Kent State Works

Pete Kovach, in a white pilot’s shirt and tie, in front of the Goodyear Blimp.

A Family Flight Path

Pete Kovach, '22, followed his father into Kent State's aviation program. Now he flies the Goodyear Blimp — and his younger brother is close behind.

Tags: Aviation , Kent State Works

October 2026 Issue

Sarah Shendy  Captain of Support Services #255  Case Western Reserve University

From Kent State Police Academy to police captain, Sarah Shendy leads with purpose

Born in Saudi Arabia and raised for a time in Egypt, Sarah Shendy moved to the United States with her family in 1991, when she was 6. In third grade, she encountered a police officer at her Cleveland public school. It was an experience that would leave a lasting impression.

Tags: Kent State Works , Government/Public Service

Kent State Today

Mark Morris looking at models in the Cleveland office of the DLR Group

The Places That Inspire

From world-class museums to the places where you saw your favorite theatre productions, architecture alumni have shaped the cultural and artistic landscapes across Cleveland

Tags: Kent State Works , Architecture and Interior Design

September 2026 Issue

Courtney Donovan, Kent State Graduate

Using Her Art Degree in the World of Medicine

Courtney Donovan, ’20, came to Kent State to study art and pursue her interest in the sciences. She left with a career hand-sculpting new eyes, ears and noses for patients rebuilding their lives after cancer and trauma.

Tags: Kent State Works , School of Art , School of Multidisciplinary Social Sciences & Humanities , Fashion, Arts and Entertainment , Healthcare

Kent State Today

Chris Loeser standing outside Playhouse Square

Architecting the Future

From studio culture to education abroad, how Kent State trains architects who are ready on day one

Tags: Kent State Works , Architecture and Interior Design

August 2026 Issue

Ohio’s Best Advocates for Employee Ownership Are Here at Kent State

For nearly 40 years, Kent State University's Ohio Employee Ownership Center has helped educate, train and advocate for Ohio businesses on the path to employee ownership. 

Tags: Kent State Works , Nationally Distinctive , Community & Society , Business, Manufacturing and Entrepreneurship

Kent State Works

Christopher Jarvi

A Journey of Service: Graduate’s Path from Public Safety to Patient Care

Long before he ever put on scrubs, Christopher Jarvi was drawn to roles rooted in service and protection. His path to becoming a nurse was never a straight line, but every turn prepared him for the moment he now finds himself in – on the cusp of graduation from Kent State University at Ashtabula, co…

Tags: Kent State Works

Kent State Ashtabula

Kent State alumna Laurie Ann Moennich

From Graphic Design to Groundbreaking Research

Laurie Ann Moennich, Ph.D., didn't arrive at Kent State University planning to change healthcare. She came to study graphic design. But Kent State had a way of opening doors she didn't even know existed.

Tags: College of Public Health and Health Sciences , Kent State Works , Healthcare , Science

Kent State Today

Becky Lehman, a Kent State alumna, is Portage County's Health Commissioner

How a Nontraditional Student Became Portage County's Top Health Official

When Becky Lehman walked into her first class at Kent State University, she was in her 30s, raising kids and working at an embroidery shop in nearby Mogadore, Ohio. Today, she is the health commissioner for the Portage County Health District – a career milestone she credits directly to the degrees she earned close to home at Kent State. 

Tags: College of Public Health and Health Sciences , Department of Political Science , College of Education and Human Services , Kent State Works , Healthcare , Government/Public Service

Kent State Today

Kent State graduate Cameren Hicks works to fight fraud at Key Bank

From Kent State to KeyBank

When Cameren Hicks graduated from Kent State University in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics and a minor in finance, he knew he wanted to build a career rooted in numbers, problem-solving and analysis. Today, Hicks is a fraud modeling and analytics lead associate at KeyBank, where he helps protect customers and the company against fraudulent credit and debit card activity.

Tags: Kent State Works , Department of Mathematical Sciences , College of Sciences and Humanities , Business, Manufacturing and Entrepreneurship , Computer Tech/IT

Kent State Today