Community members as well as faculty, staff, alumni and students are all invited to attend the Faculty Lecture Series, hosted by the Kent State Alumni Association, from March 30 through May 3. Free and open to the public, the events span disciplines from all eight Kent State campuses.
Marquita Rodgers, program coordinator of alumni relations at Kent State, says the Faculty Lecture Series was created in 2013 to showcase the interests, research and academic talents of the university’s faculty.
“Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the multidisciplinary research of our faculty, meet some of Kent State’s nationally recognized faculty scholars and discover the distinctive niche of each campus community,” Rodgers said.
Throughout the series, Rodgers says, the alumni association will present accomplished faculty members and also highlight campus facilities.
For example, Jon Secaur, assistant professor of physics, will draw information from “Seven Ideas that Shook the Universe,” a course that alumni found memorable. Secaur will present topics from the course to give new perspectives on how humans fit into the universe.
The full 2016 Faculty Lecture Series includes:
- March 30: Craig Paulenich, M.F.A., Ph.D., English professor, will present “Blood Will Tell,” at 6 p.m., in Room 192 of the Main Building at at Salem.
- April 6: Deborah Bice, Ph.D., associate professor of English, will present “Why Wait for a Prince?” on April 6 at 6 p.m., in the Blue/Gold Room in the Main Hall at at Ashtabula.
- April 12: Jon Secaur, Ph.D., will present “Your Place in the Universe” on April 12, at 6 p.m. in the Center for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement at the Kent Campus.
- April 13: Joseph Ortiz, Ph.D., professor of geology, will present “Toxic Threat: Algae Blooms in Lake Erie” on April 13, at 6 p.m. in the Center for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement at the Kent Campus.
- April 19: Valerie Cubon-Bell, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry, will present “Is It All Fun and Games? – Sports-Related Concussion” on April 19, at 6 p.m. in Room 149 of the Classroom/Administration Building at at Trumbull.
- April 20: Mahli Xuan Mechenbier, ’97, associate lecturer of English and attorney, will present “Operation Babylift: An Adoptee’s Perspective” on April 20, at 6 p.m. in the Clark Commons at at Geauga.
- April 26: Lynette Rawlings, MPA, ’06, associate lecturer of sociology and former Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper, will present “Ohio’s Great Front Plate Debate” on April 26 at 6 p.m. in Puriton Hall at at East Liverpool.
- April 27: William Ian Auld, M.F.A., assistant professor of theater, and David Mitchell, general manager of the Performing Arts Center, will present “Behind the Scenes” on April 27, at 6 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at at Tuscarawas.
- May 3: Robert Hamilton, Ph.D., associate professor of biological sciences, will present “What’s Happening with Your Water?” on May 3, at 6 p.m., in the Library Conference Room at at Stark.
Rodgers says the alumni association realizes those interested may not be able to attend the events in person, so four of the nine lectures – those on April 6, April 12, April 26 and May 3 – will be live-streamed.
“The availability of necessary technology and the immediacy of the topic help in determining if a lecture will be live-streamed,” she said.
“The diversity of events in the series, including the titles and descriptions, will pique the curiosity of many,” Rodgers said. “The opportunity to attend with friends or family, meet and socialize with others who share a common interest, and visit and tour regional campuses are all compelling reasons to attend.”
For more information about each lecture, registration dates and live-streaming options, visit or call Rodgers at 330-672-5368.
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Media Note:
Photos of the speakers are available upon request.
Media Contacts:
Marquita Rodgers, mrodger7@kent.edu, 330-672-5368
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595