Kansas State University President Jon Wefald announced Monday his plans to retire at the end of the 2008-09 academic year. Wefald has served as the 12th president of K-State since being appointed by the Kansas Board of Regents in July 1986.

Wefald is credited with transforming an institution with declining enrollments, low faculty morale, limited research and graduate programs, and a losing football program into a nationally ranked top 10 land grant university. Because of his leadership, K-State leads among peer institutions with significant research and graduate programs and a highly competitive athletic program in the prestigious Big 12 Conference.

"I have been honored to be the president of Kansas State University for 22
years," Wefald said. "With the successful completion of our Changing Lives
Campaign that raised close to $530 million, I feel this is an opportune time
to retire and facilitate an orderly change of institutional leadership."

"Ruth Ann and I love K-State, its people and the Manhattan community and
will always consider it home. Both our sons have degrees from K-State and
live and work in Manhattan, and it is a great place for them to raise their
families. We have been blessed to have had the opportunity to work with so
many outstanding faculty, staff, students, alumni, regents and friends of
the institution over these many years. I wish to publicly thank them for all
they have done and will continue to do for K-State – they are the ones who
truly make K-State such a great and special university.”

Bob Krause, vice president for institutional advancement and director of
intercollegiate athletics, longtime friend and colleague of President
Wefald, said, "Jon Wefald came to K-State at a time when its definitive
history was captured in the book 'Quest for Identity.'

"Jon has answered that quest for all time by building one of the top
land-grant universities in America, and I know that K-Staters everywhere
will be forever grateful for his passionate, tireless and visionary
leadership. He has taught us all to have big dreams, work hard, and never
give up … that will be his living legacy."

Upon his retirement, Wefald will be a part-time professor of leadership
studies and history.