Rep. Sykes believes education is a critical cog of future success, and he speaks on that subject with an expert voice and an impressive background. He holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational behavior from Ohio University, a master’s degree in social and applied economics from Wright State University, a master’s of public administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and a doctorate in urban studies from the University of Akron.

He started his career in service in the classroom, training young minds for the challenges of tomorrow. Rep. Sykes taught American Urban Society and a survey of economics as an assistant professor at the University of Akron.

State Representative Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) of the 44th District brings decades of public service experience to his role at the Ohio House, serving parts of Akron.

Rep. Sykes believes education is a critical cog of future success, and he speaks on that subject with an expert voice and an impressive background. He holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational behavior from Ohio University, a master’s degree in social and applied economics from Wright State University, a master’s of public administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and a doctorate in urban studies from the University of Akron.

He started his career in service in the classroom, training young minds for the challenges of tomorrow. Rep. Sykes taught American Urban Society and a survey of economics as an assistant professor at the University of Akron.

Rep. Sykes also pursued his passion for politics. He served two terms on Akron City Council before his appointment to the House of Representatives in 1983. As a state legislator, Rep. Sykes sponsored legislation to toughen child abuse laws, to compensate wrongly-imprisoned individuals, and to prevent railroad crossing fatalities. He also championed the strongest fair housing law in the nation during his service. During his tenure, Sykes served as president of what is now the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus and as Assistant Majority Floor Leader.

Term limits forced Rep. Sykes out of the Ohio House in 2000. He returned to the classroom, joining the faculty at Kent State University as an assistant professor of political science. He also leads Kent State’s Columbus Program in Intergovernmental Issues, a program that offers a select group of college students the opportunity to live, work and study public policy in Ohio’s capital.

Rep. Sykes returned to the Statehouse in 2006, taking over for his wife Barbara, who represented the 44th District from 2001 to 2006. Currently, he is Vice-chairman of the Ohio House Finance Committee. Rep. Sykes also serves on the State Government Committee and the Consumer and Economic Protection Committee.

Vernon and Barbara Sykes live in Akron. They have two daughters and a grandson.

Rep. Sykes also pursued his passion for politics. He served two terms on Akron City Council before his appointment to the House of Representatives in 1983. As a state legislator, Rep. Sykes sponsored legislation to toughen child abuse laws, to compensate wrongly-imprisoned individuals, and to prevent railroad crossing fatalities. He also championed the strongest fair housing law in the nation during his service. During his tenure, Sykes served as president of what is now the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus and as Assistant Majority Floor Leader.

Term limits forced Rep. Sykes out of the Ohio House in 2000. He returned to the classroom, joining the faculty at Kent State University as an assistant professor of political science. He also leads Kent State’s Columbus Program in Intergovernmental Issues, a program that offers a select group of college students the opportunity to live, work and study public policy in Ohio’s capital.

Rep. Sykes returned to the Statehouse in 2006, taking over for his wife Barbara, who represented the 44th District from 2001 to 2006. Currently, he is Vice-chairman of the Ohio House Finance Committee. Rep. Sykes also serves on the State Government Committee and the Consumer and Economic Protection Committee.

Vernon and Barbara Sykes live in Akron. They have two daughters and a grandson.