August 6, 2021
Erickson named interim chief operations officer
Submitted by Communications and Marketing
Ethan Erickson, Kansas State University chief financial officer, will also serve as interim vice president and chief operating officer. President Richard Myers announced the appointment, which will become effective Sept. 5 and is in conjunction with the retirement of Cindy Bontrager, vice president and chief operations officer.
In addition to his current responsibilities as chief financial officer, Erickson will supervise all facilities planning and maintenance, risk and compliance, police and public safety, environmental health and safety, parking and the administrative support center.
"I am grateful for Ethan's willingness to serve the university in this way. He will provide the proven and immediate leadership we need during this transitional period," Myers said.
Erickson will begin working immediately with Bontrager to address several urgent transition needs, including hiring for key vacant positions and analysis work required for the Kansas Board of Regents’ new deferred maintenance plan. He will serve in this interim role until a decision is made on a search for the permanent role.
Named the university's chief financial officer in 2019, Erickson previously served as assistant vice president for budget planning for five years. He came to K-State from the Kansas Department of Education where he served as director of fiscal services and operations and managed funds of approximately $3.8 billion. He also held budget positions with the Kansas Department of Transportation and the Kansas Division of the Budget.
Erickson has a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in business administration, both from Kansas State University.