TOPEKA–The Kansas Board of Regents acted unanimously Wednesday at its April meeting to appoint Blake Flanders as the next President and Chief Executive Officer of the Kansas Board of Regents. He will begin in his position July 1.
Current President and CEO Andy Tompkins also announced his retirement, effective July 1.
Flanders currently serves as the Vice President of Workforce Development at the Kansas Board of Regents, according to the announcement from the Board.
Arriving at the Board in 2008, 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.
“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.”
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).