2021 Kent State graduate and former United Student Government president Tiera Moore is already making her mark in the city of Kent. 

Following elections on Nov. 2, Moore was named the newest member of the Kent city school board. 

On Oct. 26, Moore announced via Twitter that she would be running for the position of school board member. 

“Overjoyed to announce that I will be on the ballot for School Board in Kent, Ohio. I hope to give back to my community by empowering our students and investing in the leaders of tomorrow,” the tweet said.

During her undergraduate studies, Moore double majored in English and political science, and she minored in pre-law. 

Barbara Hipsman Springer, a retired Kent State professor of Public Relations Reporting and current member of the League of Women Voters, is one of many individuals who has gotten to know Moore through her involvement in local government.  

“Every year, we [The League of Women Voters] co-sponsor, along with the Women’s Center, a project called Elect Her…and we’re very excited, because Tiera came up through that program specifically,” Springer said.

Moore and Springer first met through voter-engagement organizations. 

During her undergraduate studies at Kent, Moore was involved with Kent State Votes, an on-campus volunteer group dedicated to encouraging students to vote. 

Springer saw “a lot of progress” in Moore, and eventually, the two spoke directly about Moore’s consideration of running for school board. 

“She said at one point that she wanted to run for school board, and I encouraged her to do that,” said Springer. 

Prior to Election Day, Moore was able to gather firsthand experience with collecting signatures and the overall election process. 

Moore had to run against one other incumbent candidate, and since getting elected into the position, she’s been in contact with Springer on a professional basis. 

“I have continued to talk back and forth [with Tierra],” Springer said. “She’s taking it very seriously and doing all her homework, and we meet occasionally to see what kind of questions she has.” 

Springer is excited to have a fresh face in the office. In fact, she’s encouraging 20, 30, and 40 year olds to exercise political opinions by running for various positions. 

“I’m on a personal thing of trying to get more young people to vote,” Springer said. “[If] you want to be part of society, you gotta give back somehow, and the only way you do that is involvement.” 

Stephanie Smith, an Associate Professor for Kent State’s College of Communication and Information, also had the opportunity to come in contact with Moore through on-campus events. 

“I never had her in class, but I did know her because we worked together on a couple of projects,” she said.

Moore co-hosted a screening of a film on campus, and this was the first interaction between her and Smith. From there, Moore was also involved in a campus teach-in event. 

“She did a mini lecture, mini talk, on the importance of women running for student government. She’s really, very, very brilliant,” Smith said.

Smith talked about how important it is for young people to get involved in local government, particularly on school boards.

“What happens locally is fundamentally important, and we are at a period of time where school boards are in uniquely demanding positions…” she said. 

Smith admires Moore’s dedication to female empowerment and overall education, especially with regard to having a younger face in a position of power. 

“I think you have a young woman, a young woman of color, and a young woman who has asserted and advocated…that women needed to put themselves out there and run for office, beginning in student government,” she said.

Smith talked about her belief that it is important for young people to get involved in schools and school boards.

“What we need to do to educate youth in the next 50 years is important,” she said. “The person who’s most likely to have a 50 year view is the person who’s Tierra’s age.” 

Moore’s impact on the Kent campus, as well as the overall community, is noted in her recent victory. 

Along with this new position, Moore is also continuing her education at Kent by pursuing a Masters’ Degree in Geography, per her Twitter account.

“I cannot wait to give students in our community a louder voice. Young people belong on School Boards,” Moore said on Twitter. 

Morgan is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].