John Andrew Tompkins (born November 16, 1947) is an American educator in Kansas.[1] Prior to his previous post at Wichita State University, he served as interim president at Fort Hays State, as well as the president of the Kansas Board of Regents from 2010 to 2015. Tompkins was a professor and dean at Pittsburg State University two different times, and served as a superintendent of three different Kansas school districts. Tompkins is also the former Commissioner of the Kansas State Department of Education, serving from June 1, 1996 to June 30, 2005.

Andy Tompkins
Interim President of Wichita State University
In office
April 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019
Preceded byRick Muma (acting)
Succeeded byJay Golden
Interim President of Fort Hays State University
In office
December 19, 2016 – December 15, 2017
Preceded byMirta Martin
Succeeded byTisa Mason
President of the Kansas Board of Regents
In office
June 1, 2010 – June 30, 2015
Preceded byReggie Robinson
Succeeded byBlake Flanders
Commissioner of the Kansas State Department of Education
In office
June 1, 1996 – June 30, 2005
Preceded byLee Droegemueller
Succeeded byBob L. Corkins
Personal details
Born
John Andrew Tompkins

(1947-11-16) November 16, 1947 (age 77)
Oklahoma, United States
SpouseGlenda
Children2
ResidenceTopeka, Kansas
Alma materEast Central University (BS)
Emporia State University (MS)
University of Kansas (PhD)
ProfessionProfessor

Biography

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Education

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A native of Oklahoma, Tompkins graduated from East Central University in 1969 where he majored in English. After completing his undergraduate degree, Tompkins attended Emporia State University where he completed his master's degree in education administration in 1973,[2] and completed his doctorate in education from the University of Kansas (KU) in 1977.[3]

Early career

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After graduating from East Central University, Tompkins began his 46-year career as an educator as a secondary teacher in Oklahoma, quickly moving to Hugoton, Kansas the following year. Following a year at Hugoton, Tompkins went to serve as West Franklin High School's principal in Pomona, Kansas before serving as the superintendent at three different school districts from 1977 until 1994.[4] From 1994 to 1996, Tompkins served at Pittsburg State University as the interim dean of the School of Education and the school's Special Services and Administrative Studies department.[5]

Later career

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In 1996, Tompkins was hired as the Education Commissioner for Kansas.[6] Tompkins served at a time when the State School Board was at odds on how to fund public schools and deleted any mention of the word "evolution" from the state's science studies.[7][8] Tompkins also helped the state implement the No Child Left Behind Act, passed in 2001 by the United States Congress.[9]

Tompkins, who retired in 2005 after serving as the longest education commissioner in Kansas,[10] served under Governors Bill Graves and Kathleen Sebelius.

In 2005, returned to teaching as he accepted a position within the School of Education at KU.[11] Two years later in 2007, Tompkins made a return to Pittsburg State as the College of Education dean.[12] He served that position until June 2010 when he became the President/CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents, the governing board of the seven state universities and 25 community and technical colleges.[13]

During his tenure, which began June 1, 2010,[14] Tompkins faced budget issues when Sam Brownback took office as Governor, leading to university budget cuts.[15] Aside from the budget cuts, Tompkins helped search and hire four Regent university presidents: Michael Shonrock, John Bardo, Mirta Martin and Allison Garrett.[16][17][18][19] Tompkins retired on June 30, 2015.[20]

Tompkins also served as Fort Hays State University's interim president from December 19, 2016 to December 15, 2017.[21] He became interim president of Wichita State in April 2019 after the death of John Bardo.[22]

Awards

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  • Kansas Superintendent of the Year, 1992
  • Inducted into the Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame, 2001
  • KSHSAA Governor's Award, 2002
  • KU College of Education Distinguished Service Award, 2004
  • ESU Distinguished Alumni Award, 2005

Source:[23]

References

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  1. ^ "Former Salinan Named Interim FHSU President". www.ksal.com. KSAL News Radio 1150. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  2. ^ "Emporia State University Spotlight" (PDF). Vol. 36, no. 1. Retrieved December 30, 2017. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  3. ^ "Board of Regents Announce the Retirement of Dr. Andy Tompkins". www.kansasregents.org. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  4. ^ "Journal of the Senate - Special Session 2005" (PDF). June 24, 2005. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  5. ^ "Regents President and CEO Tompkins retires - TonganoxieMirror.com". www.tonganoxiemirror.com. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  6. ^ Harp, Lonnie (May 8, 1996). "New State Schools Chiefs Taking the Reins - Education Week". Education Week. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  7. ^ "Board for Kansas Deletes Evolution from Curriculum". The New York Times. August 12, 1999. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  8. ^ "CNN - Kansas school board's evolution ruling angers science community - August 12, 1999". www.cnn.com. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  9. ^ Hollingsworth, Barbara. "Popular educator leaving state job - CJOnline.com". cjonline.com. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  10. ^ "Regents hire Andy Tompkins as regents president and chief executive officer". LJWorld.com. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  11. ^ "KU News - Kansas Education Commissioner Andy Tompkins to join KU education faculty". archive.news.ku.edu. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  12. ^ "News @ PSU: Tompkins to head PSU College of Education". Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  13. ^ "Board of Regents Hires New President & CEO". www.kansasregents.org. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  14. ^ "Education Dean Tompkins named next Kansas Board of Regents president". Pittsburg State University. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  15. ^ "Study: Kansas cuts K-12 education funding by fourth-most in nation". Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  16. ^ "Regents name ESU presidential search committee". Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  17. ^ "Board Announces WSU Presidential Search Committee Members". kansasregents.org. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  18. ^ "FHSU Presidential Search Committee Announced". November 22, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  19. ^ "Regents name Emporia State presidential search committee - KVOE". www.kvoe.com. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  20. ^ "Former Pres/CEO of Kansas Board of Regents named interim president at Fort Hays State". December 14, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  21. ^ "Interim president named for Fort Hays State University". The Washington Times. Associated Press. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  22. ^ "KBOR announces Dr. Andy Tompkins as Interim President at WSU". kansasregents.org. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  23. ^ "Board of Regents Announce Interim President at Fort Hays State University". www.kansasregents.org. Retrieved December 31, 2017.