While much of America is embroiled in controversy about Supreme Court decisions our Hornet Nation is excited about the naming of Emporia State alum Ken Hush as our 18th president.
Why you ask?
Because Ken brings to the position a uniqueness that makes our new university leadership stand-alone in Kansas and beyond.
I met Ken Hush when he was 13. We were opponents in the Emporia City Tennis tournament. He called me Mr. Sauder throughout the match. I learned later on instructions from his father.
I saw him play tennis many times, but finally had the chance to see him in off-court action as first Vice-Chair and then Chair of the ESU Foundation. Hush’s leadership style demonstrated he had a special gift.
The only question I’ve heard about Hush serving as our University’s President is he isn’t what some described as an “academic.” I think that means he doesn’t come with a traditional background for college presidents lacking those “letters” behind his name.
Ken’s aggressive leadership during his seven months as ESU’s Interim President offers a good rebuttal.
I have visited with several of Emporia State’s newly formed leadership team and they are excited about Hush and appreciate that he first looks to them for guidance.
In addition one of Hush’s first tasks will be to hire a new Provost a position that typically is the school’s senior academic advisor. Obviously, he will choose someone whose thinking aligns with his making for a great team.
I loved a Post on Facebook from an Emporia lady who shared that in 1975 she and her husband were living at Emporia’s Holiday Inn and first met Ken Hush who was a sixteen-year-old waiter. They’ve been friends ever since.
I mention this because that’s the real Ken Hush – a polite, hard-working student who held two jobs during college despite being an All-American tennis player, a successful business student who still had time to become friends with virtually everyone he met.
You see Ken is real, authentic, and in the final analysis sincere.
My takeaway? Ken Hush doesn’t fake anything – he is as real as it gets making him a perfect leader for my school in these challenging times.
Sit back and watch or better yet get involved. I promise you the welcome mat is out and this will be the most inclusive ESU in history.
I’m Steve Sauder
