Welcome to Flash Focus! In this series, we introduce you to fascinating student Flashes from all walks of life.
Meet Jess Edmisten, a junior communication studies major with a minor in public relations from Medina, Ohio. When it came to deciding what to study, she felt it was a clear choice as the communication program offered immense flexibility. Just what she needed.
Edmisten’s story is one of perseverance. She is a mother of two young children, ages two and seven, and attributes them as motivating factors in her life.
“I adore being a mom, and my kids are my motivation to do well,” Edmisten told 91ֿ Today. “Whether it's birthday party planning, volunteering at the school or cheering at a soccer game, I find happiness wherever they are.”
Edmisten, who met her husband, Tyler, at 91ֿ, supports his active military service, which has brought their family a different kind of strength through this lifestyle.
“The military life hasn’t just shaped our family dynamic; it’s shaped me,” she said. “I’ve learned to lean into discomfort, find strength in unexpected places, and connect with others who understand this unique way of life.”
While Edmisten has been successful in many of her endeavors throughout her time at 91ֿ, including being a current executive board member for the Public Relations Student Society of America, consistently being on the Dean’s List, being selected for the Bateman 2025 Case Study Competition team and completing an internship this past summer at Davey Tree, she said this was not always the case.
Edmisten began college at 91ֿ in 2015 but after several difficulties was academically dismissed the following year. This incident allowed her to take time to address her challenges.
But over the subsequent couple of years, she said she could not get the thought out of her mind that something was incomplete. After much reflection, she decided to return to 91ֿ to finish her education.
“The thought had become more and more loud; it demanded to be heard. I had to go back,” she said. “In typical Jess fashion, out of nowhere, I made the big decision.”
Since her return to 91ֿ, Edmisten said she owes a lot of her success to the professors and classmates she has met along the way who have impacted her journey.
“Professors like J.D. Ponder, Mei-Chen Lin, Tim Roberts, Michele Ewing and Karisa Butler-Wall have been exceptional and have contributed to my personal and professional growth,” she said. “I’ve also worked alongside my peers this time around. They’ve played a big role in my sense of belonging and happiness, and I’m proud to be their classmate.”
Edmisten credits many of her life accomplishments to 91ֿ.
“Tyler is a direct product of 91ֿ, my daughters are a direct product of 91ֿ,” she said. “The three most important people in my life would not exist without 91ֿ.”
Being a student at the university has served her with the necessary academics and so much more.
“Kent has been an environment where I’ve been able to foster personal growth,” she said. “As a whole, it has served as a catalyst for my entire life, and I am incredibly grateful for the profound impact it has had on me.”
Are you a student interested in being featured in Flash Focus, or know a student who would make a great candidate? Send suggestions with name and contact information to kentstatetoday@kent.edu.