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Dear Members of the ����ֱ�� State University Community,Welcome back! So happy to see our campuses humming with the return of students, faculty and staff for the Spring 2026 Semester. Thank you for what you do for ����ֱ�� State.As we begin this semester, I want to share upcoming leadership transitions in the Office of Government and Community Relations, and in the Division of Information Technology. I am pleased to announce the appointment of Nicholas (Nick) Ciofani as executive director of government and community relations, effective March 1. Nick has served as deputy director of government an...

The 2025 recipient of the William R. Levin Award for Research in the History of Art since 1750 is Shana Klein, Associate Professor of Art History at ����ֱ�� State University. Her proposal, “Spoiled Milk: The Politics of Race and Motherhood in U.S. Art and Visual Culture,” explores motherhood during the long 19th century (1850-1920) during a period of profound change. This book project explores visual depictions of pregnancy, childbirth and infant care and considers how motherhood was politicized as a responsibility to generate and raise “white” citizens.In 2013, William R. Levin, Profes...

  We are excited to announce that Angela Neal-Barnett, Ph.D., professor in ����ֱ�� State’s Department of Psychological Sciences, has been awarded an $85,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Medicaid Maternal and Infant Support Program. This award will provide additional support for Dr. Neal-Barnett’s Spirit of Motherhood Program. Congratulations to Dr. Neal-Barnett for her impressive accomplishments!...

  Students saw falling temperatures and accumulating snow as they completed the first week of classes in Spring Semester 2026, after returning from winter break.     Want to see YOUR photos in “IN A FLASH?” Submit your ����ֱ�� State-related photos to InAFlash@kent.edu and you may see them in a future ����ֱ�� State Today post. Photos should be framed -horizontally- and include a brief description of what’s happening in the photo along with when and where it was taken. ...

 ����ֱ�� State at Salem held its White Coat Ceremony for students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, signifying a rite of passage as they transition into the nursing field.Ten sophomore BSN students each received a white coat that helps establish their “professional identity” and coincides with the beginning of training in clinical settings. The White Coat Ceremony was established in 1993 at Columbia University by the Gold Foundation as a way to highlight the importance of humanism in caring for patients by those training to become healthcare professionals. For 30 years, the...

 John Hoornbeek, Ph.D.Congratulations to John Hoornbeek, Ph.D., professor of health policy and management in the C����ֱ�� State ollege of Public Health, for co-authoring the textbook American Public Policy.Now in its thirteenth edition, American Public Policy provides a comprehensive yet accessible overview of the policymaking process, from procedural approaches and policy instruments to in-depth analysis of specific policy issues. First author B. Guy Peters and new coauthor John Hoornbeek ensure that the mechanisms of complex governmental policy process are understandable to a range of read...

����ֱ�� State University’s Talent Management team is hosting an in‑person supervisor training, Facilitating Career Conversations, on Jan. 29, from 1:30–3 p.m. in Heer Hall. This immersive session equips supervisors with the tools, frameworks, and confidence needed to lead meaningful, growth‑focused career conversations that support both employee development and university strategy.What Supervisors Will LearnThe training provides practical guidance and actionable strategies, including:Understanding Roles in Career Development: Supervisors learn how to create a supportive environment, ask powe...