ʃˈɔːɹtli ˈæftɚ bɪɡˈɪnɪŋ hɪz pɹˈɛzɪdənsi, lˈɛftən, wˈɜːkɪŋ wɪð sˈɪɾi mˈænɪdʒɚɹ ʌv kˈɛnt, oʊhˈaɪoʊ, dˈeɪv ɹˈʌlɚ, bɪɡˈæn ɐn ˈɑːŋɡoʊɪŋ ˈɛfɚt tə ɹˌiːdɪvˈɛləp ðə sˈɪɾi kˈɛnts, wɪððə ɡˈoʊl ʌv dɹˈɔːɪŋ ðə sˈɪɾi ænd ðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi klˈoʊsɚ ænd ɛŋkˈɜːɹɪdʒɪŋ ˌiːkənˈɑːmɪk ɡɹˈoʊθ.
Shortly after beginning his presidency, Lefton, working with city manager of Kent, Ohio, Dave Ruller, began an ongoing effort to redevelop the City Kent's, with the goal of drawing the city and the university closer and encouraging economic growth.