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“The importance of giving back to our communities has been with me since I was a child, and I’m so grateful to my family for showing me the impact volunteering can have and the work we can accomplish together. I’ve tried to impart those same values to my children.”

Generous, vibrant, passionate, inclusive and hard working, these are a few qualities that make Kira Krivosh, ’05, an exceptional judge, outstanding community leader and deserving recipient of the Kent State Distinguished Citizen Alumni Award.

Kira graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Kent State, with a concentration in international relations and is now a judge for the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division. In her role, Kira is compassionate yet firm and is committed to making the legal system fair and accessible. 

Previously, she worked as a magistrate for the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Juvenile Division where she improved the lives of families and children and made the court more accessible to defendants. Prior to that, she worked for the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office as an assistant prosecuting attorney, where she managed the federal bankruptcy cases in the Northern District of Ohio and others across the United States, resulting in more than $17.6 million dollars from 2016-20 going to families of Cuyahoga County through the Office of Child Support Services.

Kira truly embodies Kent State’s core value of kindness. Volunteering is a top priority for her, and she is dedicated to giving back to the community.

“Judge Krivosh graduated from Kent State University with a dream to become a lawyer, a judge and a community servant,” said nominator Faith Kittoe. “But - most of all - her dream was to share her learning and become a change agent in helping others.”

Kira is highly involved with many nonprofit boards. Recently, she was appointed to the board for Open Doors Academy, a nonprofit that creates high-quality year-round programs that protect, inspire, nurture and challenge youth to reach their full potential. Kira also worked on the board for The Citizen Committee for the Lakewood Animal Shelter where she helped rescue and rehome hundreds of animals, along with assisting in fundraising for abused and abandoned animals' care.

The Giving Tree Project is an amazing initiative she started with State Senator Nickie Antonio during the COVID-19 pandemic. They collaborated with nonprofits, sewists, businesses and local governments to provide more than 15,000 free reusable masks to those who could not afford them or did not have access to masks. The Giving Tree Project continues to make strides today, now helping with community needs by supplying essentials like toothbrushes, toothpaste, school supplies and holiday gifts for children. 

“I believe these types of responses to problems, collaboration with community partners and colleagues, along with education and guidance is the best impact a community leader can have,” Kira said.

She has also been active with the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (CMBA), serving on the Board of Directors in the past, as well as planning speaking events. Because of these efforts, in 2021, CMBA appointed her to co-lead its Racial Equity and Law initiative. Her previous experience as a substitute teacher has transferred into her legal career, as she has taught or moderated 21 CLEs (Continuing Legal Education) and authored 11 publications.

Her work is highlighted by numerous humanitarian and community service awards, including CMBA’s Legacy in the Making Award, the Ohio State Foundation’s District 12 Community Service Award for Attorneys 40 and Under, the Frances Payne Bolton Award from the Junior League of Cleveland and The Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club's Top 25 Under 35 Movers & Shakers, among others.

Another blue and gold pride point for Kira is that Kent State brought her and her husband, Ryan Krivosh, ’06, together. They now live in Rocky River, Ohio, with their two children. Kira is invested in her city and serves on the Rocky River Soccer Organization Board of Directors and volunteered with the Rocky River Buc Baseball travel organization. She is a licensed soccer coach and has enjoyed coaching for Rocky River youth soccer over the past five years.