KENNESAW, Ga. | Aug 10, 2026

One evening in April, Kennesaw State University President Kathy S. Schwaig returned home following a busy day on campus, nestled into her couch, and switched on her television.

Earlier that day, KSU had unveiled the 70,000-square-foot Robin and Doug Shore Innovation Center, and to her delight, an Atlanta news outlet led its evening report with talk of the new $60 million structure. She was drawn in by soundbites from administrators, researchers, and students touting the benefits of the new interdisciplinary building and its far-reaching impact.

The report continued, highlighting KSU’s ascension as one of the fastest-growing institutions in the country, its surging student population, and the rise of Owls athletics teams bursting onto the national stage.

A theme was emerging, one of momentum.

That moment of serendipity served as a crescendo in the 18 months since Kennesaw State launched its strategic plan, Taking Flight. The plan, unveiled in August 2024, is an ambitious series of five goals that serve as critical guideposts in KSU’s trajectory toward national prominence.

“At the end of the day, Taking Flight has been defined by clarity,” Schwaig said. “It provides a shared sense of direction and gives us something meaningful to come together around as a university community. We have raised expectations for Kennesaw State University, and I believe our faculty, staff, and students deserve our very best. We are committed to moving the institution forward at a level of true excellence.”

Growth alone was never the end goal of Taking Flight. Instead, the plan has focused on advancing the institution sustainably, ensuring that growth in enrollment is matched by progress throughout the enterprise.

“We’re not just focused on growing,” Schwaig said. “We’re also focused on making sure we’re supporting excellence and innovation, and looking at the outcomes that support them.”

ESTABLISHING A CULTURE OF RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

The expansion and enhancements of research opportunities and expenditures have steadily become one of the clearest indicators of Kennesaw State’s meteoric rise. Over the last two years, KSU’s research spending has nearly doubled, rising from $32 million to $60 million, while research awards have climbed 53% over the last five years.

“That funding doesn't simply support capital investments, lab equipment, and research faculty salaries; it attracts top talent, opens doors to national partnerships, and signals to the world that KSU is a serious research destination,” said Karin Scarpinato, executive vice president for research.

Kennesaw State faculty, in return, have been highly effective in converting research breakthroughs into marketplace innovations that drive economic impact. Faculty invention disclosures have increased by 300%, signaling a surge in new ideas moving toward patents and products. At the same time, KSU’s HatchBridge Incubator has supported more than 250 startups that have raised nearly $37.4 million in funding, turning university research into real-world businesses.

“Every one of those companies represents an idea that is becoming a business, creating jobs, and generating value for our region,” Scarpinato said.

Momentum across the research enterprise has a trickle-down effect benefitting KSU students, too. Through initiatives like the First-Year Scholars and the Summer Undergraduate Research programs, students have more opportunities than ever to engage in impactful research projects under the mentorship of leading faculty experts. Managed by the Office of Undergraduate Research, the programs pair students who are interested in research, with faculty, staff, or postdoctoral research mentors to engage in intensive research projects. Often, students convert those experiences into oral or poster presentations at one of the institution’s research showcases, such as the Symposium of Student Scholars.

Externally, the University has continued to engage with prominent organizations to expand student research opportunities. This summer, KSU students have landed internships in numerous federal organizations, including Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Savannah River National Laboratory, and the National Laboratory of the Rockies.

Kennesaw State is also strengthening its connections at the state and national levels, building on its already robust research foundation. In May, KSU became a member of the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA), a distinction that places the University among the state’s leading research institutions and positions KSU to further accelerate its role as a catalyst for innovation, economic growth, and discovery statewide. The research partnership builds on an established track record, with KSU earning 14 competitive GRA Innovation and Entrepreneurship grants in recent years. The awards have helped faculty across disciplines advance promising discoveries toward commercialization, enabling startups, licenses, and partnerships that would not otherwise have been possible.

KSU's admission to GRA reflects years of deliberate investment in research infrastructure, an effort that places the University among the top research institutions in the country. KSU is on track to meet Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education R1 benchmarks for a third straight fiscal year, surpassing $50 million in research expenditures and awarding more than 70 research doctorates each year.

KSU took an additional step toward national prominence by joining the Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) research consortium, reinforcing its commitment to advancing impactful and innovative research.

“Together, these memberships accelerate everything else we are building,” Scarpinato said. “Our goal is not simply to grow our research numbers. Our goal is to position KSU as a university where groundbreaking ideas are born, where students challenge what’s possible, where entrepreneurs find a home, and where the people of Georgia and beyond see the direct benefits of what happens on our campuses.”Off-campus recognitions have begun to mount as well. In November, KSU’s Center for the Advancement of Military and Emergency Services received the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities’ Public Impact Research Award, honoring its real-world influence on veterans, first responders, and emergency managers.

“Being recognized on that stage puts KSU in remarkable company and reflects the quality of the work happening here every day,” Scarpinato said.

BUILDING SUSTAINABLY

As research productivity accelerates, KSU is simultaneously expanding its physical footprint, investing in facilities that enable collaboration and innovation or simply serving as a home away from home. Guided by its Facilities Master Plan, the University is strategically shaping these developments to support long-term growth and a cohesive campus experience.

A major step was the opening of the Robin and Doug Shore Innovation Center. Situated along Technology Way near the entrance of the Marietta Campus, the center is designed to accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship, foster collaboration across disciplines, and translate research into real-world solutions that benefit communities beyond campus. It also serves as the home of the Robin and Doug Shore Entrepreneurship Center, a unit of the Michael J. Coles College of Business, and the Office of Research’s Center for Interactive Media.

Across campus, near the Engineering Technology Center, another structure has transformed the landscape. Officially opened in June, the 12,000-square-foot Hornet Hub will serve as the newest collaboration space for KSU’s award-winning student competition teams, including the Night Owl Racing team, aerial robotics competition team, and hydraulic bike team, among others. And on the Kennesaw Campus, the University’s newest residence hall – The Summit II – will house 460 first-year students starting with the Fall 2026 semester. The nearly 97,000-square-foot residence hall sits on the south end of the Kennesaw Campus adjacent to The Summit I student housing, which opened in 2022.

The addition of The Summit II will bring KSU’s total number of residential communities to 11, with a total capacity of more than 6,300 beds across the Kennesaw and Marietta campuses. Notably, construction on the newest residence hall wrapped both ahead of schedule and under budget, said Lesley Netter-Snowden, executive vice president and chief business officer.

“Housing and Residence Life is an auxiliary department, meaning it does not receive state appropriations or tuition revenue, and it must generate its own revenue to cover expenses,” she said. “The project savings will allow the auxiliary departments to reallocate that funding to other capital projects supporting the strategic plan, specifically strengthening the student experience and enhancing our physical environment.”

As the University maintains a strong commitment to fiscal responsibility, external funding continues to support key priorities across the institution. In 2025, KSU raised more than $47 million, including $14 million added to its endowment. In total, 541 endowments now benefit scholarships, student programs, research, and KSU Athletics. These efforts have driven significant momentum for The Campaign for KSU, the largest and most comprehensive fundraising initiative in the University’s history. Launched in 2023 with an initial goal of $200 million, the campaign has already surpassed expectations, raising more than $227 million to date.

In April, KSU saw its most successful Giving Day, raising more than $400,000. Now in its third year, the event attracted a record 2,116 individual contributors, many of whom were alumni, demonstrating the continued momentum of KSU’s culture of generosity.

EMPHASIZING THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

The student experience on campus has made great strides since the launch of the Taking Flight strategic plan. Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs Ivan Pulinkala points to the success of the FLIGHT program, spearheaded by Vice President of Student Affairs Eric Arneson, as proof-positive of KSU’s elevated student experience.

Launched in 2022, FLIGHT is a class‑year connection program, designed to enrich the student experience through intentional, high‑impact engagement. Offering distinctive experiences at every stage of the collegiate journey, FLIGHT supports students’ social, personal, and academic growth from their first year through graduation. The program achieved a significant milestone in May as FLIGHT 26, named for the targeted graduation year, became the first cohort of the program to reach Commencement. This fall, KSU will welcome FLIGHT 30 to campus.

“We’ve been laser-focused on helping students discover and engage with KSU traditions, particularly within their academic homes,” Arneson said. “We’re already seeing increased participation as a result. Several colleges have developed goals centered on connecting students beyond the classroom, and that work has sparked new programs, partnerships, and meaningful collaborations.”

The student experience extends beyond new campus traditions. In addition to new residential offerings on campus, student demand for transportation options will be met this fall with a new fleet of buses and expanded Big Owl Bus service including new routes. And for the first time ever, the fleet will feature four hybrid buses, underscoring KSU’s commitment to sustainable practices.

“These initiatives stand out not only for their outcomes, but for the way they exemplify the institution’s broader commitment to intentional, data-informed progress,” Netter-Snowden said.

Building on its rapid growth and increasing national visibility, Kennesaw State has refined its admissions process. The University has joined other top-performing institutions in the University System of Georgia in requiring SAT or ACT scores and, by 2027 will implement new GPA standards, strengthening its position as a destination for high-performing students nationwide.

At the same time, KSU is carving new degree pathways that meet industry and student demand. Currently, the University offers more than 220 degree and certificate programs and has announced three new degree programs since the launch of Taking Flight. In Fall 2025, KSU became just the second institution in Georgia to offer a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, helping address the workforce demands of a rapidly growing industry.

Soon thereafter, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia approved additional academic programs at KSU, including a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence, a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences, and a Bachelor of Science in Financial Technologies.

“We are working to make sure that over time our growth isn’t just measured by student numbers,” Pulinkala said. “It’s measured by our academic distinction, the accolades our faculty, staff and students receive nationally, and the rankings we earn in the academic marketplace.”

RAISING THE PROFILE EXTERNALLY

To achieve prominence and raise Kennesaw State's external profile, several initiatives within taking Flight are centered on developing partnerships and sustaining the national profile set by the success of KSU's Athletics programs.

Casey Tanner, vice president of external affairs, said strong recognition within KSU’s state and local communities serves as the gateway to national visibility.

“It’s working,” she said. “To date, we have expanded the network of external advocates advancing KSU’s priorities while strengthening our presence at the federal level. These efforts have resulted in successful congressional appropriations funding requests, and a rising number of KSU students securing internships in Washington, D.C. What began as local momentum has scaled into national achievements, raising awareness of Kennesaw State across the country.”

To support this momentum, Tanner said her unit is continuing to explore ways to advance the value of a KSU degree by engaging with business partners.

“A key step in this effort is the planned opening of a Midtown Atlanta office dedicated to fostering industry partnerships,” she said. “By establishing a presence in one of the nation’s largest hubs for corporate headquarters, our aim is to strengthen relationships with employers and elevate KSU’s reputation in regional and national business communities.”

The new Midtown Atlanta office is expected to open in Technology Square during the Fall 2026 semester.

Nationally, the Kennesaw State brand has established visibility by way of numerous championship-caliber athletics programs. Since joining Conference USA (CUSA) in July 2024 and elevating to the highest echelon of college football, Owls men’s and women’s athletics teams have captured five CUSA championships, earning a men’s basketball March Madness appearance and the school’s first-ever football bowl game along the way.

“Since the beginning, our primary goal has been increasing visibility and strengthening the KSU brand, and we’ve made meaningful progress,” said Milton Overton, director of athletics. “As visibility increases, engagement follows. Alumni give more, partners lean in, and momentum builds.”

As Taking Flight continues to guide KSU’s moment, Pulinkala emphasized that the University’s goal champions are not guided by rigid assumptions about what Kennesaw State’s next chapter should be. Instead, they are allowing progress to take shape naturally, informed by shared purpose, collaboration, and momentum across campus.

So how does a modern university grow from here?

“In one word,” Pulinkala said, “intentionally.”

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.