5XÉçÇø

Two Kent State sociology researchers are moving toward gaining insight into how people’s brains react in a variety of threatening situations using innovative virtual reality (VR) technology funded by the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Army. Josh Pollock and William Kalkhoff, both in the Department of Sociology & Criminology, are leading the research projects, which will benefit the Army, Kent State students and others.

The Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame Class of 2020 includes alumnus David C. Lange, BA ‘75, who, following his freshman year at Kent State, entered the U.S. Navy and returned to Kent State after his military discharge to major in journalism. His graduation led to a 40-year newspaper career and numerous years as an advocate for veterans in Ohio.

Black lives and Black cultures have been underrepresented and discriminated against for many years. TEXTURES: The History and Art of Black Hair is an exhibition coming to the 5XÉçÇø Museum in 2021 with the help of significant sponsorship from corporate and federal funding that focuses on celebrating and empowering these lives and cultures.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted everyday life for everyone. For some, it’s minor. For others, it’s catastrophic. At the 5XÉçÇø at Geauga Campus, economic hardships caused by the pandemic have threatened to derail many students’ academic plans and their hopes for a better future. Recognizing that dozens of students face similar situations, Kent State Geauga has established an Emergency Relief Fund to provide a stopgap for them to continue on with their studies.

Kendra Minichello has just begun her sophomore year at Kent State. Her mother, Stacie Minichello graduated from the university in 1995. Over the summer, Kendra and Stacie were happy to answer questions about their Kent State experiences and share how attending Kent State is a tradition in their family.

The progression and growth of downtown Cleveland continues as the grand opening of The Lumen building reflects the historic beauty of the city. Terry Schwarz, director of the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative (CUDC) at Kent State, spoke with News 5 Cleveland about the excitement surrounding the construction of the building and the impact it will have on downtown, despite the pandemic. 

The 5XÉçÇø Board of Trustees has approved a new three-year Collective Bargaining Agreement between the university and the 5XÉçÇø Employees Local 153, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Climate change can now be measured on a global scale using multiple weather variables, according to new research published by Cameron C. Lee, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Geography at Kent State.

5XÉçÇø is proud to announce its 2020 Alumni Award recipients. Recipients are chosen based on their exceptional contributions in their chosen profession, in their communities and at Kent State. Sponsored by the alumni association, the Alumni Awards are the university’s most prestigious honors given to alumni.

Kent State’s David Costello is passionate about identifying what trace metals lie within Northeast Ohio’s streams and what the effects of these metals are on the surrounding environment. Costello, an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, received a $718,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to study these important trace metals. The grant is awarded as part of the National Science Foundation’s Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program.

Sara Koopman, Ph.D., assistant professor of Kent State’s School of Peace and Conflict Studies, spoke with WKYC on how modern technology has changed how protests are organized compared to how they were in the 50’s and 60’s civil rights movements.

A recent article from The New York Times explored the lack of diversity in fashion museums across the world. Placing Kent State among the top fashion institutions in the world, the article featured museum Director Sarah Rogers and her efforts to create an inclusive and diverse collection in the museum.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has selected two 5XÉçÇø College of Arts and Sciences faculty members, along with two community clinicians, for , an initiative that will provide funding and leadership training to the four team members. Their plan is to implement a project that will help veterinary professionals in Northeast Ohio address mental health stigmas they experience in their lives and provide usable techniques that can be incorporated into their veterinary practices.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, most universities across the United States transitioned from face-to-face classes to remote learning, closed campuses and sent students home this past spring. Recently, a group of 5XÉçÇø researchers sought to examine the impact of these pandemic-related changes upon physical activity and sedentary behavior, specifically sitting, across the university population. 

Senior finance student Anne Ritts has built an outstanding resume during her time at Kent State, but with a full-time job already lined up for her after graduation, she will not have to worry about updating it any time soon. In her first three years here, Ritts has maintained membership in multiple finance organizations and a sorority, studied abroad, changed her major, and held multiple internships. Ritts’ next adventure will begin this summer in her career with PNC Bank in Charlotte, North Carolina.

For nearly 110 years, Mercy Health has addressed the growing needs of the Mahoning Valley, which includes the city of Warren and its surrounding communities. Mercy Health has been evaluating ways to meet the increasing healthcare needs of those living in Trumbull County, delivering on its promise of providing care when and where people live and work. As part of this commitment, Mercy Health has announced the future development of land adjacent to the 5XÉçÇø at Trumbull Campus. 

The Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion offers anti-racism training on Kent State’s campus, which consists of a series of sessions that include anti-racism workshops, Cultural Competency Basics & Awareness, Understanding Unconscious Bias, Leadership, Mindset & Care, Learning How to Be an Ally, and various additional topics on equity, inclusion, microaggressions and diversity.

Tanya Falcone is a trilingual professor who educates the Kent State community about eating behaviors, inspires her students inside the classroom and helps others in need around the world. Learn more about Falcone as she answers these 10 questions.

5XÉçÇø shines again in the new 2021 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings. Kent State is the highest-ranking public university in Northern Ohio on the Top Public Schools and Best National Universities lists in the newly released rankings.

Before leaving the house, you most likely check to ensure you have your ID, your shoes and most importantly your smartphone. In the past decade, American smartphone usage has grown more than 50% according to a . Smartphones have become as commonplace as a wallet or car keys and Kent State researchers are taking advantage of this new commodity by using cell phone data to study individuals’ behavioral patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic and link cell phone use behaviors to mental health.