Alumni Reunion Bios - Dept Kent - Kent State University

Ph.D. Alumni
J. LeBron Rankins
J. LeBron Rankins, Ph.D., entered the Psyc Dept in the Fall of
1992 as a Clinical student. LeBron is currently employed as a staff
psychologist at Ithaca College, in Ithaca, NY, where he primarily
provides clinical services for students. During breaks in the
academic year, LeBron is likely to be seen packing his car for yet
another adventure. This reunion is his second stop in a seven week
itinerary of “planes, trains and automobiles” that will eventually
take him from southern California to Seattle. The following is a
quote that motivated his persistence while completing his graduate
work: “I do not think there is any other quality so essential to
success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes
almost everything, even nature.” J.D. Rockefeller.
Memories:
The most unique memory of my time at Kent was the occasion in which Heidi asked me to assist
her with a rat experiment. My task was simply to hold the rat, dip its long tail into a beaker of
warm water and continue holding it while Heidi inserted a sheath covered needle into its tail.
Needless to say, I never considered becoming a “rat boy”. Then there was 2.50 Loft pizza,
Susan's coffee and the early morning call from intoxicated roommates/classmates wanting a ride
home from the Loft (yes, I did go pick them up). The Dept helped me achieve an important goal
in my life and in the process of learning, I learned from my peers that I also had something to
teach; that is my most significant memory of my time at Kent.
The Incoming Class of 1992:
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