Biographical Information

Jon Wefald became K-State's 12th president in 1986. During his presidency he has been recognized nationally for his leadership and the accomplishments of the university. Enrollment has increased from approximately 17,000 to more than 23,000. K-State's total research funding has increased in record numbers and the university returns nearly $17 for every $1 of state funding it receives (2006). Since 1986, K-State leads the nation's public universities in the total number of Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Goldwater and Udall scholarship winners. Hale Library, which houses the University Archives, is among the impressive facilities that have been constructed during his tenure. USA Today called these achievements the "miracle in Manhattan."

A popular speaker, President Wefald has made countless presentations to scholarly, professional, and civic organizations. He has been interviewed on ABC's Nightline with Ted Koppel, CBS National News, NBC National News, and CNN News.

President Wefald is an avid reader in the field of history and his interests are diverse. He has produced papers and publications on those topics which interest him the most; they are listed in the bibliography that follows and available for study in the University Archives.

Education

1965 - Ph.D. University of Michigan (history)

1961 - M.A. Washington State University (history and political science)

1959 - B.A. Pacific Lutheran University (history and political science)

Employment

1986-date  - President, Kansas State University

1982-1986  - Chancellor, Minnesota State University System (7 universities)

1977-1982  - President, Southwest State University, Marshall, MN

1971-1977  - Commissioner of Agriculture, State of Minnesota

1965-1970  - Assoc. Professor, Gustavus Adolphus College

1961-1964  - Teaching Fellow, University of Michigan

1959-1961  - Teaching Assistant, Washington State University

Honors Received, 1986-

2003  - Inducted into Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame, Minot, North Dakota

2001  - Distinguished Kansan of the Year Award for 2000 from Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas

1999  - Honored as Kansan of the Year for 1998 by Topeka-Capital Journal

1996  - Award for Excellence from Kansas City K-State Alumni Group

1994-1995  - Chair, search committee for Commissioner of Big 12

1992-1995  - Member NCAA President's Commission

1991  - One of three American university presidents invited to participate in Global Tomorrow Coalition Roundtable, Washington, D.C.

1990-1991  - Elected Chairman of Kansas City Regional Council for Higher Education

1989-1992  - Elected & re-elected Chairman of Association of Big Eight Universities

1989  - Awarded Honorary Doctorate by Universidad National De Asuncion, Paraguay

1988-2006  - Elected Chairman of Council of Presidents, Kansas Regents Universities, on four separate occasions

Additional biographical information can be found by visiting the University Archives or going to:
www.mediarelations.k-state.edu/WEB/News/MediaGuide/wefaldbio.html

Selected Sources in University Archives

Bibliography of Works by Jon Wefald

From Peasant Ideals to the Reform State: A Study of Norwegian Attitudes Toward Reform in the American Middle West, 1890-1917. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, 1965.
F358.2 .S2 W43 1965a

Genghis Khan and the Mongolian Horde: And Their Impact on World History, Especially Russia. Manhattan: Kansas State University, 1998.
DS22 .W44 1998

Operation Barbarossa: the Attack of Germany on the Soviet Union, 1941-1945. Manhattan: Kansas State University, 2002.
D764 .W44 2002

The Roman Empire and the Roman Colosseum. Manhattan: Kansas State University, 1999.
DG68.1 .W44 1999

A Short History of the Little Bighorn: A Story That Will Not Go Away. Manhattan: Kansas State University, 2006.
E83.876 .W36 2006

The Story of the Negro Baseball Leagues: 1920-1947. Manhattan: Kansas State University.
GV875 .N35 W44 1998

A Voice of Protest; Norwegians in American Politics, 1890-1917. Northfield, MN: Norwegian-American Historical Association, 1971.
E184 .S2 W4 1971

Collections

• Jon Wefald Presidential Papers, 1986-
• Jon and Ruth Ann Wefald Scrapbook Collection, 1968-2003
• Vertical File. Includes newspapers clippings, speeches and printed material; 1986-
• Photograph Collection. 1986-