KU News Release

Barbara Romzek

---

More Information

• Office of the Provost

LAWRENCE — Barbara Romzek, a public administration professor who has served in a variety of leadership roles at the University of Kansas, has been named interim vice provost for academic affairs, Interim Provost Danny Anderson announced today.

Romzek, whose appointment is effective immediately, occupies the post temporarily vacated by Anderson when he was named interim provost.

“Barbara Romzek has a track record of advancing KU’s missions in teaching, research and service to the state of Kansas,” Anderson said. “Her administrative experience within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and her contributions as chair of the last KU reaccreditation give her a strong background for leading major academic affairs projects, such as engaged learning initiatives, documentation of learning outcomes and the review and approval of academic programs by the Kansas Board of Regents.”

Romzek is associate dean for social and behavioral sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and served as interim dean of the College from 2005 to 2006. She also chaired the University Reaccreditation Steering Committee for KU’s review by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges from 2002 to 2005.

“I look forward to working with Barbara in this new role and I appreciate the insight she will bring to our implementation of new initiatives under the leadership of Chancellor Gray-Little,” Anderson said.

Romzek has been at KU since 1979, serving as a professor in the Department of Public Administration since 1995. Two of her other leadership roles at KU include serving as the university liaison to the U.S. Army Combined Armed Services Center at Fort Leavenworth from 2003 to 2007 and co-chairing the “Working for Kansas” committee of the Initiative 2015 strategic planning project.

“My goal is to help the university continue its progress on academic affairs issues during this year of leadership transition,” Romzek said. “I’m looking forward to dealing with the broad range of responsibilities that are included in my new role.”

Romzek has published three books on public administration and has written several dozen articles and book chapters and made more than 130 presentations to businesses, universities and international symposia.

Interim Dean Greg Simpson will make an announcement in the near future regarding the filling of Romzek’s leadership position in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.