Kennesaw State vice president‚ student success guru retires after 35 years

Nancy King‚ who led Kennesaw State University to become a national leader in developing programs to help students succeed and stay in college‚ will retire May 31 after 35 years at the university.(For the complete story‚ please click on the headline above.)

Georgia (May 1, 2008) — Nancy King‚ who led Kennesaw State University to become a national leader in developing programs to help students succeed and stay in college‚ will retire May 31 after 35 years at the university.

The campus community will honor King‚ who rose from English instructor to vice president of student success and enrollment services‚ at a 3 p.m. reception May 1 at the university’s Jolley Lodge.

Under King’s leadership‚ Kennesaw State gained national recognition for programs aimed at helping first−year students make a smooth transition to college.

In 2005‚ U.S. News and World Report ranked KSU among the nation’s top 40 colleges providing comprehensive first−year programs. The university was also among 16 colleges and universities — Harvard and Stanford among them —Time magazine cited in 2001 for helping freshmen successfully acclimate to college life

King has played a pivotal role in shaping KSU’s approach to first−year academic achievement. She helped implement “learning communities‚” in which 25 freshmen take up to four classes with the same group of peers. These academic groups have played a role in increasing KSU’s freshmen retention rates.

"Dr. King's many contributions have made Kennesaw State University one of the leading universities in the country in terms of freshmen experience programs‚ student advising‚ admissions and registrar activities‚" said KSU President Daniel S. Papp. "She is leaving behind a tremendous legacy: the many structures in place to assure that students get off to a great start and receive solid support throughout their studies.”

A published scholar of dozens of articles on advising and student success‚ King advocates comprehensive first−year approaches that include student and parent orientation‚ academic advisement and counseling and skill development. All KSU freshmen must enroll in learning communities or in a first−year seminar emphasizing college survival skills‚ such as study methods‚ time management and effective written communication.

Among her accomplishments‚ King considers her role in developing KSU’s academic advisement and first−year experience program highlights that have led her to national leadership in these areas. She served as president of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) from 1997 to 1999‚ and consulted at more than 100 colleges and universities across the country‚ as well as in England‚ Scotland and Ireland.

King joined the faculty at Kennesaw Junior College in 1973 as an adjunct English instructor. Before assuming her current role‚ she served as full professor of English‚ coordinator of the New Student Experience program‚ director of the Counseling and Advising Program Services Center (CAPS) and associate vice president for student affairs.

KSU’s Student Government Association designated King “Outstanding Faculty Advisor” in 1992. She also has been the recipient of the university’s “Outstanding Administrator” award and the KSU Alumni Association’s Betty L. Siegel Award for Outstanding Scholarship‚ Leadership and Service.

“No matter the role I’ve played at KSU‚ the common thread for me has been a commitment to academic achievement and student success‚” King said. “I began my career as a teacher and I don’t believe I ever really left teaching‚ only the venue changed.”

As a transition to retirement‚ King will complete a number of special assignments at KSU‚ including chairing a steering committee that oversees the 10−year NCAA Division 1 certification process. She also will consult part time at KSU on enrollment‚ student leadership and advising matters.

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers close to 200 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.