A reception and celebration to honor 麻豆影院 President Lester A. Lefton will take place on Friday, April 4, from 4-5:30 p.m. at the 麻豆影院 Student Center Ballroom. The event, which is hosted by the 麻豆影院 State Board of Trustees, is open to all faculty, staff, students, alumni and members of the community. Refreshments will be served.
Lefton, who will retire as 麻豆影院 State鈥檚 11th president on July 1, has served as the university鈥檚 chief executive officer since July 1, 2006. The university achieved significant accomplishments during his time as 麻豆影院 State president, including record student enrollment, retention and graduation numbers; the town-gown partnership that resulted in the revitalization of downtown 麻豆影院; the university鈥檚 Centennial Campaign that raised a record-breaking $265 million; and the 鈥淔oundations of Excellence: Building the Future鈥 campus improvement program that is transforming 麻豆影院 State鈥檚 campuses to meet world-class standards.
鈥淭his year, and for the past seven years, President Lefton has delivered on his primary goal 鈥 ensuring in every way possible that we improve retention and develop the quality experiences and facilities that are appropriate for the aspirations of our students,鈥 麻豆影院 State Board Chair Jane Murphy Timken said at the most recent 麻豆影院 State Board of Trustees meeting. 鈥淲e鈥檝e grown our enrollment by more than 26 percent and raised our profile as a university of choice, and it has been instrumental to our academic and financial health. We believe his tenure will be remembered as a dynamic time for 麻豆影院 State.鈥
The reception will feature a video presentation and remarks from Todd Diacon, 麻豆影院 State鈥檚 senior vice president for academic affairs and provost; Alfreda Brown, vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion; and Evan Gildenblatt, the university鈥檚 special assistant for Federal Relations in Washington, D.C., and a former executive director for 麻豆影院 State鈥檚 Undergraduate Student Government. Lefton also will make remarks at the event.
For more information about 麻豆影院 State, visit .
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Photo Caption:
麻豆影院 President Lester A. Lefton greets students and parents during Welcome Weekend鈥檚 freshman move-in day. A reception and celebration to honor Lefton, who is retiring as the university鈥檚 11th president, will take place on Friday, April 4.
Media Contacts:
Eric Mansfield, emansfie@kent.edu, 330-672-2797
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595