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Jonathan Maletic, Professor, Kent Campus, Department of Computer Science 

Jonathan Maletic, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Computer Science. Maletic joined Kent State University in 2001 as an assistant professor. Throughout his career, Maletic has established a positive reputation for his outstanding research contributions, international impact and his dedication to mentoring students. His research influence is reflected in a high h-index, with an h-index of 49, an h-10 index of 120 and more than 10,800 citations. He has maintained continuous National Science Foundation funding for over 20 years, securing more than $4 million in funding. He has received multiple awards, honors and recognitions throughout his career, including two National Science Foundation CAREER Awards and Kent State’s Outstanding Research and Scholarship Award in 2021. 

Ruoming Jin, Professor, Kent Campus, Department of Computer Science 

Ruoming Jin, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Computer Science. Jin first started as an assistant professor at Kent State in 2005. In 2011, Jin was promoted to associate professor and in 2014 he took leave to work in the computer science industry. He returned to Kent State in 2017, and in 2019, was promoted to professor. Jin’s research has been recognized nationally and internationally, and he is exceptionally productive in his research. His work carries a high h-index, with an h-index of 47, a h10-index of 117 and 7,375 citations. Jin has received many recognitions for his work, including a National Science Foundation CAREER Award and Kent State’s Outstanding Research and Scholarship Award in 2022. He has secured over $6 million in funding throughout his career and is recognized for his commitment to mentoring students and motivating them to excellence.

Artem Zvavitch, Professor, Kent Campus, Department of Mathematical Sciences 

Artem Zvavitch, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. Zvavitch joined Kent State in 2004 as an assistant professor. He was promoted to associate professor in 2007 and to professor in 2014. Throughout his career, Zvavitch has been a renowned scholar, mathematician and mentor. He achieved impressive metrics in the field of mathematics, with his research impact being reflected in his high h-index of 19, h10-index of 37 and 1,162 citations. Zvavitch has 55 publications and has received continuous National Science Foundation support, an unusual achievement for mathematicians. He was able to secure approximately $500,000 in total funding in this competitive landscape. Zvavitch is recognized for his outstanding student mentoring and service contributions. 

C. Lockwood Reynolds, Kent Campus, Professor, Department of Economics 

C. Lockwood Reynolds, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Economics. Reynolds first joined Kent State as an assistant professor in 2007. He was promoted to associate professor in 2014 and to professor in 2022. Throughout his career, Reynolds has made significant contributions to the fields of labor economics, public economics, economics of education and urban economics. His research has been widely published in top journals, such as “The Journal of Human Capital,” “Regional Science and Urban Economics” and “Empirical Economics.” Reynolds has presented his research at nearly 30 national and international conferences. He also has received nearly 30 research and teaching awards, including the Kent State College of Business Administration Dean’s Distinguished College Award in 2018 and 2021. 

Jennifer Wiggins, Professor, Kent Campus, Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship 

Jennifer Wiggins, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship and the director of the Business Administration Ph.D. program. Wiggins first started at Kent State as an assistant professor in 2006. She was promoted to associate professor in 2012 and to professor in 2020. Throughout her career, Wiggins has made an impact specializing in marketing, focusing on arts management, consumer behavior and nonprofit marketing. She has nearly 30 arts management and marketing articles published in top journals, such as “The International Journal of Arts Management” and "The Journal of Marketing Management.” Wiggins has attended and presented at nearly 40 conferences, gaining national and international recognition for her research. She has earned numerous teaching and service awards, such as the University Teaching Council Faculty Recognition Award and Faculty Service Excellence Award. Wiggins has held several leadership positions, including as the current co-editor-in-chief of the “International Journal of Arts Management” and as a scientific committee member of the International Association for Arts and Cultural Management.

Iván Bernal, Associate Professor, Kent Campus, College of Architecture and Environmental Design 

Iván Bernal is an associate professor in the College of Architecture and Environmental Design. In 2018, Bernal joined Kent State as an associate professor. From 2018 to 2022, Bernal served as director of architecture and urban design programs in the College of Architecture and Environmental Design. He holds a Master of Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture, where he graduated with honors and holds the Best Thesis Award. Originally from Columbia, he has taught at institutions across the United States and has led international studios in both North and South America. He has exhibited designs in venues worldwide, including the Venice Architecture Biennale and the A+D Museum. Bernal has received several awards and grants for his research, including the AR+D Emerging Architecture Award, Architect Magazine Progressive Architecture Awards and support from the Akron Community Foundation. Bernal has been leading the integration of digital design techniques and broadening the curriculum of the graduate and undergraduate programs, including significant international collaborations that have expanded the exposure of the college and its students. He frequently serves as an invited design competition juror and has curated several groundbreaking exhibitions, including “Transient Episodes,” which was installed in Kent State’s Design Innovation Hub in 2021 before being selected for the PRATT Institute ACSA Experimental Landings Exhibition on Governor’s Island (NY) in 2022. He is dedicated to inspiring students and challenging conventional design norms.

Qunxing Ding, Associate Professor, East Liverpool Campus, Department of Biological Sciences 

Qunxing Ding, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Kent State University at East Liverpool. In 2007, Ding joined Kent State University as an assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor in 2013. Throughout his career, Ding has made a significant impact in the fields of neuroscience, aging, environmental health and science education. His efforts have been recognized with 20 pedagogical awards and certificates. Ding has authored nearly 50 peer-reviewed research articles and 10 book chapters, with publications in such top journals as “Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience” and the “Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.” He has presented his work at over 35 national and international conferences, including several World Gene Conventions and neuroscience symposiums. Ding has earned several honors, including the 2024 East Liverpool Outstanding Faculty Member Award and multiple Faculty Merit Awards in teaching, research and service. He has received more than $300,000 in research funding in both extramural and intramural grants. Ding is committed to mentoring future scientists and advancing public and environmental health, having mentored 28 undergraduate students in research, fostering their academic growth and engagement. 

Leslie Heaphy, Associate Professor, Stark Campus, Department of History 

Leslie Heaphy, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of History at Kent State University at Stark. Heaphy first joined Kent State as an assistant professor in 1995 and was promoted to associate professor in 2004. Throughout her career, Heaphy has made a significant impact in the fields of sports history, American history and East Asian studies. A leading scholar on the Negro Leagues and women in baseball, she has authored or edited more than 10 books and numerous peer-reviewed articles, including “Nine: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture,” “Black Ball” and “Journal of Sport History.” Heaphy has presented her work at dozens of academic conferences and programs nationally and internationally. She serves as editor of “Black Ball: A Journal of the Negro Leagues,” as vice president of the Society for American Baseball Research and as chair of the Society for American Baseball Research’s Women in Baseball Committee. Her expertise has been featured in top media outlets, including ESPN and the Smithsonian Channel. Heaphy is committed to highlighting underrepresented histories and mentoring students in research.