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Sketching, drawing, doodling. For some, these activities occupy us in class or in a meeting. But for Kizito Nkundamahoro, his artistic hobby evolved into a passion that drew an amazing opportunity at �鶹ӰԺ.

�鶹ӰԺ State Today is following the new director of the May 4 Visitors Center as part of its "Year with a Flash" series. 

�鶹ӰԺ State Today will be following a group of Golden Flashes for the 2023-24 academic year chronicling their efforts and successes during the fall and spring semesters. The group includes students, faculty and administrators who are at different places on their �鶹ӰԺ journeys.

After spending her younger years in a variety of volunteer roles with non-governmental organizations in her native Macedonia, Ivana Krsteska chose �鶹ӰԺ State to study sustainable architecture and also serves as a �鶹ӰԺ Student Ambassador.

For �鶹ӰԺ alumna Erica Wilson-Domer, passion in helping others is key to her success. On July 1, 2023, Wilson-Domer became the new president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio. 

All eyes are on Jacob Schnitzer, �鶹ӰԺ State's new interim director of orchestras, as he lifts his baton in the air, readying himself to guide students through a practice of one of their pieces for an upcoming performance. Schnitzer comes to �鶹ӰԺ State with numerous accolades, including conducting the world premiere of more than 45 pieces for living composers.

With more than six months at the helm of �鶹ӰԺ’s research division, Vice President Douglas Delahanty, Ph.D., has been hard at work making sure the university is sharply focused on its collaborations with business and industry and maintaining its R1 research status. He recently sat down with �鶹ӰԺ State Today to talk about his first year and changes in the division.

Graduating senior Delia Brennan applies she learns in the classroom to help survivors of trauma and promote activism in her community.

When he was a student at �鶹ӰԺ, Preston Mitchum, BA ‘08, was heavily involved in student government and other organizations and recalls taking part in a considerable number of campus protests. 

First-generation, non-traditional student Yalanda Cunningham knows that �鶹ӰԺ State has her back. After graduating with her associate's degree from a community college in Kalamazoo, Cunningham decided to finish her bachelor’s degree at �鶹ӰԺ. “I believe you can go so much further in your life,” Cunningham said, “if you had a solid background in education,” she said.