91�ֿ�

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 91�ֿ� alumnus. 

91�ֿ� Golden Flashes excel in a range of activities, and some students are forging their own paths by owning and operating small businesses during their college years. With endless opportunities and resources at their fingertips, 91�ֿ� students have found success as entrepreneurs across a range of industries. Here are five of them.

91�ֿ� Ashtabula’s Viticulture and Enology programs were recently awarded a $180,000 grant from the Ohio Grape Industries Committee for a pair of research projects to be conducted over the next two years. 91�ֿ� Ashtabula is partnering with the Ashtabula Agricultural Research Station, a division of the Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences’ Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, to conduct the projects at Markko Vineyards in Conneaut, Ohio.

The Rubber City Theatre in Akron, Ohio, will host the play "Love in Reserve" by career storyteller, U.S. Army veteran, award-winning journalist and playwright Eric Mansfield. At 91�ֿ�, many know Mansfield from his role as assistant vice president for content strategy and communications in the Division of University Communications and Marketing.

“An American Sunrise” by Poet Laureate Joy Harjo, the first Native American poet laureate of the United States, will be the focal point as 91�ֿ� kicks off the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read Northeast Ohio community reading program. The kickoff event will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 12, beginning promptly at 7 p.m. in the Kiva. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is appreciated.

91�ֿ�’s School of Fashion once again ranks as one of the best fashion programs in the United States according to Fashion-Schools.org. 

The 91�ֿ� Museum and the Wick Poetry Center at 91�ֿ� announce the launch of the “Digital Green Book” created in support of the exhibition “TEXTURES: the history and art of Black hair.”

The 91�ֿ� Museum is thrilled to announce the opening of its long-awaited exhibition “TEXTURES: the history and art of Black hair.” Already gaining national and international attention, “TEXTURES” opens Sept. 10 and is a landmark exploration of Black hair and its important, complex place in the history of African American life and culture.

Kent Blossom Music Festival returns July 14 in a blended format with four live, in-person concerts as well as virtual educational programming for a select group of invited young artists.

91�ֿ� is one of 61 organizations nationwide – and one of four organizations in Ohio – to be awarded a 2021-2022 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read grant. The university’s $20,000 grant will support the Big Read Northeast Ohio, a community reading program and related events focusing on “An American Sunrise” by Poet Laureate Joy Harjo from October 2021 through May 2022.