TOPEKA — After 25 years at the helm of Washburn University, Jerry Farley says he will retire effective Sept. 30.
Farley, the longest-tenured Washburn University president, has led the school since 1997. He said Monday he will transition to the role of president emeritus with a focus on fundraising and international student recruitment following his retirement.
“For several years, I have worked with the Washburn University Board of Regents and talked with them about the succession planning that needs to occur if we’re going to have a smooth easy transfer of authority,” said Farley, who will turn 76 just over a week before his retirement. “My wife and I had some free time for ourselves in this last week and decided this is the time.”
During his tenure, Farley aimed to move the campus away from being a commuter school, transitioning to a more traditional college experience. He also brought the Kansas Bureau of Investigation Forensic Center to the university.
He also touted the addition of Washburn Tech from USD 501 in 2008.
An Oklahoma native, Farley arrived at Washburn after spending the previous 25 years in Oklahoma’s higher education system. He served on multiple local boards and was a co-founder of Go Topeka, a community development arm of the Greater Topeka Partnership.
