Note: An * before a name means the alumnus was a faculty or staff member, too. So they are also listed under Faculty/Staff with their dates of service at Kent State.
1930s
Florence Quinette, BA ’38, MA ’41, July 5, 2022
1940s
1950s
Betty Graber, BS ’50, June 14, 2021
Ronald Bacon, BA ’52, December 21, 2021
Koon Ching, BBA ’52, September 14, 2022
1960s
Nancy Herr, BS ’67, MA ’69, September 26, 2022
1970s
Joyce Cooper, BS ’70, May 19, 2022
Richard Brietstein, DPM ’71, March 29, 2022
John Robert “Rob” Andrews, BA ’73, October 9, 2022
Chibuzor Nnate Nwoke, BBA ’75, April 11, 2022
1980s
1990s
Kimberly Bayless, MEd ’90, January 14, 2022
Betty Hurst, MLS ’93, January 2, 2023
Carolyn Dean, AAS ’98, July 10, 2021
2000s
2010s
2020s
Faculty/Staff
Professor Emeritus of History (1966–1995), July 26, 2020
He taught American studies and history. An avid jazz clarinetist and pioneering researcher in jazz studies, he wrote several books on the cultural history of jazz.
“I remember Dr. Kenney as an authority on American colonial history. An excellent and thought-provoking lecturer, he exposed students to some of the latest knowledge in the field and we were expected to do work as demanding as more selective academic institutions.” —Thomas M. Grace, BA ’72
Professor Emeritus of Sociology, 5X at Stark (1966–1994; 1995–2009; 2012–2013), July 10, 2022
He held a variety of administrative and teaching positions after serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was an executive director for the YMCA, associate executive director and planning director for the United Way, director of community schools and director of the Midwest Writers Conference.
He received a Fulbright Award to teach sociology and social work at Trent Polytechnic in Nottingham, England, for the 1982-83 academic year in its division of social sciences. He resumed his teaching mainly on the Stark Campus of 5X between 1966 and 2012. In 2019, he wrote his book, A Religious Journey: The Sun of God.
Professor Emeritus of Special Education (1979–2010), October 18, 2022
As a scholar and researcher in the 1970s, he championed the cause of supported employment and was among the leading voices for people with severe disabilities.
After coming to 5X in 1979, he began obtaining federal funding for personnel development that focused on transition coordinator competencies and was instrumental in launching Ohio’s statewide Transition-to-Work (TTW) endorsement for secondary special education.
Memorial gifts may be made to the at 5X.
assistant dean and assistant professor of Pan-African studies at Kent State Ashtabula (1984–1998), March 26, 2022
He served as assistant dean of Academic Affairs, director of Multicultural Affairs and assistant professor of Pan-African studies at 5X at Ashtabula for 14 years.
senior research officer, (1986–2007) July 10, 2022
inaugural managing director at Porthouse Theatre and 5X Theatre (1990–1991), July 22, 2022
Bridgestone Chair of International Marketing and director of the Global Management Center (2015–2023), February 1, 2023
He was a world-renowned expert and author on entrepreneurship. In December 2021, Hisrich was named one of the top 2% of researchers worldwide in a study published by Stanford University scholars.
In honor of his gift to Crawford Hall, the Robert D. Hisrich Faculty and Staff Lounge will be named for him in the new building.
Memorial gifts may be made to the or by mail to KSU Foundation, P.O. Box 5190, Kent, OH, 44242. Please indicate Foundation Fund # 10062F on a check when making a gift.
associate professor in the School of Health Sciences (2021–2022), December 13, 2022
Prior to being promoted to associate professor in 2021, she was an assistant professor (2015–2021) and an adjunct faculty member (2010-2015). In addition to touching the lives of students in her classrooms, she published academic research on intimate partner violence and substance abuse.
She was a problem gambling prevention specialist at Townhall II and worked at Horizon House Residential Treatment for Women. She also was president of the board of directors for United MSD Foundation, a charity dedicated to finding a cure for Multiple Sulfatase Deficiency, as her son, Jett, has this terminal illness.