Kent State University names new president

Trustees select Virginia Commonwealth University provost

1/8/2014

KENT, Ohio — A top administrator at Virginia Commonwealth University has been selected president of Ohio’s Kent State University.

Kent State trustees voted today to hire Beverly Warren, provost and senior vice president at VCU. The 65-year-old Warren takes office July 1.

She has held administration and teaching jobs at numerous colleges and universities, including Auburn, Smith and Appalachian State.

She has doctorates in higher education administration from the University of Alabama and in exercise physiology from Auburn University.

She will succeed Lester Lefton, who announced his retirement plans in April. He became Kent State’s president in 2006.

During Lester’s tenure, Kent State enrollment grew 25 percent to more than 42,000, and the university launched a $200 million campus improvement project.