Papp Named President of Kennesaw State University

ATLANTA – (Feb. 16) – Dr. Daniel S. Papp, senior vice chancellor for academics and fiscal affairs for the University System of Georgia, was named today as president of Kennesaw State University by the Board of Regents and University System of Georgia Chancellor Erroll B. Davis Jr.

Papp is expected to assume his new post in mid-May.

Regent Michael Coles served as chair of the Special Regentsʼ Committee charged with interviewing the presidential finalists and making a recommendation to the chancellor and full Board of Regents for final approval. “Dr. Papp is the right choice for Kennesaw State University,” Coles said. “He has a proven track record in high-level academic leadership positions, extensive knowledge about the University System, and a demonstrated commitment to global
learning.”

Chancellor Davis said, “Dan Papp has done an exemplary job as senior vice chancellor for the University System of Georgia in his role of the past five years. We are excited about the leadership he will contribute at Kennesaw State, as he helps lead the institution.”

As the University System's senior vice chancellor for academics and fiscal affairs since 2000, Papp has been responsible for system-wide academic, faculty and student issues and concerns; business and financial affairs; academic and business information-technology systems; and strategic planning affecting all of the University System's 35 institutions, 9,000-plus faculty and approximately 1,300 degree programs.

During his tenure, Papp implemented higher admissions standards, initiated comprehensive program review, and coordinated a statewide assessment of the System. He also oversaw the creation and implementation of the Board of Regentsʼ reformulated 2002-2007 Strategic Plan, and helped lay the groundwork for the Systemʼs newest state college, Georgia Gwinnett College. In addition, he is conducting the Board of Regents' current initiative to improve retention, progression and graduation rates.

Papp served as interim president of Southern Polytechnic State University from 1997 to 1998, and as executive assistant to the president at Georgia Tech from 1994 to 1997. Before becoming senior vice chancellor, Papp coordinated the participation of eight University System of Georgia institutions in Yamacraw, Georgia's initiative aimed at helping the state become a world leader in broadband technology.

An international affairs expert, Papp was the founding director of Georgia Tech's Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, from 1990 to 1993; and director of Georgia Tech's School of Social Sciences, from 1980 to 1990. He joined the Georgia Tech faculty as an assistant professor of international affairs in 1973. Papp also has held visiting and research professor positions at Fudan University, in Shanghai, China; the Center for Aerospace Doctrine, Research and Education at the U.S. Air War College, in Montgomery, Ala.; the Strategic Studies Institute at the U.S. Army War College, in Carlisle, Pa.; and the Western Australia Institute of Technology, in Perth, Australia. He has twice been awarded the U.S. Department of the Army's “Outstanding Civilian Service” medal.

Papp's academic specialties include international security policy, U.S. and Russian foreign and defense policies, and the impact of information and communications technologies on national security and international affairs. He is the author or editor of ten books on these topics, including the autobiography of former U.S. Secretary of State Dean Rusk (“As I Saw It,” 1990). He co-authored his most recent book, “American Foreign Policy: History, Politics, Policies,” with Loch Johnson of UGA and John Endicott of Georgia Tech. Papp also has published more than 60 journal articles and chapters in edited books.

The U.S. Department of the Army, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Information Agency, the U.S. Department of Education, NATO, Lockheed, IBM, Georgia Power and others have funded Papp's research. Papp has traveled widely in the former USSR, China, Europe, South Asia, Latin America and Africa. He has held a Sloan Scholarship and a National Defense Education Act Fellowship.

Papp earned his Ph.D. in international affairs from the University of Miami, in 1973, and his undergraduate degree in the same discipline from Dartmouth College, in 1969. He is married to Susan Papp and has two sons (William and Alex) and two step-sons (Michael and Benjamin).

Papp has served on the Church Council at Marietta's Lutheran Church of the Resurrection and coached youth basketball and football. He is a past captain of both the Miami, Fla., and the Atlanta Rugby Football Clubs. He also has been a participant in several Friendship Force home-stay programs in Russia.

Welcome to the Kennesaw State University Presidential Search website. After 25 years of outstanding service as President of Kennesaw State University, Dr. Betty Siegel announced her intention to step down from that position. With the support of the search firm Baker▲Parker, the Board of Regents and Chancellor of the University System of Georgia are conducting a nationwide search for the President of Kennesaw State University. KSU's Presidential Search Advisory Committee, charged with screening the applications, created this site to facilitate communication about the search and serve as an interactive medium.

While retaining the best of Kennesaw's proud, if youthful, heritage, our next president must build upon that legacy in a range of creative ways. We seek input from all of KSU's constituents about the most important attributes of our next President, and invite your comments as well. Please let us know your thoughts by filling out our questionnaire. While the search must remain confidential, through this Web site, we will communicate our progress as we move ahead.