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IN A FLASH: A Memorable Commemoration

The 55-year commemoration of the tragic events of May 4, 1970 at Kent State included an extensive schedule of presentations, the annual candlelight walk and vigil and the commemoration ceremonies on May 4. 

Treating Others With Dignity During Stormy Times Must Be Part of University's Core Values

In a heartfelt address during this year's May 4 Commemoration, �鶹���� President Todd Diacon spoke about the challenges of leading during times of change and uncertainty while emphasizing a common theme – the university's commitment to its core values of kindness and respect. 

Julian Edelman Named to New England Patriots Hall of Fame

Former Kent State quarterback and New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman has been voted into the Patriots Hall of Fame as the 37th inductee, the team announced Monday.

Your Library Is Getting an Upgrade

To better serve you through our vast resources and knowledgeable librarians, �鶹���� Libraries will join other OhioLINK institutions in replacing the KentLINK platform with a new library system that will offer a host of benefits to support 21st-century teaching, learning and research. 

One Year of Wellness on Wheels

�鶹���� recently celebrated one year of wellness-on-the-go. The Mobile Flashes program has been in motion since spring 2024, delivering healthcare services to underserved and rural communities throughout Northeast Ohio.  

Commemorating Moment Frozen in Time

Hundreds of �鶹���� students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members gathered to pay their respects and to remember.

Annual Candlelight Walk and Vigil Marks May 4

Despite rain, �鶹���� continued its commemoration to honor the memory of May 4, 1970 with the annual candlelight walk and vigil on campus. This cornerstone of the commemoration began in 1971. Participants carried candles as they gathered on the Kent State Commons and in the Prentice Hall parking lot.

‘It Was Time for Me to Go Home’ – Geography Professor Combed May 4 Oral Histories in Search of Shared Humanity

�鶹���� Associate Professor of Geography Jennifer Mapes, Ph.D., has studied the events of May 4, 1970, through the lens of a map maker. 

Honors Student Shines Light on the Past While Preparing for the Future

Riley Drabic, a junior architectural studies major at �鶹���� and a member of the Honors College, is already doing research in the field of historic preservation, which will not only enrich the field, but prepare him for his own future as a historic preservationist. Captivated by history and architecture, Riley wants to preserve and repair historical buildings instead of designing new structures.

A Legacy of Remembrance: 50th Anniversary of May 4 Task Force

As the May 4 Task Force celebrates its golden anniversary this year, chair Sophie Swengel is proud to once again preserve the memory of May 4, 1970, and the people who were lost and injured that day.

IN A FLASH: It's Not Just One Day

Remembering May 4, 1970 at Kent State is not confined to just the events around the annual commemoration on campus, but is part of living and learning at Kent State throughout the year.

Being a Hospital’s Moral Compass

Flash Focus: Graduating University Storytellers

Meet Camille, Malina, Hayden, Matthew and Timmy, five graduating seniors from across the College of Communication and Information who work for �鶹����’s Division of University Communications and Marketing. These students have been gaining more than just hands-on experience; they are helping shape the university’s story.  

�鶹���� Flashes Give Back Week: Serving Communities, Supporting Students and Showing Gratitude

From April 21-26, Golden Flashes came together in remarkable ways to make an impact during Flashes Give Back Week, a weeklong i

Kent State Remembers May 4, 1970, With 55th Commemoration

�鶹���� will hold its annual commemoration to honor the memory of May 4, 1970 – a tragic day when the Ohio National Guard opened fire on Kent State students during an anti-war protest on campus, killing four students and wounding nine others. May 4, 1970, marked a pivotal moment in American history. 

Peering into the Past with Billion-Year-Old Bacteria

MEDIA ADVISORY: Kent State Remembers May 4, 1970, With 55th Commemoration

�鶹���� will hold its annual commemoration to honor the memory of May 4, 1970 – a tragic day when the Ohio National Guard opened fire on Kent State students during an anti-war protest on campus, killing four students and wounding nine others. May 4, 1970, marked a pivotal moment in American history. 

Out of This World Opportunities

My name is Tristan Magel.

ToddCast Episode 3: Jerry M. Lewis

Join us on the Kent State ToddCast as President Todd Diacon revisits a conversation with Professor Emeritus Jerry M. Lewis, Ph.D.

�鶹���� Announces Dual Degree Partnership in Fashion Design with Bennett University

�鶹���� has signed a new international partnership with Bennett University in India that will establish a 2+2 Dual Degree Program in Fashion Design to provide students with a unique educational opportunity.

Hoping Tragic History Will Never Repeat Itself

A group of Emerson College students in Boston, who are enrolled in Gregory Payne’s course about the Kent State and Jackson State tragedies will visit Kent State on May 2-4, when the university holds its annual commemoration.

Students Guiding the History of Kent State

The May 4 Visitors Center uses �鶹����’s history to help guide the community in understanding the past and applying it to the present. Tours conducted by student guides are a rich part of this process.  

From Seed Grant to Community Impact: The LEAD Project Inspires Young Minds in Akron

�鶹���� Celebrates Excellent Seniors, Alumni and Faculty Award Recipients

On April 17, 2025, in the �鶹���� Student Center, outstanding Kent State seniors and two

exceptional faculty members were honored during the Senior Honors Reception, and also, the Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) Induction Ceremony. 

IN A FLASH: Get Some Green For Your Garden

The Spring 2025 Plant Sale at the Herrick Conservatory begins on Monday, April 28 and runs through Friday, May 2, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily. The sale of these student-grown vegetables, herbs, flowers and houseplants support the Herrick Conservatory and associated student organizations. 

Kent State Alumnus’ Air Force Career Takes Off

From Massillon, Ohio, to the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas, Kenneth Strait, a 2024 �鶹���� graduate, is a standout example of how hard work pays off. From Massillon, Ohio, to the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas, Kenneth Strait, a 2024 �鶹���� graduate, is a standout example of how hard work pays off.

Artificial Intelligence in Translation and Interpretation

Geoff Koby, Ph.D., professor of Translation Studies and German, certified freelance translator and president of the American Translators Association (ATA), said artificial intelligence is inescapable in translation and interpretation now. 

Student Investment Group Feels Market Swings in Real Time

Student members of the Golden Flash Asset Management Group manage more than $1.4 million in university assets. Kent State Today asked the group's members how they reacted to the news that the United States was adding tariffs and what lessons they learned while navigating uncharted financial waters.

Rocking the Runway

Hundreds packed Crawford Hall Friday night to see the best in fashion in support of the Kent State School of Fashion's Annual Awards Fashion Show. 

What Does Peace Look Like?

It may seem like a simple question: What does peace look like?  

But the answers can be profoundly different depending on who is asked.

A Hop, Skip and 5,000 Miles to Kent State

If you look into the stands of the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center during a Kent State women's basketball game, you’ll find a mother-daughter pair of students from Brazil cheering with all their might. Five thousand miles from home, Hetty and Fernanda have found new activities and friends in the United States.

‘Experiencing These Things Firsthand Left A Mark On My Heart’

An Alternative Spring Break journey to historic civil rights sites in Mississippi by Kent State students and faculty touched hearts and inspired community engagement. The six-day/five-night trip in March 2025 was sponsored by Kent State’s Office of Community Engaged Learning. 

College of Public Health Faculty Member Recognized as 2025 Distinguished Honors Alumni Award Recipient

Thomas Brewer, Ph.D., M. Jur., is a mentor, researcher, founding member of the College of Public Health and the winner of the 2025 Distinguished Honors Alumni award. The Distinguished Honors Alumni award recognizes alumni who have served the Honors College and facilitated increased opportunities for Honors College students. Brewer was honored at the 39th annual Senior Honors Reception on Thurs., April 17, 2025, in the �鶹���� Student Center Ballroom.

Flash Focus: Aislinn Foran

Meet Aislinn Foran, a senior communication studies major with a focus in applied communication and a minor in public relations from Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. With a heavy involvement in the Her Campus at �鶹���� (HCKSU) chapter, Foran contributed to creating a welcoming environment for all members. 

‘The World Of Mathematics Can Be Theirs’

Congratulations to Beverly Reed, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at Kent

Links Shared During Today’s Talking With Todd

Dear �鶹���� Faculty and Staff,