Source: Dennis Kuhlman, 785-826-2601, dkuhlman@k-state.edu
http://www.k-state.edu/media/mediaguide/bios/kuhlmanbio.html
News release prepared by: Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, 785-532-1543, ebarcomb@k-state.edu

Thursday, Aug. 11, 2011

KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY SALINA CEO TO RETIRE IN JUNE 2012

MANHATTAN -- Dennis Kuhlman, the CEO of Kansas State University Salina, announced that he plans to retire June 30, 2012.

Kuhlman said his focus this academic year would be creating and supporting change leading to growth at K-State Salina. The university added its second campus in 1991 by converting the Kansas College of Technology to K-State Salina.

"K-State Salina has made much progress in its transition from a technical college to becoming a part of a major land-grant institution," Kuhlman said. "It has been a delight to participate in and observe the change in the campus atmosphere as we grew from a technical college to a university campus."

K-State Provost April Mason said the search for the next CEO would coincide with Kuhlman's last academic year with the hope that his successor will be named by next summer.

"Since 1997, when Dr. Kuhlman was appointed CEO and dean, he has strengthened the connections between the Salina and Manhattan campuses and positioned our Salina campus as an aviation industry leader. We will strive to find a candidate who can build upon his successes and contribute to our efforts to become a top 50 public research university by 2025."

With Kuhlman at the helm, this spring's enrollment at Salina was up nearly 30 percent from the same time last year. The school also saw an almost 20 percent increase in full-time enrollment. Kuhlman attributed the most recent growth to increased recruitment and retention efforts, as well as increasing degree programs offered on campus.

In addition to programs in the College of Technology and Aviation, students at the Salina campus can now earn a bachelor's degree in social work and add the personal financial planning option to the bachelor's of family studies and human services. The campus also began offering a graduate degree, the professional master of technology degree.

Under Kuhlman's leadership the campus played host to the team that sent Steve Fossett on a nonstop solo flight around the world in the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer in 2005.

In 2009 the campus opened a student life center that houses a basketball gymnasium, a second-level running track and other fitness facilities. The center is also home to the Cessna Lounge, complete with big screen televisions, video game consoles, a pool table, ping-pong table and air hockey table.

Before joining K-State Salina Kuhlman was an extension agricultural engineer at K-State's Manhattan campus. He has been with K-State since 1977, serving as president of the K-State Faculty Senate in 1994-1995.

Kuhlman has been recognized with several awards for his leadership and innovation in the areas of agricultural engineering and engineering education. Most recently he named the 2011 Distinguished Lecturer by Oklahoma State University's biological and agricultural engineering department.

Kuhlman received his bachelor's and master's degrees from K-State and his doctorate from Oklahoma State University, all in agricultural engineering.