This year marks two significant anniversaries at Â鶹´«Ã½ - the 100th anniversary of Undergraduate Student Government and the 40th anniversary of Kent Student Ambassadors. To celebrate this special occasion, we are honoring these organizations through the 2024 Homecoming Theme: A Legacy of Leadership.
A Kent State education includes immeasurable access to hands on leadership training and when our students graduate, they go on to affect meaningful change in their communities. Kent State alumni are leading in many industries, from business and nonprofits to entertainment and aviation. Check out the stories below to learn a little more about a few Golden Flashes who are leaders in their fields.
Stephanie Johnson, ’91
Capt. Stephanie Johnson, ’91, made history as the first Black woman to graduate from Â鶹´«Ã½'s flight program. Since then, she’s paved the way for others by achieving historic milestones as the first African American female pilot for Northwest Airlines and, later in her career, as the first African American female captain at Delta Air Lines.
Tom Jennings, ’85
Tom Jennings, ’85, is an award-winning content creator with decades of filmmaking and directing experience. His company, 1895 Films, is known for its documentaries on historical figures and events. Tom’s career includes directing for the History Channel and National Geographic, and he has won both a Peabody Award and an Emmy for his work.
Marvin Logan, ’15
Marvin Logan, ’15, believes his time at Kent State equipped him with the skills and values he needed to be a leader. Now, as president and executive director of OH WOW!® The Roger & Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science & Technology, he inspires youth and impacts his community, while remaining involved with Kent State through advisory boards and student support.
Lillian Kuri,B.S. ’93, B.Arch. ’94
Lillian Kuri, B.S. ’93, B.Arch. ’94, is the first female president and CEO of the Cleveland Foundation, the oldest community foundation in the nation. A graduate of Kent State’s College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Lillian applies more than 25 years of architectural and philanthropic expertise to impact the greater Cleveland area.
Emilia Sykes, ’07
U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes, ’07, became the first Black person elected to represent Ohio’s 13th Congressional District in 2022. An Akron native, Emilia served for eight years as a state representative in the Ohio House of Representatives. Her participation in Kent State’s Columbus Program in State Issues (CPSI) as a student is where she first studied the practical aspects of public policymaking firsthand.
Adarsh Krishen ’82
Adarsh Krishen, ’82, has dedicated his career to family medicine and community service. He currently holds the role of chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood of Greater Cleveland, which serves more than 60,000 patients annually. He continues to engage with Kent State as a donor and a member of the Honors College advisory board.