FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 31, 2019

Regents name Jay Golden as 14th President of Wichita State University

(Wichita, Kan.) – Today the Kansas Board of Regents voted to name Dr. Jay Golden as the 14th President of Wichita State University.

“The Regents are excited to announce Dr. Jay Golden as the next president of Wichita State University,” said Regent Shane Bangerter, KBOR Chair. “The Regents are confident that Jay is the right president to lead Wichita State in the future and continue to advance the university as a leader in higher education and applied learning. I’m grateful to interim president Andy Tompkins for his leadership during this transitional period. I’d also like to thank the search committee for its outstanding work in identifying great finalists for the Board.”

“I’m honored to be the next President of Wichita State University,” said Dr. Golden. “I want to thank the Kansas Board of Regents for its confidence in me. I look forward to continuing to grow Wichita State and help drive economic growth for our region and state. My wife, Dina, and I are looking forward to meeting the students, faculty and staff of this outstanding institution and to joining this great community.”

Dr. Golden has been serving as the Vice Chancellor of Research, Economic Development and Engagement at East Carolina University. Prior to his appointment there, he served as an associate vice provost at Duke University and as a professor at the University of California Santa Barbara and at Arizona State University. In addition, he has experience as CEO of Golden Environmental Management and Vice President at WMX Technologies.

Dr. Golden received his doctorate in engineering from the University of Cambridge where he also earned a master’s in environmental engineering and sustainable development, in a joint program with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Golden holds an Organizational Master of Project Management from Stanford University and an MLE from Harvard University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in management.

Dr. Golden was selected by the Board as president after a committee of students, faculty, staff, and business and community leaders led a search and forwarded finalists to the Regents. He succeeds Dr. John Bardo, who passed away earlier this year.

For more information, please contact Matt Keith at (785) 383-7190 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.

Visit the Kansas Board of Regents online at www.kansasregents.org.