After serving the university and the state in two separate but demanding interim roles, Dr. Tom Bryant was selected by the Kansas Board of Regents as the eighth president of Pittsburg State University. As of July 1, 1999, Dr. Bryant replaced retiring President John R. Darling as president of the university. From July 1, 1998 to May 31st, 1999, Dr. Bryant served as interim executive director for the Kansas Board of Regents in Topeka. He served as interim president of Pittsburg State from May to December, 1995. Since 1993, when not serving in interim appointments for the Kansas Board of Regents, Bryant has served as the PSU dean of education.
When he announced Dr. Bryant's appointment in April, Regent Bill Docking, chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents, said "We know what he has done and what he can do in the future.....He is the right man for the right time."
Dr. Bryant has since pledged to work with anyone and any group that wants to work to strengthen Pittsburg State University.
"Teamwork and a common purpose will be the key to our success," Bryant said.
In 1995, Bryant assumed the interim presidency of Pittsburg State 1995 at a crossroads in the institution's history. His first immediate challenge was to raise $10 million to complete the funding package for the Kansas Technology Center. At a special fundraising event in July, 1995, Dr. Bryant along with Pittsburg Businessman Gene Bicknell and Gov. Bill Graves announced that $4.5 million in private support had already been pledged and that the Governor would ask the State Legislature for an additional $4 million over the next two years. Full funding was finally obtained and construction completed in 1997. The Kansas Technology Center was officially dedicated in October 1997.
During the months he served as interim executive director of the Kansas Board of Regents, Bryant was involved in the state legislature's efforts to reorganize the state's higher education governance structure. On behalf of the Regents, he was also involved in promoting an initiative to enhance faculty salaries.
Bryant has years of both teaching and administrative experience at PSU. He joined the PSU faculty in 1970 as an associate professor of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. He was named chairman of the Department in 1985. He was named acting dean of the School of Education in 1992 while continuing to serve as chairman of HPER. One year later, he was appointed Dean of the School of Education.
Dr. Bryant has been very active in state organizations. He served as chairman of the Governor's Council on Fitness. He served for 12 years as the editor of the journal published by the Kansas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. He is the former president of that statewide organization. He also served as chairman of the Sunflower State Games.
Dr. Bryant earned a bachelor's degree from Drury College in Springfield, Mo., a master's degree from Pittsburg State and an Ed.D. from the University of Arkansas. Prior to joining the PSU faculty in 1970, Dr. Bryant taught and coached at Bronaugh, Mo. High School, Pittsburg High School and Wayne State College in Nebraska.
He and his wife, Koeta, a teacher at Pittsburg High School, live in the president's home on the PSU campus.
*Prepared by the Office of Public Relations |
