Emporia State University Provost Brent Thomas is departing the University at the end of the fall semester.
ESU announced via a news release Friday morning that Thomas has been chosen as the next Vice President for Academic Affairs with the Kansas Board of Regents, a role he will officially assume on January 3, 2027. In that release, Thomas stated, “I am grateful for the opportunity to have served Hornet Nation and deeply honored to continue serving higher education in Kansas. Serving students at Emporia State University has been one of the greatest privileges of my professional life. I am deeply grateful to President Baker and to the faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the university for the opportunity to serve this remarkable institution.”
Thomas has spent the last 20 years with ESU beginning in August of 2006 as an associate professor in biological studies.
Thomas was named the university’s Interim chair of the Department of Biological Sciences in 2008 and was later appointed to the role full-time. He would then serve eight years as dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences before being named Provost in 2022 after the departure of David Arasimowicz, who replaced longtime provost David Cordle following his retirement in 2021.
Speaking to Thomas’ new position, KBOR President and CEO Jennifer Bonds-Raacke stated in the aforementioned news release, “Dr. Thomas brings a wealth of experience and a track record of collaborative leadership that will be a valuable asset to the Kansas public higher education system. His ability to build strong partnerships and unite people around a common purpose will help the Board advance opportunities for students and strengthen our system.”
Thomas’ final day will be December 19th. KVOE News has reached out to Thomas for additional comment on his pending departure.
A search will be conducted to find Thomas’ replacement; however, a timeline has yet to be announced. A campus announcement: “Additional information regarding interim and permanent academic leadership at ESU will soon be announced.”
