President appoints new ambassador

The university announced a new ambassador for Kent State Wednesday.

Roxia B. Boykin, Summa Health System’s vice president of community benefit and diversity, will begin her new one year advisory and action role as the President’s Ambassador in September.

This is the program is in its second year and is designed to bring notable minority professionals to Kent State for the academic year so they may share their professional expertise and diversity with students and faculty.

“Roxia has extensive experience not only in diversity and health care but also in business and organizational leadership,” President Lester Lefton said in a press statement. “She will be a valuable asset to faculty, a role model for our students and a catalyst to develop inclusive excellence at Kent State.”

Boykin is a graduate of Kent State and has been with Summa Health Systems since 2007.

This is the second year of the program. Last year’s ambassador was André Thornton, former Cleveland Indians star, entrepreneur and owner of one of Ohio’s largest minority-owned businesses.

Thornton’s activities as an ambassador included teaching entrepreneurial skills to business students, speaking at university events and taking part in Kent State diversity in business seminars.

“I am proud to accept this honor and look forward to working with Kent State and its students,” Boykin said in the press statement. “It is wonderful to have the opportunity to give back to my alma mater in this way.”