new goals for faculty research that resulted in significant increases in the number of grant proposals submitted by faculty and extramural funding received for faculty research. spearheaded a comprehensive review of the university's financial model, resulting in a change to a decentralized Responsibility Center Management financial system. played a significant role in cultivating a new era of cooperation between the university and the City of Kent and the redevelopment of downtown Kent. agreed to donate his 2009 raise to a scholarship fund to help students during the recession. helped keep high-tech company AlphaMicron in Kent by bringing the firm to the university-operated Centennial Research Park. The company applies research in liquid crystals to create new products. oversaw the largest enrollment of students in Kent State history—a record 41,300 at all eight Kent State campuses—for the fall 2010 semester. Led the acquisition of Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine, Ohio's only podiatry school, now known as the Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine broke the institution's fundraising record three years in a row and raised more than $40 million from donors in single year for the first time during the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2011. Recognizing that students need and deserve first-class classrooms, laboratories, stages and other facilities to successfully compete for jobs, internships and advanced education, the university has developed a culture of philanthropy and fundraising that supports Kent State's already strong commitment to capital improvements that enhance teaching and learning. Recent facilities improvements include the Roe Green Center for the School of Theatre and Dance, a $22 million renovation of historic Franklin Hall that transformed it into one of the nation's leading training grounds for aspiring reporters, editors, producers, photographers, videographers and designers, and the Air Traffic Control Center in Van Deusen Hall that aid the university as it trains air traffic control students to help fill the Federal Aviation Administration's need for more than 14,500 air traffic control specialists between now and 2018. Under Lefton's leadership, Kent State established a College of Public Health, the second one in Ohio, to meet the state's and nation's growing needs for public health professionals. Kent State graduated its first class of students from the College of Public Health in May 2011. He led the university when it was named one of the top 200 universities in the world by Times Higher Education of London. and received a coveted spot