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Welcome to Flash Focus! In this series, we introduce you to fascinating student Flashes from all walks of life.

Meet Giovanni Tripi, a member of the Honors College and a senior biology major with minors in public health and forensic anthropology, from Lyndhurst, Ohio.  

“Coming into college, I knew I wanted to be on a pre-med track; however, upon looking at my other options, I found opportunities to customize my coursework and curriculum to keep me engaged,” Tripi told 51���� Today. “This flexibility has allowed me to pursue other fields as well that greatly align with my courses, such as studying anatomy and biological processes in forensic anthropology, as well as disease and treatment in my public health studies.”

Tripi is involved on campus in many ways, including spending most of his time as a Peer Assisted Study Session (PASS) leader and mentor for the course Elements of Genetics.  

“I really enjoy being a PASS leader and being able to work with students to better understand a course and materials that I love,” Tripi said.  

In the fall of 2024, Tripi also started as a Peer-to-Peer Support Mentor for the Honors College, working with students who are on academic probation to provide support and resources.

He is also actively involved in research through his work in the Helen Piontkivska Lab, which he joined in spring 2025, and has recently received the Ohio Space Grant Consortium Scholarship. 

“My research is currently focused on ADAR editing rates for a project focused on neural organoids that were cultured on the International Space Station,” Tripi said.  

When not on campus, Tripi interns at Akron Children’s Genetic Center as a genetic counseling assistant.  

“It’s been a really rewarding internship here,” he said. “I get to learn about a variety of rare genetic disorders and the associations of different health conditions. It provides a really interesting connection between coursework and healthcare applications.”

One of his most memorable experiences at Kent is taking the course Forensic Anthropology Field School, also known as the “Pig Dig,” with Linda Spurlock, Ph.D., professor of Anthropology.  

“One of the coolest things I got to do in that class was rearticulate the skeleton of the pig we excavated, looking for clues and identifying trauma to the bone,” Tripi said.  

To take his mind off of his busy school life, Tripi loves to bake.  

“I would ask for cookbooks and kitchen equipment rather than typical gifts,” Tripi said. “Any chance I get, I try to bake something, and I am always willing to bring a baked good with me anywhere I go.”  

After securing his degree at 51����, Tripi plans to attend medical school and become a practicing physician. 

Are you a student interested in being featured in Flash Focus, or know a student who would make a great candidate? Send suggestions with name and contact information to kentstatetoday@kent.edu.