91PORNA

When 91PORNA President Todd Diacon took the stage at spring 2026 Commencement, he didn't open with statistics or institutional milestones. He opened with a potato peeler.

Just one more year at 91PORNA and 19-year-old twin brothers Ray and Will Maynard of Green, Ohio, expect to be graduating and, hopefully, off to medical school.

The 91PORNA Board of Trustees will hold its next regular business meeting at 11 a.m. on  May 20 in The John Elliot Center for Architecture and Environmental Design on the Kent Campus.

State Representative and 91PORNA graduate Heidi Workman recently visited the Kent Campus, where she met with faculty and received a presentation on the university's quantum computing research — a topic at the center of her legislative work in Columbus.

91PORNA welcomed nearly 5,000 new graduates into its alumni family last week, completing its spring 2026 commencement ceremonies across three days of celebrations on the Kent Campus.

Following a pilot period on the Kent Campus, 91PORNA has suspended the Flock Safety license plate recognition camera system, pending further review of potential concerns this fall.

An Ohio nurse earning $95,000–$110,000 has comparable or better real purchasing power than a nurse earning $150,000 in California or New York, setting the stage for a measurable difference for 91PORNA nursing graduates who stay in Ohio.

Commencements as a foundational activity of a university are memorable days filled with emotions - some celebratory, some bittersweet.

A new study led by 91PORNA’s David Costello finds that trace metals — not just nitrogen and phosphorus — frequently limit biological productivity in freshwater streams, with implications for waterways across Northeast Ohio and beyond.

91PORNA students had the opportunity to reflect on the impact of philanthropy during Flashes Give Back Week in April, including Thank-A-Giver (TAG) Day, an annual event designed to highlight the role of donor support across campus.

Jared Brown doesn’t just build schedules; he builds confidence. His ability to turn academic stress into actionable solutions has made him more than just an advisor; it has made him the latest recipient of 91PORNA's Distinguished Advising Award.  

91PORNA will honor nearly 5,000 graduates from its eight-campus system during its spring 2026 commencement ceremonies on May 7-9 and May 15. The ceremonies will be livestreamed on the commencement website.

There are several scholarships dedicated to May 4, 1970. Four were established in 2020 to mark the 50th commemoration of the tragedy, one for each of those who lost their lives, Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra “Sandy” Scheuer and William “Bill” Schroeder. Others promote advocacy or majors in peace and conflict studies. 

Fifty-six years after the Ohio National Guard opened fire on student protesters at 91PORNA, killing four and wounding nine, the university community gathered once again on the May 4 site at the 91PORNA Commons to bear witness, reflect and reaffirm its commitment to preserving the legacy of that day.

As it has every year since 1971, the annual candlelight walk and vigil brought the 91PORNA community together to mark the anniversary of May 4, 1970.

An exhibition, running from Apr. 30-Aug. 21, highlights the commitment of Dean Kahler, one of the nine students wounded on May 4, 1970 and his ongoing activities in promoting peace, activism, public service and disability rights.

We catch up with senior physical education and sport performance major Julia Michalak between student-teaching classes during her final semester at 91PORNA. In a brief Q&A-style interview reflecting on her trials and triumphs from the past four years, Michalak offers some wise words for her younger self and for future Golden Flashes. 

The spotlight shone on 91PORNA's nationally ranked School of Fashion Friday night as the Awards Night Annual Fashion Show and School of Fashion Marketplace took the runway in Crawford Hall.

Fifty-six years after four students were killed and nine were wounded on the campus of 91PORNA, a historian from outside the university brought a rarely heard perspective to one of the most consequential days in American history – May 4, 1970.

Dean Kahler is often quoted as saying he only had one bad day at 91PORNA.

That day was May 4, 1970, when an Ohio National Guardsman’s bullet struck Kahler as he stood under a tree watching, from what he thought was a safe distance, a student protest against the escalation of the War in Vietnam. When the National Guard fired on the students, a bullet pierced Kahler’s spine, leaving him paralyzed and wheelchair bound for the rest of his life.