July 10, 2002

Contact: John Scarffe, KU Endowment Association, (785) 832-7336.

KU Endowment president to retire; replacement named

LAWRENCE -- Jim Martin, president of the Kansas University Endowment Association, will retire later this year. Dale Seuferling, KU Endowment's executive vice president for development and secretary, has been named to replace him, announced chair Dolph C. Simons Jr.

Seuferling, who has been with KU Endowment for more than 21 years, takes over as president effective today. Martin has offered to provide assistance during the transition.

"Jim compiled a superior record during his 28 years with Endowment and during his 11-year tenure as president," Simons said. "He and his wife, Kathy, have always represented the association in a first-class manner. He will be missed, but we have the utmost confidence Dale will do a great job as president."

KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway called Martin a superb leader.

"I have enjoyed working with him very much," Hemenway said. "There is no question that his legacy to KU will be significant. I look forward to working with Dale Seuferling in his new role as president and know that he will do an excellent job."

Seuferling graduated from Louisburg High School in 1973 and earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from KU in 1977. He joined KU Endowment in 1981 after serving as broadcast media coordinator for University Relations at KU. Seuferling has held a variety of positions at KU Endowment, including jobs in public relations, constituent development, and major gifts and fund-raising management.

Martin earned a bachelor's degree in English from Wichita State University in 1965 and a master's degree in English from KU in 1968. After working as an English professor at what is now Valley City State University in North Dakota, Martin joined KU Endowment in 1974. Martin's first position was as director of program development. He was named senior vice president in 1983, executive vice president in 1987 and president in 1991.

Simons said that when Martin joined KU Endowment, the organization's assets were about $48 million. Today KU Endowment reports assets of more than $1 billion and distributes as much as $65 million annually for scholarships, faculty support, equipment and program support to the university.

Since its founding in 1891, the association has provided more than $925 million to KU. KU Endowment is conducting KU First: Invest in Excellence, the third and largest fund-raising campaign for the university. The campaign's goal is to raise $500 million by 2004 for scholarships, fellowships, professorships, capital projects and program support. KU Endowment is an independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fund-raising and fund-management organization for KU.