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Kent State alumnus Cooper Moore, '21, was recently elected the President of the Board of Directors for the American Institute of Architecture Students after graduating in the fall. As president, Moore will lead the board during discussions and decisions. His other responsibilities include helping run the organization, marketing and carrying out the organization’s strategic plan. He will serve for a one year term in Washington, D.C.

When people consider hunger in America, they tend to think of people far away in urban centers. They don’t realize that food insecurity is a very real problem in Geauga County, even among college students. In order to combat this growing and troubling trend, ��ɫapp at Geauga is partnering with the Geauga Hunger Task Force (GHTF). Kent State Geauga received a $2,500 grant from the GHTF in January 2022 to assist in their mission “ensuring that no Geauga County residents go hungry.”

The PNC Foundation has awarded $75,000 to ��ɫapp to help ensure success among students who commonly face barriers in college. This grant aligns with PNC’s focus on addressing economic inequality among Black American and low- to moderate-income communities, and it will provide resources for students that will help them complete college and establish a strong foundation on which to build their careers.

DC Comics’ superhero Black Lightning has been part of popular culture, and Black history, for more than 40 years. Since his debut in 1977 as DC’s very first “headline” Black character, Black Lightning has appeared in comic books, animated TV series, video games and, in 2017, a live-action TV series that ran for four seasons on The CW Network. In his secret identity, Jefferson Pierce (shh, don’t tell anyone), he also appeared on the Kent Campus to get his teaching degree. Yes – Black Lightning is a Kent State alumnus. 

Kent State alumna, Brianna Gordon, ‘20, developed two interests independently in high school: video production and sports. Now, she spends her days combining those two, working on videos for the Pro Football Hall of Fame (PFHOF) in Canton, Ohio. Gordon is making a name for herself after graduating with a degree in digital media production and a concentration in television from the School of Media and Journalism in the College of Communication and Information.

Society’s norm for men is stereotyped as leaders, providers, and guardians. Society also posits that men cannot speak about their emotions and have to portray a strong persona to be considered masculine and to succeed in these roles. This results in an environment of “toxic masculinity,” which encourages negative self image, negative outward behavior and struggles with mental health among men who feel they have to be strong at all times. An initiative on campus is trying to change that perception.

Head of textile program at Kent State, Professor Janice Lessman-Moss, curated an exhibition of modernized forms of weaving that was recently featured on Cool Cleveland. The new show at Kent State’s Center for the Visual Arts, called Line by Line, focuses on six early career artists that are focused on the diverse world of weaving.

A retired Marine is using his journey to assist others at Kent State's Center for Adult and Veteran Services. Recently featured on Good Morning America’s “What You Need to Know” segment, Mark Stillion discussed his experience of adjusting to life after his four deployments and how Kent State’s programs have assisted him. 

Kent State has a history of passionate student activism. However, 2020 has really highlighted such efforts, both current and past, and its impact on the importance of students sharing their voices through voting. Efforts made by individuals, student-led groups, faculty members and Kent State as a whole have led to an exceptionally high increase in voter engagement throughout campus.

The Kent State Geauga and Ashtabula Campuses were awarded a $585,046 USDA Grant in January 2022 to bring rural Geauga and Ashtabula counties on par with the latest technological advancements in education, medicine, and workforce development. Ashtabula County entities that will benefit from the grant include Andover Public Library, Kingsville Public Library, Pierpont Township Board of Trustees, Grand Valley Local School District, Pymatuning Valley Local School District and SPIRE Institute.