January 18, 2017
Kansas State University joins Imagining America to increase university's arts extension, outreach
Submitted by Communications and Marketing
Kansas State University is advancing its cultural arts engagement by becoming part of Imagining America, a national consortium that aims to create transformation in higher education and beyond.
David Procter, director of the Center for Engagement and Community Development, said Kansas State University's new membership in Imagining America, or IA, helps fulfill the university's land-grant mission to partner with Kansas communities and bring research to the public in applicable ways.
"Participation in Imagining America will increase the recognition that humanities, arts and design are crucial to realizing the democratic, public and civic purposes of American higher education," Procter said. "It also will more effectively connect an understanding of cultural arts engagement at Kansas State University with our historical strengths, including agriculture, engineering and veterinary medicine."
Additionally, Procter said the yearlong membership will increase scholarly and creative opportunities for faculty and provide graduate students with increased research, networking and funding opportunities.
"Cultural arts engagement at Kansas State University is longstanding and has been increasing for years," Procter said. "For example, the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art does incredible public engagement; the Chapman Center for Rural Studies has grown incredibly; the art department has hired publicly engaged scholars; and the College of Architecture, Planning & Design is doing wonderful work engaging local, regional, statewide and international publics."
Provost and Senior Vice President April Mason, who oversees academic programming, is providing the annual membership fee.
"I want to support K-State's membership in Imagining America because I think it will provide excellent educational opportunities for students," Mason said. "We have highly talented faculty in a variety of academic disciplines, and I look forward to how participation in Imagining America will position K-State for even greater endeavors."