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����Թ� Celebrates Excellent Seniors, Alumni and Faculty Award Recipients

On April 17, 2025, in the ����Թ� Student Center, outstanding ����Թ� State seniors and two

exceptional faculty members were honored during the Senior Honors Reception, and also, the Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) Induction Ceremony. 

IN A FLASH: Get Some Green For Your Garden

The Spring 2025 Plant Sale at the Herrick Conservatory begins on Monday, April 28 and runs through Friday, May 2, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily. The sale of these student-grown vegetables, herbs, flowers and houseplants support the Herrick Conservatory and associated student organizations. 

����Թ� State Alumnus’ Air Force Career Takes Off

From Massillon, Ohio, to the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas, Kenneth Strait, a 2024 ����Թ� graduate, is a standout example of how hard work pays off. From Massillon, Ohio, to the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas, Kenneth Strait, a 2024 ����Թ� graduate, is a standout example of how hard work pays off.

Artificial Intelligence in Translation and Interpretation

Geoff Koby, Ph.D., professor of Translation Studies and German, certified freelance translator and president of the American Translators Association (ATA), said artificial intelligence is inescapable in translation and interpretation now. 

Student Investment Group Feels Market Swings in Real Time

Student members of the Golden Flash Asset Management Group manage more than $1.4 million in university assets. ����Թ� State Today asked the group's members how they reacted to the news that the United States was adding tariffs and what lessons they learned while navigating uncharted financial waters.

Rocking the Runway

Hundreds packed Crawford Hall Friday night to see the best in fashion in support of the ����Թ� State School of Fashion's Annual Awards Fashion Show. 

What Does Peace Look Like?

It may seem like a simple question: What does peace look like?  

But the answers can be profoundly different depending on who is asked.

A Hop, Skip and 5,000 Miles to ����Թ� State

If you look into the stands of the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center during a ����Թ� State women's basketball game, you’ll find a mother-daughter pair of students from Brazil cheering with all their might. Five thousand miles from home, Hetty and Fernanda have found new activities and friends in the United States.

‘Experiencing These Things Firsthand Left A Mark On My Heart’

An Alternative Spring Break journey to historic civil rights sites in Mississippi by ����Թ� State students and faculty touched hearts and inspired community engagement. The six-day/five-night trip in March 2025 was sponsored by ����Թ� State’s Office of Community Engaged Learning. 

College of Public Health Faculty Member Recognized as 2025 Distinguished Honors Alumni Award Recipient

Thomas Brewer, Ph.D., M. Jur., is a mentor, researcher, founding member of the College of Public Health and the winner of the 2025 Distinguished Honors Alumni award. The Distinguished Honors Alumni award recognizes alumni who have served the Honors College and facilitated increased opportunities for Honors College students. Brewer was honored at the 39th annual Senior Honors Reception on Thurs., April 17, 2025, in the ����Թ� Student Center Ballroom.

Flash Focus: Aislinn Foran

Meet Aislinn Foran, a senior communication studies major with a focus in applied communication and a minor in public relations from Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. With a heavy involvement in the Her Campus at ����Թ� (HCKSU) chapter, Foran contributed to creating a welcoming environment for all members. 

‘The World Of Mathematics Can Be Theirs’

Congratulations to Beverly Reed, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at ����Թ�

Links Shared During Today’s Talking With Todd

Dear ����Թ� Faculty and Staff,

IN A FLASH: Traveling With ‘Men On Boats’

“Men On Boats,” presented by students in ����Թ�’s School of Theatre and Dance, opened on April 18 and will finish its run with a final performance on April 27. The play is a comedy, telling the story of John Wesley Powell’s 1869 expedition down the Grand and Colorado Rivers with nine amateur explorers.

Professor Shares How to Understand and Overcome Burnout

Angela Neal-Barnett, Ph.D., professor of psychology at ����Թ� State, discussed what burnout is and gave a few tips on how to identify and deal with burnout on WBUR's Here and Now.

Counting Steps, Not Just Equations:

Freshman Honors Colloquium Instructor Announced as 2025 Distinguished Honors Faculty Award Winner

Karl Uhrig, Ph.D., teaches a Freshman Honors Colloquium (FHC) section for Honors College first-year students entitled “Discourse and Agency.”  In his class, Uhrig assigns readings, films, discussion topics and papers that examine discourse and agency’s role in society, but his course extends beyond fictional examples of both discourse and agency. Uhrig has spent years refining his teaching style to empower students to use their agency to learn in a way they prefer and engage in open discourse with their classmates.

IN A FLASH: The Buzz on Mathematics

The Integration Bee, presented by  ����Թ� State's Department of Mathematical Sciences, invited students to enjoy fun math-themed competitions and activities along with fun costumes, pizza and math-oriented jokes and puns.

Professor’s Innovations Aim to Advance Fuel Cell Efficiency, Fuel Purity

Yanhai Du, Ph.D., professor in the College of Aeronautics and Engineering at ����Թ� and administrator for the Sustainable Energy Lab, continues to break ground in energy systems research with a trio of patent accomplishments aimed at advancing the performance and integration of fuel cell technologies.

Students Love ����Թ�’s Nightlife, Food and Events

From mornings at Tree City Coffee to late nights at Barflyy, ����Թ� State’s community has plenty of food and entertainment options thanks to the help of Main Street ����Թ�, now a Nationally Accredited Main Street program for 2024.

����Թ� State Experts Float the Physical Impact of Extended Space Travel

On March 18, a watery landing by NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore ended an unexpected nine-month stay in space. Two ����Թ� State professors walk us through the out-of-this-world impact that an extended stay away from gravity can have on the human body.

IN A FLASH: An Investment in Experience

����Թ� President Todd Diacon was among the people who attended  the semi-annual report presentation by the student organization Golden Flash Asset Management in Crawford Hall. Students in this group learn about investing by managing a real portfolio, gaining valuable career experience.

����Թ� State Hosts Choose Ohio First Conference, Celebrates Future STEM Leaders

Message From the President Concerning Student Art Display

Dear Members of the ����Թ� Community,

‘We All Have an Origin Story’

As part of  ����Թ� State’s 55-Year Commemoration of May 4, 1970, Mahli Mechenbier, a senior lecturer at ����Թ� at Geauga's Twinsburg Academic Center will present “Operation: Babylift: A 50-Year Retrospective and Personal History” on May 3 at 1 p.m. with her father, retired Maj. General Ed Mechenbier. Mahli Mechenbier was one of the children from Vietnam the U.S. Government brought to the United States for adoption by American families by  after Saigon was overun by advancing Viet Cong troops in 1972. 

Flash Focus: Lance Delisle

Meet Lance Delisle, a junior aeronautical studies major with an aviation law and policy minor from Woodstock, Georgia, who balances his studies with his responsibilities as an Air Force reservist.

President Diacon Addresses Budget Challenges, SB 1 Implementation and University's Path Forward

����Թ� President Todd Diacon recently addressed multiple challenges facing the university with the Akron Beacon Journal, including the $1.5-$2 million cost of implementing Senate Bill 1, budget constraints from capped tuition increases, and enrollment declines. 

Artificial Intelligence in Translation and Interpretation

A True Hero: Lucas Slusher, ’17, Is Helping Change the Perception and Function of Prostheses with Hero Arm

One ����Թ� State graduate’s journey to find the right prosthesis led to a monumental win for limb loss awareness in Ohi

Fire at Partner University in Brazil Disrupts Classes

A significant fire broke out at the Teatro Universitário (TUCA) of the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCPR) in Curitiba, Brazil on April 15. ����Թ�’s American Academy program operates on the PUCPR campus as part of the dual-enrollment partnership established between the two institutions in 2018. 

Celebrating 60 Years of Discovery and Innovation

A star-studded lineup of scientists will return to ����Թ� on April 25-26 to mark the 60th anniversary of the Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute.

IN A FLASH: Groovy Mathematics

Physical representations of mathematical concepts were incorporated into the design of ����Թ�'s Mathematical Sciences Building. Completed in 1993, curves, spirals, triangles and other math expressions can be found throughout the structure. 

Swiss Graduate Student Finds Her Digital Marketing Path at ����Թ� State

For Lara Kilchenmann, the journey from Switzerland to ����Թ� wasn't just about pursuing higher education — it was about returning to a place that felt like home.

Advancing First-Generation Student Success

First-generation students make up 54% of the nation's undergraduates, yet only 27% earn a bachelor’s degree. Many first-generation students face unique challenges with limited support systems. ����Թ� was recently recognized for its outstanding work with students in this category by FirstGen Forward as the newest class of FirstGen Forward Network Champions.

Congratulations, Mr. President: Ivory Kendrick Defies Life’s Challenges to Lead Student Government

Ivory Kendrick, the newly elected president of the University Student Government, spoke his destiny into existence last year when he set his sights on leading the organization. Now, Kendrick is ready to hit the ground running.

Donate Unwanted Items During Move Out

During move-out, students sometimes trash clothes and boxes of food. Throw ‘N’ Go, ����Թ�'s annual move-out program, is currently underway to keep those useable items out of landfills and in the hands of people who need them.