Michael C. Holen, dean of the College of Education and K-State's Faculty Athletics Representative to the Big 12 Conference, came to the university in 1971. He served as a professor, department head, and associate dean before being named dean in 1990. In 1988, Holen received the Presidential Award for Distinguished Service to Minority Education and in 2004 was recognized as the Outstanding Alumnus in Education at the University of Oregon. In 2002, he was named the national Outstanding Rural Educator by ACRES. He has chaired the Regents' Council of Education Deans three times and served in a variety of roles within the Big 12 governance structure. In 2002, the now K-State School of Leadership Studies named their Outstanding Leadership Award in his honor.
Holen earned his bachelor's degree in history from Stanford University and his master's and doctorate degrees in educational psychology, both from the University of Oregon. He is married to Kathryn and has four children and two grandchildren.
Holen can be contacted at 785-532-5526 or via e-mail at mholen@k-state.edu.