March 17, 2003

Contact: Lynn Bretz, University Relations, (785) 864-8866.

KU Chancellor Hemenway to visit with alumni, officials in Liberal

LAWRENCE -- University of Kansas Chancellor Robert E. Hemenway will spend Wednesday, March 19, in Liberal visiting with KU alumni and community leaders.

"I look forward to this chance to spend some time with the people of Liberal to discuss issues of mutual concern," Hemenway said.

Hemenway's schedule includes meetings with James Grote, president of Seward County Community College, and Earl Watt, publisher of the Southwest Daily Times. He will eat lunch with Al and Donna Shank, two longtime co-chairs of KU's Kansas Honors Program, a statewide recognition program for outstanding high school seniors. Donna Shank also is a member of the Kansas Board of Regents.

A public reception hosted by the Liberal Area Chamber of Commerce and Seward County Community College will be held in honor of Hemenway and Lew Ebert, president of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who also is visiting Liberal.

Hemenway's host for the day is Kay Burtzloff, director of Seward County United Way and a former director of university relations at the KU School of Medicine campus in Wichita.

Hemenway is the 16th chancellor of the University of Kansas, which spans the main campus in Lawrence, the Edwards Campus in Overland Park, the Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., and the School of Medicine clinical branch in Wichita.

Hemenway is chair of the 18-member NCAA Division I board of directors and serves on the board of directors of the American Council on Education, one of the nation's largest higher education advocacy groups.