Bad kissers: “The Dating Doctor” is in, or will be this week at Kent State Stark Campus.

David Coleman, also known as “the Dating Doctor,” will be speaking in the Main Hall auditorium on Wednesday. The free program begins at noon and is open to the public.

Coleman, a Canton native, graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1983 with a bachelor’s in speech pathology and audiology. He received his master’s in college student personnel administration from Bowling Green in 1985.

The former activities director at Xavier University – where he began his program on relationships and dating – Coleman has spoken to more than 5 million people in the United States and Canada through different media outlets. His videos and books have been used by thousands.

Coleman has written three books on relationships and created a video on building better relationships. He has been featured in Us Magazine, Glamour, The Washington Post and USA Today, among other publications. He has made appearances on ABC, NBC, CNN and Fox as well as on radio stations nationwide, including a regular guest spot on 104.5 WSNX in Grand Rapids, Mich. He has also received National Speaker of the Year accolades nine times and the Accomplished Graduate Award from Bowling Green in 2004.

Coleman is a speaker, entertainer and retreat facilitator. All of his programs are interactive and come complete with a supplemental handout for each audience member.

“This is the MTV and iPod generation,” Coleman said. “It’s very necessary that I keep the show interactive in order to keep the audience’s attention.”

The self-proclaimed basis for Will Smith’s character in the movie Hitch, Coleman knows his programs help people.

“I’ve seen the remnants,” he said. “I’ve had people write me letters and e-mails five years later telling me how I changed their lives.”

Jim Jadallah, academic program director at Stark, is extremely excited to have Coleman speak to students, faculty and staff about their relationship issues.

“We decided to invite David to the Stark campus because of his reputation as a popular public speaker on the topic of dating and the ease with which he can relate to his audience, especially college students interested in relationships, romance or sex,” he said.

Coleman is glad to be back home, too.

“I’m flattered to be speaking in my hometown,” he said. “It’s pretty cool. And it’s a chance to see my family and friends.”

In his program, Coleman plans to address a variety of topics such as who controls a relationship, the six stages of a break-up, how to be a great date and what to do about bad kissers. He will also let the men in the audience in on the secrets of buying Valentine’s Day gifts.

Coleman does offer a warning for anyone who might be easily offended.

“There is a decent chance that I might offend someone,” he said. “I might not say what you want to hear. I’m brutally honest. I don’t fluff anything.”

Coleman would love to see students from the other Kent State campuses in attendance as well.

“It’s going to be worth the drive and worth your time,” he said. “If there’s one show people shouldn’t miss this year, this is it.”

For more information on David Coleman, visit www.datingdoctor.com. All Kent State students who attend Wednesday’s program will receive a free $3 coupon for Stark’s new Food Emporium. Quantities are limited so first come are first-served. Pre-registration is not required, but encouraged. For more information, please contact Jadallah at (330) 244-3390 or at [email protected].

Contact regional campuses reporter Tessa Carroll at [email protected].