March 12, 2025
Strengthening our community
Dear K-State community,
At its core, our university’s mission is teaching, research and engagement. Since our founding, we have strived to offer access to all, and that may have seemed progressive to many. In 1863, our first class included 26 men and 26 women. Today, we have grown to more than 20,000 students. They represent Kansans, Midwesterners, Americans, those from abroad, those who come from means and those from more modest beginnings. No matter who they are, we offer access to education because we believe in the inherent power of a degree and its ability to create opportunity for those who work hard to earn it.
Offering access and opportunity is the work K-State has done for more than 160 years. It is the foundation of our land-grant institution, helping meet the needs of our state and nation. We strive to support all we welcome to our community because we have a moral imperative to empower their success.
Continuing to support our work strengthening our community will mean we need to reorganize efforts supporting access and opportunity. Corey Williamson and Jennifer Fabrizius will now report to Shanna Legleiter, our chief human resources officer, and serve within our Human Resources team. The K-State Office for Advancement of Women in Science and Engineering, or KAWSE, team will be directed by the provost’s office, reporting to Margaret Mohr-Schroeder, and the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX will move to the Office of the President, reporting to Marshall Stewart. The university’s student ombudsperson role, held by Kimathi Choma, will report to the Division of Academic Success and Student Affairs under Thomas Lane.
We know that changes occurring within the federal government have impacts felt around the country, not just at K-State. However, there are K-State resources for students, faculty and staff that offer a wide array of support. Students can find more information about services by visiting the Student Resources site, and the Employee Assistance Program is a resource for faculty and staff.
Our work of supporting our community is crucial to our success. Over the coming weeks and months, we will continue to assess how to strengthen our community best and ensure that all within it can learn, grow and thrive.
Go ‘Cats!
Richard Linton
President