Kansas State President Richard Linton Named Next Virginia Tech President

Kansas State University President Richard Linton is expected to be named the next president of Virginia Tech, according to reports from the Manhattan Mercury and WDBJ7. The Manhattan Mercury, which serves the home of Kansas State University, reported Tuesday night that Linton will take the position at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. WDBJ7 noted that it has not independently confirmed the information, though its sister station WIBW also reported on the story.

Board Meetings Scheduled for Wednesday

The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors has scheduled a special meeting for Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 1 p.m. The agenda for the open session is to "consider a resolution to appoint the 17th president of Virginia Tech," according to a media release cited by WDBJ7. The meeting will be livestreamed, and the university encouraged members of the community and the public to view it. The release specified that "Public comment will not be received during the meeting."

Concurrently, the Kansas Board of Regents has called a special board meeting for Wednesday at 12:15 p.m. The Kansas State Collegian reported that the board will go into executive session for a personnel matter relating to non-elected personnel. The Manhattan Mercury cited multiple sources for its reporting on Linton’s departure.

Linton’s Background and Tenure

Richard Linton has served as the 15th president of Kansas State University since 2022. He has direct ties to Virginia Tech, having acquired all his degrees from the institution: a bachelor’s degree in biology, a master’s degree in food science, and a Ph.D. in food science.

Before his presidency at Kansas State, Linton held several academic leadership roles. He served as the dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University. Prior to that, he was the department chair of food science and technology at The Ohio State University and a faculty member in the Department of Food Science at Purdue University.

During his time at Kansas State, Linton guided the creation and implementation of "Next-Gen K-State," a strategic plan designed to extend through 2030 and beyond. The Kansas State Collegian described Next-Gen as an initiative in which Kansas State is "committed to aiding and assisting others’ lives through education, research and engagement."

Why it matters

The potential appointment marks a significant leadership transition for two major public universities. Linton’s move from Kansas State to Virginia Tech represents a return to his alma mater, where he earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees. The simultaneous scheduling of board meetings in Kansas and Virginia on Wednesday indicates that the administrative processes for his departure and appointment are proceeding concurrently. The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors’ decision to hold the appointment meeting in open session, while the Kansas Board of Regents meets in executive session, highlights differing procedural approaches to the personnel change.

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Sources

• wdbj7.com: Report: Kansas State president to be named Virginia Tech’s next president, Manhattan Mercury reports
• kstatecollegian.com: K-State President Richard Linton to leave Wildcats for Virginia Tech - Kansas State Collegian

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.