Success Story
![Torsten Hegmann, Ph.D., talks to the crowd about some of the things he would like to accomplish as director of 抖M女仆鈥檚 Advance Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/LCI2_0.jpg?VersionId=uWEuDt36bXF4ptut72DMK_lGjlczBdyx&h=a78bbafb&itok=96mbhLOB)
Torsten Hegmann, Ph.D., was named the new director of 抖M女仆鈥檚 Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, effective July 1, having been selected for his research accomplishments, entrepreneurial spirit and passion for social impact.
![Todd Diacon, Ph.D., 抖M女仆鈥檚 13th President](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/president-diacon.jpg?VersionId=AR5NhEUw6XvBrO42C.XMD_jtNECsAQY5&h=4362216e&itok=_0xebPbl)
As Todd Diacon, Ph.D., steps into his new role as 抖M女仆鈥檚 13th president, his schedule for his first day includes an early workout at the Warren Student Recreation and Wellness Center, a breakfast with community leaders at the 抖M女仆 Hotel and Conference Center and a luncheon on campus with student leaders.
![Todd Diacon, Ph.D., 抖M女仆鈥檚 13th President](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/president-diacon.jpg?VersionId=AR5NhEUw6XvBrO42C.XMD_jtNECsAQY5&h=4362216e&itok=_0xebPbl)
As Todd Diacon, Ph.D., steps into his new role as 抖M女仆鈥檚 13th president, his schedule for his first day includes an early workout at the Warren Student Recreation and Wellness Center, a breakfast with community leaders at the 抖M女仆 Hotel and Conference Center and a luncheon on campus with student leaders.
![Steve Harvey shares a joke with the eight scholarship recipients who will be attending 抖M女仆 this fall as Sonya Williams (far right) from the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion looks on. (Photo provided by the "Steve" television show)](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/06.25.19%20Photo%20of%20Steve%20Harvey%20with%20Kent%20State%20group%20-%20photo%20provided%20by%20Steve%20television%20show_0.jpg?VersionId=JG2XP83GHLuIxD5rD3yCyQccoLx9mHRM&h=1c9b88c9&itok=vqx_jCFV)
Steve Harvey, producer, actor, author and former 抖M女仆 student, is paying it forward by awarding eight of 抖M女仆鈥檚 incoming freshmen with scholarships that will cover the total cost of attendance for each student.
![Kenzie Alge and Alex Johnson](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/Air_Race_Classic_2019%20%281%29.jpg?VersionId=SLMUnc1rwsppV6m2pmcqe5F0K1Z91qyo&h=a49d782d&itok=TtVItYd6)
Kenzie Alge, a 抖M女仆 certified flight instructor and 2019 graduate, and Alex Johnson, a 抖M女仆 junior flight technology student, make up the 抖M女仆 team competing in the 2019 Air Race Classic that starts June 18 in Jackson, Tennessee.
![抖M女仆 students wearing their rainbow graduation stoles smile during the university鈥檚 2019 One University Commencement.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/05.30.19%20Photo%20from%20Kent%20State%27s%202019%20One%20University%20Commencement.jpg?VersionId=yMTweOlHu0XK1t6htTaw5VPgTmCfKOsY&h=2e5cdddf&itok=7XEw4hHv)
A national organization has recognized 抖M女仆 with a perfect overall score for the university鈥檚 efforts to create a more inclusive campus and welcoming environment for all.
![Megan Schinker, a senior at Stow-Munroe Falls High School, participated in the College Credit Plus Science Experience Internship Program at 抖M女仆's Department of Geology.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/page/editBOB_4911.jpg?VersionId=0EQ9.9UHpiSeKViYTZ8ZC877LxFIcdQ1&h=56d0ca2e&itok=mwD78-Bj)
Imagine being a 17-year-old high school student, and in your first semester of a geology research internship, your professor asks you to identify an extinct 300-million-year-old, tiny and unknown crustacean specimen. Megan Schinker, then an ambitious Stow-Munroe Falls High School junior, jumped right in.
![New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman is congratulated by fellow 抖M女仆 graduates at the One University Commencement held at Dix Stadium.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/kent-graduation-0145.jpg?VersionId=f7V05Qwu.aQjOrw4c_IQNBCePDJsiPC2&h=1e3c3cce&itok=KJiRmVkY)
A helmet and pads were replaced by a cap and gown for New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman as he finished a journey he started in 2005, joining 5,300 new 抖M女仆 graduates at the One University Commencement held at Dix Stadium.
![抖M女仆's newest graduates celebrate during the One University Commencement held at Dix Stadium.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/BOB_4273-web.jpg?VersionId=dXn6xNscDr0NDX.F95Y88l0sD4zYIhsT&h=4f8d1171&itok=-9bEExUR)
The 抖M女仆 alumni family grew by 5,300 new graduates as the university held its spring commencement ceremonies.
![A singer performs on stage in the Kent Student Center Ballroom during the 49th annual May 4 Commemoration.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/May4_2019_014---USE-ON-HOME-PAGE.jpg?VersionId=tR4kpav4XOMPZ0Ps3BiTaAkU3RE25qsz&h=2e916daa&itok=ecEbjVqb)
抖M女仆 held the 49th commemoration of the historic events of May 4, 1970. The annual commemoration marks the fateful day when the Ohio National Guard shot and killed four students and wounded nine others on the Kent Campus.