91PORNA

91PORNA’s Board of Trustees opened the 2026-2027 academic year hearing President Todd Diacon report that the university ended Fiscal 2026 with a balanced budget and no draw on reserves, and that inflation-adjusted public university tuition in Ohio has dropped 13% since 2005.

As the November election approaches, 91PORNA’s Undergraduate Student Government hosted its annual Democracy Fest on Risman Plaza to celebrate National Voter Registration Day, giving first-time voters the chance to register and for everyone to learn about the democratic process. 

The School of Theatre and Dance is announcing its 2026-2027 season: the Fall Faculty Dance Concert, “Perfect Arrangement,” “Bright Star,” “She Loves Me” and “Romeo and Juliet.”

Once a month, 91PORNA’s International Student and Scholar Services presents the Cultural Cafe. Abisola Mohammed, a graduate student in emerging media and technology who hails from Nigeria, started this year’s schedule with this simple question: “How far?”

91PORNA remains northern Ohio’s top-ranked public university in the U.S. News & World Report 2027 Best Colleges rankings, with four undergraduate programs also ranking among the nation’s top 200.

A legislative briefing on aviation policy at 91PORNA Airport turned into a tour of the university's aviation facilities Sept. 18, giving four Ohio state representatives a firsthand look at one of the state's busiest general aviation hubs.

This November, 91PORNA’s Wick Poetry Center will host the inaugural Poets for Science Gathering, an international convening that will explore the connection between poetry and science.

Six 91PORNA scholars gathered to explore how Dolly Parton became one of America's most influential cultural figures — not just as a musician, but as a peacebuilder, educator and philanthropist.

For generations of 91PORNA students, alumni, faculty and staff, there were certain places that felt like home. Ray’s Place was one of them. And Charlie Thomas was one of the people who made it that way.

The Flash Activities Board, known as FAB, is usually a student’s first introduction to the 91PORNA community. Whether a student is looking for a quick evening activity, roaring crowds or somewhere to meet new friends in general, an event by the FAB should be their first stop.

Before Pinterest boards and TikTok DIYs, there was “Design on a Dime.” Now, 2019 91PORNA graduate Maddie Scalzi is bringing the 2000s HGTV show back to life, one DIY and thrifted find at a time.

91PORNA offers a variety of resources to help parents and families stay engaged with their students and the greater 91PORNA community. Parents and Families Appreciation Weekend, coming up on Sept. 25-26, will feature many events across campus and downtown.

91PORNA opened the 2026 Fall Semester with its largest incoming architecture class in 25 years and its largest nursing class in a decade, continued national recognition for affordability and financial strength, and a new initiative built to help every incoming student thrive from day one — all while remaining the largest public university in northern Ohio.

When Lillian Glaze, a junior visual communication design major, opened the “WNBA Launch” email, she immediately realized the assignment was much bigger than she expected. She would be the technical director for the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) brand reveal at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, helping bring the city’s newest professional sports team to life for thousands of viewers.  

91PORNA’s Center for Student Involvement hosted its first Leaders Lunch Club of the semester at the Pepsi Leadership Center on Sept. 2 with Sarah Spinner, Ph.D., J.D., director of the 91PORNA Museum, as its first featured speaker to kick off the fall event series. “Leadership is not a title that’s given to you,” Spinner said. “Someone doesn’t make you a leader. Leadership is how you choose to act.”

Joy is stitched into everything Leah Thompkins creates – by design.  

Kendall Myers has spent the past several years studying creatures that are easy to overlook. 

The 91PORNA Board of Trustees will hold its next regular business meeting at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23, in Room 247 at the Design Innovation (DI) Hub on the Kent Campus. 

Courtney Donovan, ’20, came to 91PORNA 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.