History and overview

Founded in 1903, Pittsburg State’s residential and online undergraduate and graduate student population of nearly 6,000 is guided by an exceptionally talented and dedicated faculty, staff, and administrative team numbering about 810, and operates on a $126 million annual budget. A living-learning environment invites students across the region, the nation, and the globe to be part of the robust “Gorilla Nation” spirit, while engaged in learning in the university’s four colleges: College of Arts and Sciences, Kelce College of Business, College of Education, and the Crossland College of Technology. Pittsburg State University has institutional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission. The university offers a unique hands-on learning environment at the Crossland Technology Center and maintains extensive partnerships with industry. Gorilla student-athletes compete in 12 NCAA Division II sports and receive exceptional fan support from the broad university community. Pittsburg State University is a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

Pittsburg State University has a 373-acre campus with historic buildings and modern facilities. An emerging research and development park includes the National Institute for Materials Advancement, a prove-out facility for manufacturing partnerships set to open in 2027, and a new facility for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Pitt State has developed unique partnerships in downtown Pittsburg, 1.4 miles north of the main campus. Block22 and the historic Hotel Besse offer innovative student housing options and the new Kelce College of Business facility, scheduled to open in July 2026, will feature state-of-the-art classrooms, collaboration spaces, and space for professional development and public events.

Pitt State’s Great Gorilla scholarship program offers competitive four-year scholarships, helping remove financial barriers and improving access to higher education. In 2024, Pitt State became the first institution in Kansas to award Associate of Arts degrees to students as they earn them on their path to a bachelor’s degree, protecting their investment. The comprehensive Howard W. Smith Student Success Center ensures students have the support they need from their first day on campus until they secure their first job after graduation.

Private giving has played an increasingly important role in the growth of Pittsburg State University in recent years. The University has established a strong alumni association, founded in 1905, and a foundation created in 1985 that develops private support the Pittsburg community and across the nation.

The position

Pittsburg State University's presidential search committee expects an inspiring, approachable, leader of integrity. This individual must be a dynamic, politically astute, forward-thinking president who will be a forthright champion of the university. The president must embrace a genuine commitment to the university's core values: student-focused, excellence, “by doing learn,” diversity, community, innovation, and sustainability. 

The new president will come to Pittsburg State University with knowledge of and experience in higher education issues and environments. The successful candidate must be able to balance academic and administrative excellence with the ability to be the voice and face of the university in the city, state, and the region. The president must work diligently to support a collaborative governance environment, using a consultative style with attentiveness to professional development for faculty and staff. The president will lend progressive guidance to a new strategic plan and will be an authentic collaborator who continually strives to improve the student experience. 

Pittsburg State University's new president must be an entrepreneurial, enterprising, empowering presence. As a staunch university advocate, the next president must nurture the close-knit, mutually cooperative relationship with the City of Pittsburg by building and maintaining diverse partnerships and collaborations for the well-being of the university, the community, the Board, the system, statewide interests, and the State of Kansas, as well as national and international partners. 

Characteristics

The successful candidate should possess the following characteristics: 

• Have an authentic, caring, teach-first focus that prioritizes access, success, quality experiences, and career readiness for all students; 
• Be committed to an engaged, visible leadership style, actively present with students, faculty, staff, donors, alumni, fans, and the community; 
• Be an effective communicator and active listener with an approachable, transparent, open-door, high integrity servant leader style; 
• Have an understanding of regional public enrollment challenges and has a bold, data-driven approach to academic planning and recruitment/retention strategy; 
• Have experience in the unique financial strategy required for regional public institutions; 
• Be informed, engaging, and serve as a savvy policy and funding advocate at the local, state, and federal level; 
• Understand the value of alumni, donors, and the PSU Foundation in enhancing fundraising and long-term financial health; 
• Possess the skills to strengthen partnerships with city, regional, K-12 schools, businesses, and industry to expand student opportunities and university impact; 
• Have an awareness and understanding of the realities of faculty life in a collective bargaining environment; 
• Be supportive of technological innovation, industry input, and evolving student expectations in teaching practices and program development; 
• Be a champion of applied learning opportunities, connecting students with hands-on experiences and workforce partnerships in the region; 
• Be able to quickly gain an understanding of existing large-scale projects and lead them to financially responsible and timely completions; 
• Be supportive of a strong NCAA Division II athletics program and recognizes its role in university engagement, recruitment, and school spirit;
• Demonstrate skills in investing in organizational health, employee motivation, and competitive compensation; 
• Be committed to high-quality student, faculty, staff, and public campus spaces; 
• Have senior-level higher education leadership experience at a regional university similar in size and mission to PSU (preferred but not required); and 
• Have an earned doctorate or terminal degree from an accredited institution of higher education (preferred but not required). 

Important Resources

Pittsburg State University Organizational Chart

Institutional Fact Books

Buffkin / Baker is assisting Pittsburg State University on this search. Inquiries, nominations, and applications may be directed to:

Dr. Pelema Ellis, Partner, (831) 400-2511

Or you can send an email to: pittstatepresident@buffkinbaker.com

Applications should include a 1) current CV and 2) a letter of interest that addresses the responsibilities and qualifications described above.

Priority consideration will be given to materials received by the preferred submission date of May 9, 2025.

To ensure we can attract a quality applicant pool, the entire search is confidential until the Kansas Board of Regents announces the next President.

Rick Webb, Chair
Executive Chairman/Watco LLC

Blake Benson, vice-chair
Kansas Board of Regents

Blake Flanders
President and CEO/Kansas Board of Regents

Susan Bon
Provost and Executive Vice President

Jason Reid
Associate Professor/Crossland College of Technology

Michelle Hensley
Executive Assistant, Registrar

Anthony Crespino
Associate Athletic Director

Abigail Fern
Associate Vice President/Communications

Karen Johnson
Associate Professor/Nursing

Carol Meza-Bakke
Assistant Professor/History, Philosophy, and Social Sciences

Lisa Paterni
Assistant Instructional Professor, Executive in Residence/Kelce College of Business

Hannah Eckstein
Student/Student Government Association President

Kate Strader
Student/Track and Field Athlete

Frida Herrera
Graduate Student/Hispanic Advisory Council

Amanda Sukraw
President/Community National Bank of Frontenac

Pat Crossland
Chief Development Officer/Crossland Construction

Leah Smith
General Manager/Farmers Insurance

Shane Kannarr
Kannarr Eye Care

Todd Ferguson
Superintendent/Girard Public Schools

Paula Baker
President and CEO/Freeman Health System

Dick Coleman
Vice President/Miller's Professional Imaging

Riley Scott
Principal/Scott Consulting LLC

Blaise Bauer
Chief People Officer/Mammoth Sports Construction

Miles Schnaer
Vice Chair/PSU Foundation

Bill Wachter
President/One Media, Inc.

Thom Watts
President/Pitt State Alumni Association

February 18, 2025: Pitt State president to leave for new leadership position

March 7, 2025: Search begins for new president

March 24, 2025: Presidential search now accepting applications