Pitt State president to leave for new leadership position

President Dan Shipp has announced his decision to resign his leadership post at Pittsburg State University to become the next president of Maryville University in St. Louis.  

Shipp will continue to serve in his leadership role at Pitt State through May. On June 1, he’ll become the 11th President of Maryville University, replacing nationally recognized higher education leader Mark Lombardi. 

“It has been a genuine honor to lead Gorilla Nation as its 10th President for the past nearly three years,” said Shipp. “Our family has enjoyed every minute of our time in Southeast Kansas serving the many students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners. Pittsburg and Pitt State are very special places, to be sure. I am extremely proud of the remarkable progress we have all made together.” 

Shipp began his term as Pitt State’s 10th president in June 2022 with a focus on recruitment and retention after years of nationally declining enrollment and funding in higher education. 

During his time as president, the university became the first in Kansas to begin automatically conferring Associate of Arts degrees to all students who successfully complete their general education requirements on the way to earning their bachelor’s degrees. To date, it has led to more than 1,000 students earning their AA degrees, protecting their time, talent, and treasure. 

Under his leadership, the university also achieved the following:  

• • Developed a new strategic plan and planning process in collaboration with faculty, staff, and students.
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• • Opened the new Howard W. Smith Student Success Center in Axe Library to ensure students have consistent support, from their first day on campus until they secure their first job after graduation.
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• • Created the Great Gorilla scholarship program that put Pitt State in a position to attract and retain more current and future students by offering competitive four-year academic scholarships.
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• • Launched the transformational $55 million Gorilla Rising project now under construction in downtown Pittsburg that will be completed in 2026. The project includes a new home for the Kelce College of Business, and renovation of the historic Besse Hotel for additional student housing and a new space for the nationally recognized Center for Reading.
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• • Secured more than $7 million for student scholarships during the 11-day “Dan Bikes Kansas” initiative.
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• • Reduced healthcare costs to students, enhanced wellness programming, and redirected significant student fees to other needed student life priorities, in partnership with the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas.
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• • Conceptualized and secured the necessary funding for a nearly $60 million criminal science and education/research center to open in November next to the Tyler Research Center, in partnership with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
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• • Provided primary leadership in the development of the Kansas Blueprint for Literacy designed to improve student reading competency results throughout the state for years to come, in partnership with state legislators.
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• • Built a new soccer pitch, started women’s soccer, and restarted men’s golf.
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• • Renamed the Crossland College of Technology, thanks to a generous gift. 

For the past year, Shipp also served as interim dean of the College of Technology. 

Carl Ice, chair of the Kansas Board of Regents, said he was proud of the progress Shipp made during his time at Pitt State. 

“The Regents thank President Shipp for his service to Pittsburg State,” said Ice. “Under his leadership, the university enhanced its student success initiatives, and Dan leaves Pittsburg State University with a talented team and strong strategic plan. We wish him all the best in his new endeavor.” 

The decision-making process for selecting the next president will be announced by and facilitated by the Regents. 

“Our family will be cheering on the continued growth of Pitt State for many years to come,” said Shipp. “You all are in great hands moving forward — your hands! And as we all say with pride, ‘Once a Gorilla, Always a Gorilla!’.”