Christy Craft named graduate faculty associate for the Graduate School

The Graduate School at Kansas State University welcomes Christy Craft as its new graduate faculty associate.

In this role, Craft will provide leadership and management of the Graduate Council, support graduate curriculum development and collaborate with the council to update policies and procedures. She will also help develop data-informed strategies to support graduate student success, curriculum innovation and graduate student retention.

"We are thrilled to have Christy Craft join the Graduate School leadership team," said Phillip Payne, interim dean of the Graduate School. "She brings a wealth of experience in curriculum, instruction, leadership and graduate education that positions our school to maintain momentum on the path toward our Next-Gen K-State land-grant mission. Craft will help us build on previous years of success at the K-State Graduate School."

Craft has been actively involved with the Graduate School and Graduate Council during her time at K-State. She has represented K-State faculty on the Carnegie Graduate Slate Consultation Team, served on the Graduate Slate Advisory Committee and participated in the Strategic Enrollment Planning Graduate Advisory Planning Group. Her Graduate Council service includes three years on the Academic Affairs Committee and a term on the Assessment and Review Committee during the 2024-2025 academic year.

"I am looking forward to working with the Graduate School team to serve graduate students and graduate faculty while striving to enhance the graduate education enterprise here at K-State," Craft said. "I have a passion for graduate education, and I'm excited about pursuing that interest in some new ways through this role."

Since joining K-State in 2005, Craft has held a variety of leadership roles. She served as graduate program director for the master's degree program in college student development and the doctoral program in student affairs in higher education for five years. Most recently, she served as chair of the department of special education, counseling and student affairs for four years and was a university ombudsperson for six years. Craft holds a doctorate in higher education from the University of Arizona.

Craft's role as Graduate Faculty Associate is a part-time appointment. She will also continue serving as professor and graduate coordinator in the College of Education.