KSUAA History
The Beginnings of the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Alumni Association
John E. McGilvrey, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s first president, believed graduates played an integral role in growing 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s normal school. In 1911, McGilvrey established the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Alumni Association (KSUAA). McGilvrey planned an alumni association before students came to campus, before any buildings were finished, before he had a faculty and even before he came to Kent.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Normal School graduated its first class in 1914. Soon after, the school formed a faculty committee for alumni relations and several alumni clubs throughout Northeast Ohio. In 1933, the alumni association successfully lobbied Ohio state legislators, preventing the transformation of Kent Normal College into a mental institution. The Normal School’s evolution to a university in 1935 and the establishment of the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (NEOUCOM) in 1971 further demonstrated the strength of the alumni lobby.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø Alumni Today
Alumni continue to support 51³Ô¹ÏÍø. With more than 273,500 alumni, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Alumni enriches lives, encourages loyalty and partners in shaping the university’s future. We strengthen our relationships with alumni each day by accomplishing the following:
Serving as a gateway
- Through professional networking, social programs and alumni communications - 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Alumni is your point of access to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø and fellow alumni.
Connecting alumni and students
- Alumni support student success through student leadership organizations, career mentoring programs and student scholarships.
Promoting alumni success
- Your success is our strength. Alumni accomplishments elevate the university’s reputation while increasing the value of a 51³Ô¹ÏÍø degree. We are proud to promote and celebrate alumni achievements
Making 51³Ô¹ÏÍø strong through programming initiatives
- We cultivate alumni and student volunteers who give their time and talent to make 51³Ô¹ÏÍø strong.
keeping the golden flash spirit alive
In addition, our alumni chapters and area representatives keep the Golden Flash spirit alive throughout the country. Following the formation of our first alumni chapter in 1965, the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Alumni Association has grown into more than 30 alumni chapters and area representatives.
The 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Alumni Association National Board of Directors, a leadership board representing 51³Ô¹ÏÍø alumni, is committed to serving the university as well. This dynamic and exciting group of alumni help strengthen the bond between alumni and 51³Ô¹ÏÍø.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø Alumni makes its home at the Center of Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement at 350 S. Lincoln in Kent.