KSU Foundation appoints new chief operating officer
Trustee Richard Corhen brings decades of experience in banking to foundation, as it
celebrates 40th…
Georgia
(Sep 8, 2009) — Trustee Richard Corhen brings decades of experience in banking to foundation, as it
celebrates 40th anniversary
Richard Corhen has been named chief operating officer of the Kennesaw State University
Foundation.
In this newly created position, Corhen will be responsible for managing and leading
the strategic, operational and financial activities of the KSU Foundation, which has
more than $350 million in assets under management.
Corhen assumed his position on Sept. 1, bringing more than 20 years of experience
in the financial services industry to his new role. A trustee of the KSU Foundation
since 2004, Corhen served as vice chairman of the foundation from August 2007 until
August 2009. In that volunteer capacity, he made significant contributions to the
foundation’s operations. During a search to fill the new COO post, the foundation’s
search committee determined that Corhen had the exact package of skill sets needed
to help steer the foundation’s operations at this juncture in its history, which led
to him being tapped for the critical executive post.
“We are pleased to be in a position to secure Richard Corhen’s leadership, and to
integrate his expertise into the daily operations of the Kennesaw State University
Foundation,” said KSU President Daniel S. Papp. “We look forward to Richard's solid
management and invaluable guidance as the foundation continues to support Kennesaw
State University’s growth and momentum.”
As the KSU Foundation’s assets have grown, said Norman Radow, chairman of the KSU
Foundation, “we needed someone to manage our affairs that could lead our growing team
of professionals, understand complex transactions and demonstrate leadership skills.
Richard Corhen is the perfect fit for KSU and the foundation. He is a big thinker,
has comprehensive financial knowledge, is a great consensus builder, and he gets things
done.”
Corhen’s appointment coincides with the 40th anniversary of the KSU Foundation, which was founded in 1969 to support Kennesaw
State’s growth. The 38-member foundation has been the driving force behind KSU’s transition
to a residential university.
With more than 22,500 students enrolled, KSU is now a destination campus for high-school
seniors from throughout the United States and around the world, including students
from 142 countries.
Over the past 10 years, the KSU Foundation has been responsible for raising more than
$500 million for major projects that have changed the face of the university’s campus.
The foundation has added more than 3,000 units of student residences in the past six
years, funded a newly opened state-of-the-art dining hall, built several parking decks
on campus, and acquired dozens of acres of land. Due to the foundation’s efforts,
KSU’s landlocked 180-acre campus has added another 140 acres and expanded east of
the main campus, past Interstate 75. In the past year alone, the foundation has acquired
almost 90 acres of land that are being developed into a comprehensive student recreation
and sports park.
The KSU Foundation’s largess also extends to supporting the university’s academic
affairs operations. Foundation funding directly supports the largest faculty award/recognition
program among University System of Georgia institutions. Just last month, the foundation
awarded more than $193,000 in cash and stipends to Kennesaw State faculty, including
the prestigious Distinguished Professor Award, KSU’s top faculty recognition.
Corhen, a Marietta resident, spent the first fifteen years of his banking career working
for Bank of America and its predecessor banks. His roles included northeast Atlanta
commercial market executive, team leader for Olympic banking, and strategic planner
for the commercial bank. In addition, Corhen has held the roles of regional manager
for business banking for a regional bank and Cobb County division president for a
local community bank. Most recently, he has served as a consultant for various financial
services companies.
Corhen is a native of Albany, Ga. and earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and an
M.B.A., both from the University of Georgia.
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its nearly 43,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. 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.