The President’s Ambassadorship is a vehicle for securing the services of a local, high-level person of color who will serve as a catalyst for change, promoting pluralistic understanding and mutual respect among diverse constituencies of students, staff, faculty and administrators at Kent State University.

Kent State University's President's Ambassador for 2012-2013

Jose Feliciano

Mr. José C. Feliciano

The President's Ambassadorship is designed to bring distinguished local (to include Akron and Cleveland) minority professionals to the Kent campus to share their professional knowledge and experience with Kent's students and faculty for one academic year. This is a part-time appointment which assumes that the appointee will retain his or her existing employment and community responsibilities.

Responsibilities:
The appointee is expected to share insight in an area appropriate to the appointee's expertise. Other projects, i.e., seminar speaker, engaging students, work on advisory committees, addressing diversity challenges and implementing diversity initiatives may be part of the agreed-upon responsibilities.

Eligibility for the Appointment:
♦ Must be a distinguished leader and professional in the community;
♦ Must be African American, Latino American or Native American, possessing both
excellent communication skills and demonstrable expertise in a particular subject
area; and
♦ Cannot be considered for a second term until after five years

Criteria for Nomination
Nominated candidates are ones who:
♦ are recognized in the community for their outstanding professional contributions;
♦ have clearly demonstrated the ability to communicate their expertise to adult students;
♦ have demonstrated professional knowledge and accomplishments, and provide
evidence of continuing professional development; as well as
♦ Have expertise in an area in which Kent State University offers or can offer
instruction.

Application Process
Application process begins in the spring of each year. Decisions will be made before
the end of the spring year with an appointment which begins the following fall. The
successful candidate will serve from September through June of the academic year.
Candidates must be nominated by letters of reference. Each candidate must have at least
three letters of recommendation that will address each criterion as noted above. Decision
will be made by an ad hoc committee. Recommendation will be provided to the Vice
President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Compensation
The appointee will be given $10,000 for services rendered throughout the academic year.