As we near the end of 2022, I reflect on how much has changed since last year. We returned to in-person research with great excitement. Our Faculty Research and Innovation forums (you can read more about those below) became celebrations of being back together. Our Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program engaged the highest number of undergraduates in the program’s history. So much to celebrate!
During the fall semester, we also continued to implement plans to increase support for the research and creative activities of our faculty and students as we work to maintain our Carnegie R1 (very high research) designation. These efforts, and many of our research and entrepreneurial successes, stem from the generosity of those who have chosen to graciously support KSU’s research enterprise.
A special thanks to our supporters for all you do to support the Kent State University research community and for your continued commitment to helping us meet and exceed our goals. Your dedication makes the kind of life-changing opportunities experienced by Alaya Kiser, second year neuroscience major, SURE scholar and BHRI Fellow, possible.
“The SURE program this summer gave me more STEM experience than I could’ve asked for. Each day, I was given a new opportunity to learn and grow in my love for science…I truly think this program is the most enriching experience I’ve had in my collegiate endeavors,” said Alaya.
I wish you all a bright and promising 2023.
Doug Delahanty, Interim Vice President Division of Research and Sponsored Programs
Thanks to our many generous donors who supported our division funds, including the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Program, the Brain Health Research Institute Undergraduate Fellows Program and the Ukrainian Scholars Support Fund during the 2022 Giving Tuesday fundraising campaign. Together, the division raised more than $45,915 to support students, faculty and staff engaged in research, collaborative work and scholarships.
We also appreciate the support from generous donors including Dr. Jacqueline Bresnahan, ’68, Dr. Paul DiCorleto, retired vice president, Dr. Torsten Hegmann and Dr. John West for providing matching gifts for our featured funds.
Forum Explores Topics of Mentorship, Peacebuilding and Education in Dance
A research and innovation forum that celebrated anti-racism oriented scholarship being conducted by KSU faculty was held in November and was hosted by Kent State’s Anti-Racism and Equity Institute (AREI).
The forum featured Kent State researchers Catrina Johnson, ’07, MBA ’09, Ph.D., Elaine Hsiao, Ph.D., and Gregory King, MFA.
SURE Fellows Demonstrate Kent State's R1 Status in Action
Students from 50+ majors including aerospace engineering, theater, physics, music and nursing were among the 100+ presenters at the annual Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Three-Minute Presentations held on October 18 in the Kent Student Center.
During this event, 122 SURE program participants presented. This represents an increase of 50 student presentations from the previous year.
Kent State President Todd Diacon has literally been on the move as part of his new video series called, “What’s the Big Idea?” that takes viewers inside the latest research opportunities happening at Kent State.
In episode one, Diacon spends time traveling campus with Sara Bayramzadeh, Ph.D., coordinator and Elliot Professor, healthcare design, College of Architecture and Environmental Design. They look at how university researchers and students are working to design hospital trauma rooms of the future.
Theatre Major Creating Shakespeare Open-resource Book
Xavier Heipp, a senior theatre major, is working under the mentorship of Dr. Yuko Kurahashi, Ph.D., to research and author an open-resource book on Shakespeare. He worked on this research through the SURE program, an eight-week summer program designed to allow students to build skills in critical thinking, research, communication and problem solving by engaging in faculty-supervised research.
The book is designed to be an open resource for teachers and students covering five of Shakespeare’s plays.
We believe in the promise and potential of our students, and we know they will go on to make their communities better and brighter in remarkable ways. This holiday season, make their futures Forever Brighter! Please consider a gift to support research at Kent State. Gifts made by or postmarked by Dec. 31 may be counted in your annual tax return.
