Lester Lefton

President

On a smaller scale, President Lefton’s role is similar to that of President Barack Obama’s. Lefton runs and is the representative of the university. He traverses the country to meet with industry leaders to bring in new programs and talk with potential scholarship donors.

Lefton also meets with area community leaders to improve the “town-gown” relationships. He works with members of his cabinet and other administrators to improve the university image and lead Kent State into the future.

Gene Finn

Vice President for Institutional Advancement

The most direct result of the work that Finn and the institutional advancement division, along with alumni relations, can be seen in the funds raised for general operating costs and student scholarships. This past year, more than $6.1 million was raised in new scholarship support for Kent State students.

Finn coordinates all aspects of alumni relations and private fundraising activities, generating funds to be invested and managed by the Kent State University Foundation, a separate entity from the university that invests and manages gifts.

Private contributors to the university donated a record-breaking $39.9 million, beating last year’s record by nearly $3 million this year.

Robert Frank

Provost

Now in his fourth year as provost, Frank is the chief academic officer of Kent State and oversees all of the academic programs within the university. Simply put, he’s responsible for your education.

As provost, his role is to ensure that qualified faculty — professors, instructors, lecturers — are placed within each program, and the skills students learn at Kent State will be marketable to future employers after graduation. Frank is also responsible for the publication of the undergraduate catalog, which outlines academic policies and the requirements and programs for each degree.

Iris Harvey

Vice President for University Relations

Harvey’s role is to market Kent State. All of the information potential students see before stepping on campus is a direct result of the office of university relations.She supervises the offices of government relations, University Communications and Marketing and radio station WKSU-FM. In effect she ensures the promotion and encouragement of the transfer and sharing of best marketing practices. She also supervises Kent State’s Corporate and Professional Development services and programs.

Greg Jarvie

Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs

According to the Division of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs’ website, its mission is “to support the teaching and learning process and the development of the whole student body by providing quality programs and services that enhance student learning and student success.”

Jarvie’s main responsibility is to retain and ensure the well-being of Kent State students by heading the division that manages offices such as Residence Services, Career Services, Dining Services, Recreational Services, the Center for Student Involvement and the Student Center, among several others.

Gregg Floyd

Vice President for Finance and Administration

Floyd’s main responsibility is managing distribution of the university’s budget.

He is also responsible for maintaining Kent State’s facilities and construction through Campus Environment and Operations and the Office of the University Architect.

Sonia Alemagno

Interim Vice President for Research

Alemagno helps faculty and staff obtain external money for research, instructional and public service projects. She will hold the position until a permanent administrator is found. Alemagno also oversees the Office of Technology Transfer and Economic Development and Office of Research Safety and Compliance.

Alfreda Brown

Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Brown is responsible for management of the university’s diversity and inclusion programs. Those programs include Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity, the Student Multi-Cultural Center, Women’s Resource Center and other pre-college programs.

Willis Walker

Vice President for Human Resources

Walker, who also serves as chief university counsel, was named vice president for human resources in September 2008.

As the head of his department, Walker is responsible for managing Kent State’s human resources division, handling labor and employee relations and overseeing the university’s legal affairs.

Ed Mahon

Vice President for Information Services

Mahon is the vice president of information services; his office oversees information technology, support and application services.

He helps ensure that services such as the FlashZone wireless network, Vista, e-mail, and online course registration.

Contact Caleb Raubenolt at

[email protected], reporter Nicole Stempak at [email protected] and correspondent Kyle Berg at

[email protected].