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K-State Today

February 13, 2020

Staffing updates within University Operations

Submitted by Cindy Bontrager

Dear Campus Community,

Since President Myers announced the reorganization of Administration and Finance in June, a department change along with several key staffing changes have occurred and are planned within the University Operations unit.

Mandy Cole has been promoted to assistant vice president for operational strategy. Mandy successfully built the Administrative Support Center, or ASC, department, which transitioned the accounting, finance and human resources activities and staff from 59 separate administrative departments into one. She has expanded the original scope of the director position to provide analysis, research and advice related to budget, accounting and staffing to the offices of the president, provost and vice presidents for communications and marketing, human capital services, research and university operations. Mandy's leadership and skills have served the university well with her additional involvement in the Budget Modernization and Strategic Enrollment Management initiatives. In her new role, Mandy will continue to lead the ASC and provide leadership to executive administrators and university strategic initiatives. The ASC department reports to the University Operations unit.

Jana Clark has been appointed as the acting director of internal audit following the retirement of Steve LaFever on Jan. 24. Jana has worked in the internal audit office since 2013. She holds a bachelor's degree in secondary education from Kansas State University and a Master of Business Administration from Emporia State University. Jana is a certified internal auditor, a certified internal controls auditor, a certified fraud examiner and has received the certification in risk management assurance. A national search to permanently fill the director position will begin in February.

Ryan Swanson has announced his resignation as associate vice president for facilities and university architect effective March 6. He will be returning to his alma mater, the University of Nebraska, to serve as the associate vice president for facilities planning and capital construction. Ryan joined Kansas State University in 2013 and guided the university in a time of significant capital construction planning, growth and renewal. He built a strong team and under his leadership implemented infrastructure upgrades in an expanded chilled water distribution system and completed the update to the electrical distribution system. The associate vice president position will not be immediately filled while an assessment of the division of facilities organizational structure is completed to determine how best to move forward in support of the university. An announcement will be made to campus once the temporary reassignment of Ryan's duties is finalized.

Sarah Barrett has announced her resignation as Clery Act federal compliance program consultant effective March 2. Sarah has accepted the position of director of training and education at the Clery Center. Sarah was instrumental in developing a robust Clery program over the past three years that established mandatory training and tools to collect the pertinent information required to be included in the annual security reports for each K-State campus. She is the founding supervisor of Cats' Cupboard, K-State's food pantry. Sarah is a graduate of Kansas State University and worked as an assistant dean in the office of student life since 2014. Searches to fill Sarah's position and the vacant emergency management coordinator position will be initiated by Elliot Young, assistant vice president for university risk and compliance officer. Elliot's first day at K-State is Feb. 17.

I am appreciative of the work all these individuals have done to serve and advance our university mission. Please join me in wishing Ryan and Sarah the best as they start new pathways in their careers. Don't hesitate to reach out to me with any questions, concerns or ideas to assist us in providing relevant and top-notch services to the university.

Go Cats!

Cindy Bontrager
Vice President for University Operations, Chief Operations Officer