College of Agriculture announces Nicole Marple as graduate student programs manager

 

Kansas State University's College of Agriculture named Nicole Marple as the graduate student programs manager. This redesigned position brings coordinated graduate student services to the college level for the first time, substantially enhancing the support and resources available to graduate students.

Marple began her new role in April 2025, bringing more than 20 years of experience at K-State, including work as a degree analyst and graduate program coordinator for the Food Science Institute, and expertise in enrollment services from the Office of the Registrar.

In this position, Marple will lead efforts to unify and strengthen graduate student services across departments. She will work closely with Jane Schuh, associate dean, director for research and graduate studies, as well as the college's assistant dean of graduate programs, to:

• Coordinate graduate student communications and events.
• Resolve enrollment and administrative issues.
• Serve as a key liaison to the Graduate School and Office of the Registrar.
• Guide departments in the effective use of student data to support advising and program development.
• Provide a central, accessible point of contact for all graduate student concerns.

This new role is designed to deliver a more seamless, responsive and student-centered experience for graduate students in the College of Agriculture.

In addition to these graduate program responsibilities, Marple will oversee course scheduling for the entire College of Agriculture. For the first time, this coordination will be managed at the college level, bringing greater consistency, accuracy and student-centered focus to the scheduling process. She will manage course setup, faculty assignments and enrollment logistics, while ensuring alignment with university policies on instructional modalities, credit hours and room capacities. Marple will also support student records cybersecurity by helping departments securely manage student data.

"By repurposing this position, we are taking a major step forward in providing coordinated, college-level graduate student support," said Jon Ulmer, interim associate dean of the college. "Nicole’s leadership will greatly enhance the level of service our graduate students receive, helping them succeed academically and professionally."

Marple's appointment reflects the College of Agriculture's commitment to continuous improvement in graduate education and academic operations.