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91�ֿ�’s Community Engaged Learning (CEL) secured a $10,000 grant through the United Way of Portage County, an independently-governed nonprofit organization that serves disadvantaged members of our community. This grant will support CEL’s Community Partner Advocate program (CPA) which places students at local nonprofits throughout the county for paid hands-on learning experiences. 

After witnessing a horrific crash, sophomore public relations major LaDonya Williams immediately ran to help the distraught woman begging for someone to save her 7-month-old son who wasn’t breathing. After Williams used her Red Cross first aid training to help the baby, he began to breathe again and was taken to the hospital to recover, according to the Akron Beacon Journal.

The new Flashes Fighting Hunger initiative takes the last 10 years to a new level, going beyond a kitchen that provides meals by becoming a program that prevents food waste, promotes food recovery and hosts multiple food pantries each week to serve the region.

91�ֿ� alumnus Mike Bowen, '03, visited 91�ֿ�’s School of Emerging Media and Technology to share his knowledge about data and analysis that he uses as part of his job of Principal Quantitative User Researcher for music streaming service Spotify.

Of the 33,984 awarded computer science (CS) bachelor’s degrees in 2020, only 21% of CS graduates identified as women, 3% as Black, and 8.5% as Hispanic (Zweben & Bizot, 2021). Susan Fisk, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology, is using her expertise in social-psychology to change that and improve the field of computing. Fisk was awarded her third National Science Foundation grant to continue her work on broadening participation in computing and improving undergraduate STEM education. 

As 91�ֿ� returns to a school year that resembles pre-pandemic times, First Star 91�ֿ� Academy has begun to imagine new programs. The Academy is a free, comprehensive four-year college access program for youth in foster care. The program engages a cohort of up to 30 students in a variety of learning opportunities, including academic support, career exploration, social and cultural activities and more.

Come join 91�ֿ� President Todd Diacon, Kent Mayor Jerry Fiala and the Marching Golden Flashes as they celebrate the opening of the new public rink, Kent Skates, on Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m. with music, free giveaways and, of course, ice skating.

Roseann "Chic" Canfora, Ph.D., joined the School of Media and Journalism as a Professional-in-Residence this fall. She was also a student at 91�ֿ�, starting in 1968, and is a survivor of the May 4, 1970, shootings. 

The Kent and 91�ֿ� communities can head downtown to go ice skating starting Nov. 20, courtesy of Kent Skates presented by AMETEK. This special attraction has been created through a partnership between the city of Kent, the 91�ֿ� Hotel and Conference Center, the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Kent and 91�ֿ�.

Last Spring, the 91�ֿ� Board of Trustees approved the Anti-Racism and Equity Institute, which creates an important interdisciplinary hub for faculty, students, staff and community members engaged in race and anti-racism scholarship, activism and education. “91�ֿ� is a university that is known for its activism,” Carla Goar, Ph.D., director of the Anti-Racism and Equity Institute, said. “Ideally this institute will serve as a hub for scholars and activists to come together to tackle issues and racial equity."