Sources: Lloyd Thomas, 785-532-7357, lbt@k-state.edu;
and Daniel Kuester, 785-532-6341, dkuester@k-state.edu
Pronouncer: Kuester is Keys-ter
News release prepared by: Sheila Ellis, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu
Friday, September 7, 2007
K-STATE'S DANIEL KUESTER NEW ROE CROSS PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS INSTRUCTION
MANHATTAN — Kansas State University's Daniel Kuester has big shoes to fill.
Kuester has been named the Roe Cross Professor of Economics Instruction at K-State, a distinguished position within the economics department formerly held by Roger Trenary, who was one of the most well-known professors on campus.
Trenary, who died in February, left a legacy of excellence, teaching more than 24,000 students in his 29-year career at K-State, said Lloyd Thomas, head of the department of economics.
"I don't think anyone really wants to be held to the standard that Roger met here because it is so difficult to reach," Kuester said. "But, I am pleased to have the opportunity to work with a large number of our undergraduate students."
Kuester received his doctorate from the University of Missouri in 2000. He taught for several years at the University of Arkansas before joining the K-State economics department in 2004. He teaches 850 students a year and is faculty sponsor of K-State's undergraduate Economics Club.
"His dedication to the economics department is invaluable," Thomas said. "He puts his whole heart into helping introductory economics students navigate their way through the challenging terrain of economics."
Kuester said he enjoys teaching the larger lecture classes. "I try to do everything I can to engage each student as an individual," he said.
While in college, he said he loved tutoring friends in his classes and talking about various economic debates of the day. He has never lost that passion, he said.
This fall, the economics department has been authorized to recruit for the newly endowed Roger Trenary Chair in Economics, Thomas said. The department will be seeking to hire a great teacher of lower-division classes who is capable of inspiring a generation of students as Trenary did over the past 30 years. The Trenary Chair was endowed predominantly by students of Trenary from 1977-2006, Thomas said.