The Kansas Board of Regents will start searching for Emporia State University’s next president soon.
Regents Chair Blake Benson says the board plans to discuss the search at an unspecified time before looking for the person to replace Ken Hush. Benson thanked Hush for his service to Emporia State, adding, “Emporia State has placed a strong emphasis on affordability for Kansas families while significantly increasing student success as is evidenced by improvements on-time graduation and retention rates. The Regents extend President Hush our warmest congratulations and wish him all the best in retirement.”
Hush was hired by the Regents to “re-engineer higher education,” first as interim president in 2021 and then as permanent president in 2022. In an interview with KVOE News on Thursday, Hush laid out several priorities, including restoring the university’s financial health and making ESU more attractive to students. Both, he says, were accomplished, but Hush continues to take heat for cutting around 30 tenured or tenure-track professors and eliminate programs that weren’t in the ESU “strike zone” when a massive restructuring effort began shortly after he was hired. One of Hush’s mentors, Gary Sherrer, tells KVOE News that criticism is unwarranted.
Over the past several weeks, university leaders have said ESU was close to losing its financial viability as of June 2024 had operations not changed. Sherrer admits Hush had a tough task, which to Sherrer meant tough choices had to be made.
Sherrer, who abruptly left the Regents in 2011 following the resignation of then-president Michael Lane, is also faulting the Board of Regents for letting Hush walk away — while crediting Hush for his relationship with Kansas lawmakers.
Sherrer’s affiliation with Emporia State, first as a student and graduate, later as a Board of Regents member — also includes serving as a major donor to different university causes and the current leader of a search committee for Emporia State’s next athletics director. He also served as lieutenant governor from 1996-2003. Looking ahead, Sherrer says ESU needs a similar style of leader in its next president.
Hush announced his upcoming retirement Thursday, effective Dec. 17.
*Click here for KVOE News’ coverage of the Hush retirement announcement.
