DailyKent Stater, as well as the Chestnut Burr.

Role of a Lifetime Haney worked for severalnewspapers after graduation, but threemonths after NASA was formed in 1958, hejoined as an information officer. Then, from1960-62, he served as NASA’s first newsdirector. In this role, he managed the CapeCanaveral and Project Mercury information

programs, where his work in the Mercuryprogram set the standard for all subsequentNASA information efforts.

From 1962-63, Haney served as public affairsofficer for the Office of Manned Space Flight(now the Johnson Space Center), and directedthe information coming out of the Gemini andApollo manned spaceflight programs. It wasin this position that he became known as the“Voice of NASA’s Mission Control” and the“Voice of Apollo.”

Haney served NASA with distinctionthroughout the Gemini program and the early

phases of the Apollo program. He left NASA in1969 after the successful Apollo 9 mission.

Historical Legacy Haney received the 1963William D. Taylor Journalism Alumnus of theYear Award, the most prestigious award givenby Kent State’s School of Journalism and MassCommunication. He was inducted into theInternational Space Hall of Fame in 1993.

Haney passed away on May 28, 2009, butlike those three iconic words, his legacy will liveon forever. —Stephanie Langguth, BS ’03

Paul Haney monitors the flight of the Gemini VII spacecraft from his console in the Mission Control Center.

alumni LIFE

Chad Kozan, BA ’17, CER1 ’18, Madison,Ohio, is a natural resources officer for theOhio Department of Natural Resources,specializing in marine and operating-while-under-the influence enforcement. He givesback to the community as a boatinginstructor on a volunteer basis and isattending Bowling Green State University fora master’s degree in criminal justice.

Diane Smith, MA ’17,Phoenix, public relationsand communicationsmanager at Pima MedicalInstitute, was awarded“Best Public Relations Pro(Female)” by ArizonaFoothills Magazine.

Emma Buss, BBA ’19, New Philadelphia,Ohio, was hired as marketing servicescoordinator by Whitemeyer Advertising,where she interned in summer 2018. Herresponsibilities include assisting accountexecutives in digital and social mediamarketing strategies and media research andimplementation, along with operations andclient service responsibilities.

Julian Edelman, BIS ’19, Boston, formerGolden Flash quarterback, current Patriotswide receiver, three-time Super Bowlchampion, 2018 Super Bowl MVP, 2015Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal andVarsity “K” Hall of Fame Inductee, finishedthe degree he started working toward in2006. Prior to attending the Commencementceremony in May 2019 to receive his diploma,he said he had completed a Bachelor ofIntegrative Studies degree to keep a promisehe made to his parents more than 10 yearsago and set an example for his daughter.

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Send Us Your Class NoteWe’d love to hear from you!

To share your news: Fill out the form atwww.kent.edu/classnotes (You mayinclude a high-resolution image in JPEG,GIF or PNG format) or write:

Kent State University AlumniCenter for Philanthropy & EngagementP.O. Box 5190Kent, OH 44242

Limit your notes to 100 words or less, andinclude your degree(s), class year(s), andcity/state of residence. Notes may beedited for length or clarity and publishedas space allows.

Deadline for submissions:Spring/Summer December 31Fall/Winter June 30

TRIBUTE


in MEMORY1940s

Fern (Boltz) Greenamyer, BS ’41, May 26, 2019Mildred Dixon, DPM ’44, November 2, 2018Mildred Roberts, BS ’46, MEd ’51, February 19, 2019Theodore Taubert, BBA ’47, February 27, 2019James Brainerd, BS ’48, MA ’49, February 1, 2019Alvin Howdyshell, BBA ’49, April 21, 2019

1950sPhyllis Gamble, BA ’50, September 16, 2018Louis Kaczur, DPM ’50, December 1, 2017Donald Kagey, BBA ’50, January 24, 2019Martin Pfinsgraff, BS ’50, October 17, 2018Thomas Anderson, BA ’53, MA ’55, January 21, 2019Richard Knuth, BS ’54, MEd ’73, June 20, 2019George Paris, BA ’54, August 16, 2018Robert Shafer, DPM ’54, September 20, 2018Clyde Woods, BBA ’54, February 21, 2019Lillian Eck, BSE ’55, January 27, 2019Edward Seely, BA ’55, December 22, 2018Erven “Skip” Robinson, BS ’56, MEd ’59, April 25, 2019Robert Hutchison, BS ’57, February 13, 2018Shirley Shifferly, BS ’57, MA ’66, February 21, 2019George Grieves, BS ’58, May 5, 2019Marcia Smith, BS ’58, February 5, 2015Sarah Smith, BS ’58, March 12, 2019

1960sBarbara Crumlish, BS ’60, November 20, 2018Daniel Emmett, MEd ’60, August 25, 2017Elizabeth (Schneider) Hair, BS ’60, November 20, 2018Marcia Cohen, BS ’61, July 8, 2017John Hively, BBA ’61, MBA ’61, June 3, 2018Paul Hulka, BS ’61, September 14, 2017Phillip Smith, MEd ’62, May 23, 2019Judith (Simpson) Welk, BS ’62, July 7, 2019Ray Gibson, BFA ’63, December 5, 2018Gerald Stephan, BS ’63, MEd ’97, January 3, 2019Ronald Williams, BA ’63, September 3, 2018William Susco, BS ’64, January 22, 2018Robert Tieman, BBA ’64, April 5, 2019Christine Whitacre, BS ’64, February 15, 2018Albert Lackney, MEd ’65, February 3, 2019Raymond Land, DPM ’65, May 21, 2019Margaret Miller, BS ’65, MEd ’65, May 3, 2019William Blair, BA ’66, October 26, 2018James Gray, BS ’66, MEd ’73, March 18, 2019Jean Keough-Taffs, BS ’66, MEd ’68, PhD ’74, January 22, 2019Sara Ledford, BS ’66, MEd ’90, May 20, 2018Charles Rasper, MEd ’66, March 21, 2019Sharon Simkaitis, BS ’66, January 28, 2019Robert Eichel, BA ’67, June 1, 2019James Ondrako, BBA ’67, June 21, 2018Grace (Baters) Schmiedel, BS ’67, May 10, 2019Anthony DeVincentis, DPM ’68, March 11, 2019E. Hughes, BBA ’68, July 18, 2018Eugene Nowakowski, MBA ’68, June 30, 2016Mary Peterson, MEd ’68, September 10, 2017Thomas Stellers, MEd ’68, PhD ’73, November 2, 2018Saundra Baird, BA ’69, March 23, 2019Michele Gromelski, BS ’69, December 23, 2018Calvin Stein, BA ’69, September 30, 2018Filomena Ziegman, BS ’69, October 25, 2018

1970sLouis Endress, DPM ’70, October 1, 2018Barry Koblentz, DPM ’70, December 18, 2018Geraldine Radcliff, MEd ’70, April 20, 2019Art Gohs, BA ’71, April 11, 2018James Heasley, MEd ’71, December 4, 2018John Rowe, BFA ’72, January 12, 2018Darryl Stewart, BA ’72, MPA ’72, April 14, 2018Marcia White, BSE ’72, MEd ’90, March 17, 2019Robert Bell, BBA ’73, September 19, 2017George El-Hajj, DPM ’73, October 2, 2018Patrick McGivern, MEd ’73, October 25, 2018Doris Jane Regas, BS ’73, February 19, 2019Gail Featheringham, BS ’74, MLS ’93, October 17, 2018Lillian Goldberg, MLS ’74, June 20, 2018Joel O'Sickey, BS ’74, May 12, 2018Donna Welch, BS ’74, October 20, 2018Gerry Kuhel, BS ’75, May 3, 2019Gale Ellis Taliano, BA ’75, February 23, 2018Mark Camperchioli, BS ’76, March 5, 2018Thomas Herr, MSA ’76, December 30, 2018Jay Lifshen, DPM ’76, September 11, 2018Craig Mitchell, BBA ’76, January 17, 2019Keith Sinzinger, BA ’76, November 23, 2018Edward Floyd, DPM ’77, February 6, 2019Charles Zurbola, AAS ’77, October 21, 2018Cincere Fazekas, BM ’78, September 11, 2018Larry Hawthorne, AA ’78, September 6, 2018

1980sFrank Kushner Jr., BSN ’81, September 15, 2018Judith Mally, MEd ’81, February 26, 2018Ronald Spangler, MA ’81, January 10, 2019Beverly MacPherson, BS ’82, January 13, 2019Jean Wood, MEd ’82, January 13, 2019Donald Carroll, PhD ’83, June 14, 2019Nelson McCann, MEd ’83, May 10, 2019Milan Chovan, BA ’84, June 24, 2019Lonnie Schwartz, DPM ’84, November 27, 2018Amanda Calhoun, BS ’85, June 29, 2018Sunil Jha, MBA ’86, December 1, 2018Robert Kaminski, BGS ’86, March 30, 2018Peter Zeidner, BBA ’86, March 15, 2019Jacqueline Phillips, DPM ’87, February 2, 2019Barbra Maguire, BS ’88, May 26, 2018Donna Marks, BS ’88, January 23, 2019

1990sSandra Hawkins, BA ’92, March 26, 2019Craig Thompson, BS ’98, BArc ’01, March 4, 2019Melanie Lockard, BSN ’99, October 28, 2018

2000sJessica Spears, BA ’00, January 20, 2019L’atasha Sipp, BS ’07, June 6, 2019

2010sAmber Evans, MLIS ’14, March 23, 2019 (body found);missing since January 28, 2019

FACULTY/STAFFJohn Garrett, worked in various administrative functions atKent Campus and KSU at Stark, retired (emeritus) as director ofAdministrative and Business Services, 1966-1985, assistant tomanager (golf course) 1987, February 5, 2019


flashBACK

The Drapes of WrathI was proud to be a senior English majorat Kent State University in 1971 and thatmy photograph would appear in the1972 Chestnut Burr. But when I read the“instructions” for having my picture takenfor the yearbook, I was incensed. I hadspent four years at KSU, experiencingMay 4, the rise of Black United Students andthe rumble of women’s liberation. I learnednot only academic lessons at Kent State,but gained a better understanding of thechanging world and my own individuality.

And then I, like every other seniorwoman, was required to wear an uglyblack drape for my photo, a uniformwith no regard to one’s comfort level,personal tastes or consent. My father,a professional photographer, and mymother, an oil portrait painter, wouldnever expect someone to wear somethinghe or she disapproved of for a sitting.

So I wrote a letter to The Daily KentStater, which appeared in the Oct. 14, 1971edition, under the headline“Coed objects to yearbook ‘drape:’”

While I must congratulate the ChestnutBurr for its originality and liberal contentof KSU’s yearbooks in the past few years,I find it unbelievable that its editors haveslighted women’s liberation.

Although a male senior is restricted toa suit and tie, he has a myriad of styles

from which to choose in order to enhancehis individuality.

But the poor female senior whowishes her picture in the Burr must bareher shoulders and appear in a low cutZorro cape.

I, for one, would rather not have mypicture taken than don such an unnatural,ridiculous costume. —Jill Veleba

I admit to having a few qualms afterI saw the letter in print, just a few daysbefore my photo appointment. Wouldthe company and photographers whocontracted with the school be upset?Would they vandalize my senior photo witha Groucho Marx moustache and glassesdrawn with a black marker?

To the company’s credit, theyrescinded the dress restriction for femalestudents. I was elated.

I decided to play it cool, just showup on time for my photo session and notsay a word about who I was. A smilingphotographer greeted me and pointed to adressing screen where I could change intothe drape. Not on your life.

The photographer glared at me, lookedat the name on my appointment card andsnarled, “Oh, you are the one who wrote theletter.” To his credit, after that comment,he treated me like everyone else, and mysenior picture came out just fine.

Not every woman chose to forgo thedrape that year. Many preferred the

traditional drape look, and that was fine. Itwas their choice, and that was the importantthing—to have a voice in the matter.

Almost five decades later,remembering the incident makes mesmile. A number of women studentshad contacted me after the letter waspublished and thanked me for myone-woman campaign.

Was that the most important victoryfor women at KSU that year? Of coursenot. Not even close. And I like to think I lefta small mark on KSU in more significantways. If nothing else, than by being anunofficial ambassador for my college allthis time.

I cherish my Chestnut Burr, dust it offonce in a while, look at the senior pictureof a younger, thinner, no-gray-hair meand recall with humor the Great DrapeEscapade. And here’s the other thing: likemany liberated women on campus in theearly 70s, I wasn’t wearing a bra under thedress I wore for my senior portrait. Simplyscandalous. —Jill Veleba Sell, BS ’72,Sagamore Hills, Ohio

Check out the Digital Daily Kent StaterArchive at https://dks.library.kent.edu.

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Send us YOUR Flashback:Share your memories from Kent Stateand they may appear in a future issue ofKent State Magazine. Email your storiesand photos to [email protected].


giving VOICE

P.O. Box 5190 • Kent, OH 44242-0001University Communications and Marketing

101188Electronic Service Requested

Special “K”Members of Kent StateUniversity’s Class of 2023form a “K” on the KentCampus for a photo withPresident Todd Diacon, KentState cheerleaders and theuniversity’s mascot, Flash.Learn more about the Classof 2023 on page 5.

Documents

KENT STATE...Gretchen Woods, MA ’05, Avon, Ohio, the winner of the random drawing from correct submissions to the Squirrel Search contest. She received a box of squirrel-themed swag