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“In the News” features 91�㽶��Ƶ University’s values, cultures, high-quality academics and award-winning support and access for all in these media stories of our faculty, staff, students and alumni in action. 

91�㽶��Ƶ’s MLK event "The Dream of Wellness: Mental Health Advocacy Through the Lens of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr." will be held on Jan. 30 in the Student Center Ballroom.

Meet Maura Dougherty, a senior theatre studies major with a focus on performance from Pittsburgh. From acting in elementary and high school productions to working at a theatre for young audiences for five years, Dougherty has consistently pursued her passion for the performing arts.

When cities and universities work together, incredible things can happen. Like any good partnership, 91�㽶��Ƶ University and the city of Kent have spent years building and strengthening their relationship, and it has paid off. 91�㽶��Ƶ will host the 2025 International Town and Gown Association Conference.

91�㽶��Ƶ University President Todd Diacon spoke Jan. 10 at a breakfast event hosted by the Greater Akron Chamber, where he highlighted the university’s ongoing commitment to accessibility, efficiency, student well-being and community partnership, reinforcing its role as a vital institution in the region.

91�㽶��Ƶ University is proud to announce that “Legacy: May 4,” a podcast hosted by Stephen Ward, vice president for university communications and marketing, was awarded both a Gold and the Top Tactic Award by the Greater Cleveland Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) at its recent Cleveland Rocks Awards ceremony.

After winter break, 91�㽶��Ƶ University’s Center for Student Involvement is welcoming students back to campus and on-campus events with a chance to win a 91�㽶��Ƶ tumbler. 

The LGBTQ+ Center’s LGBTQ+ Emergency Fund has been helping members from the LGBTQ+ community with different financial crises encountered throughout their academic journeys since 2010. The main purpose of the fund is to ensure that students are able to overcome challenges they face and continue pursuing their education.

If you’ve ever been to the Kent Student Center, you’re aware of the constant motion within those walls. Events, meetings, presentations and more spring up frequently in the Ballroom, on the third floor, in the Schwebel Room, on the second floor balcony, in the Governance Chambers. But have you ever thought about how all that happens? The answer is simple. The Blue Shirts do it.

Dr. Nick Campitelli, D.P.M., has been practicing podiatry in Fairlawn, Ohio, now for 20 years and has garnered a major following on TikTok and YouTube for sharing his expertise, leading to many happy patients. 

Alumnus Evan Gildenblatt said 91�㽶��Ƶ University’s peace and conflict studies program intially appealed to him because it was so broadly applicable to everyday life. Today, he uses the skills he learned while earning his Bachelor of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies in his role as a judicial law clerk at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio in Cincinnati.

Victoria Bylsma said it only took about two hours after a mentor suggested she look into a graduate degree in public health for her to know what she wanted to do with her career. Today, the 91�㽶��Ƶ University Master of Public Health graduate helps to protect service members’ health and readiness as an injury epidemiologist at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Dayton.

As the first light snow of the season fell on 91�㽶��Ƶ University, the Student Center Ballroom radiated warmth and camaraderie during the International Cook-Off Competition. The event, part of International Education Week, brought together hundreds of students, faculty and staff to celebrate global flavors and cultural diversity.

The Office of Intercultural Student Life, formerly known as International Student Affairs, has a new central location in the Kent Student Center, which has made it more accessible to international students. Along with the new location comes the mission to provide drop-in services for international students.

International Education Week, taking place Nov. 18-22, celebrates the different cultures across the 91�㽶��Ƶ University community and highlights international experiences and opportunities the university offers.

In a groundbreaking advancement for augmented reality technology, 91�㽶��Ƶ University researchers have developed a novel dual-sided transparent display that could revolutionize how we interact with digital information in everyday environments.

A groundbreaking phase one clinical trial exploring a novel cell-based immunotherapy for breast cancer has been accepted for publication in JAMA Oncology. The technology tested in the trial was co-developed by Gary Koski, Ph.D., professor in 91�㽶��Ƶ University’s Department of Biological Sciences, and Brian J. Czerniecki, M.D., Ph.D., chair and senior member in the Moffitt Cancer Center’s Department of Breast Oncology. 

Esrat Farhana Dulia won first place in 91�㽶��Ƶ’s 2024 Three Minute Thesis competition in the Graduate College for her innovative research in a surveillance sensor network that will enable Advanced Air Mobility operators to guide authorized uncrewed aerial vehicles in safe flight paths that would avoid potential collisions. 

Training future service dogs has been a win-win situation for junior nursing major Rylie Lapikas. Featured in our Year with a Flash series for 2024-2025, Lapikas gets the stress relief of a furry friend while learning how to be a better nurse by paying attention to nonverbal communication and cues. 

Empathy, kindness and critical thinking are cornerstones of courses taught by Shannon Cielsa, Ph.D., who strives to foster a strong sense of community in her courses. Students have noticed and appreciated it, nominating her for the Outstanding Teaching Award.

Two 91�㽶��Ƶ University graduates who recently earned their Master of Public Health degrees spent the past two years as researchers on the first-of-its-kind Greater Cleveland LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment. 

The work of a well-known Cleveland textile artist who earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from 91�㽶��Ƶ University will be on display at the 91�㽶��Ƶ University Museum beginning Jan. 24.

As we start a new year, we take a moment to reflect on the vibrant moments that shaped 91�㽶��Ƶ University in 2024. From a beautiful sunset on the Lefton Esplanade to jubilant commencement ceremonies, from a solar eclipse to championship athletic performances, our university photographers captured the spirit and energy of our campus community throughout the year.

A new partnership between the 91�㽶��Ƶ University Museum and the Fabric Pantry, a student-led organization dedicated to providing free fabric to 91�㽶��Ƶ students, offers students the resources they need while promoting environmentally responsible fashion practices.

Former 91�㽶��Ƶ football player and two-time Golden Flash graduate Nick Saban, who went on to become college football’s most successful coach, will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a member of the 2025 class, the National Football Foundation announced today.

Antonio Gates’ journey from 91�㽶��Ƶ basketball standout to NFL greatness has moved one step closer to football immortality. The former Golden Flash has been named one of 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025, while his fellow 91�㽶��Ƶ alumnus James Harrison did not advance from the semifinalist round.

91�㽶��Ƶ has announced the eight-member 2024 Varsity K Athletics Hall of Fame class, which will be honored as part of the 45th induction ceremony on Feb. 1, 2025.