FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15, 2015

Board of Regents Announce Next Board President and CEO

(Topeka, Kansas) - The Kansas Board of Regents acted unanimously today at its April meeting to appoint Dr. Blake Flanders, beginning July 1, 2015, as the next President and Chief Executive Officer of the Kansas Board of Regents.

Dr. Flanders currently serves as the Vice President of Workforce Development at the Kansas Board of Regents.  Arriving at the Board in 2008, Dr. Flanders has served as the State leader for issues involving the role of the Kansas postsecondary education system in the development of an educated workforce that aligns with the needs of the Kansas economy. His scope of responsibility has included developing a policy agenda for postsecondary technical education, curriculum and program evaluation, system funding, benchmarks and accountability, and the management of federal initiatives. He also is a member of the KANSASWORKS State Workforce Board, and the state lead for the Accelerating Opportunities initiative that transforms the Adult Basic Education delivery system by providing a direct link to career technical education.

Born in Edson, Kansas, Dr. Flanders is a graduate of Goodland High School (1982), Colby Community College (1984), and Kansas State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science (1986), Masters of Science in Animal Science (1989), and Doctorate of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction (2004). Before serving in his current capacity, Dr. Flanders served as the liaison between the Kansas Board of Regents and the Kansas Department of Commerce (2004-2007), Vice President of Instructional Services at Manhattan Area Technical College (1998-2004), and as a member of the faculty at Butler Community College (1988-1998).

"Dr. Flanders is a man of Kansas, with great accomplishments," stated Kenny Wilk, Chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents. "He will provide continuity and stability as we continue to move higher education forward in Kansas."

Contact: Breeze Richardson – 785-291-3969 (office) or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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About the Kansas Board of Regents:
The nine-member Kansas Board of Regents is the governing board of the state's six universities and the statewide coordinating board for the state's 32 public higher education institutions (six state universities, one municipal university, nineteen community colleges, and six technical colleges). In addition, the Board administers the state's student financial aid, adult education, high school equivalency, and career and technical education programs. Private proprietary schools and out-of-state institutions are authorized by the Kansas Board of Regents to operate in Kansas, and the Board continues to administer Kan-Ed, a program for facilitating and promoting distance learning and telemedicine in schools, libraries and hospitals. Visit the Kansas Board of Regents online at www.kansasregents.org.

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