Jon Wefald

Jon Wefald (born April 5, 1937 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American educator and has been president of Kansas State University since 1986.

Wefald was born in Minneapolis and moved, at age six, with his family to Minot, North Dakota. Growing up in the working class part of town, he improved academically, graduated high school and attended Pacific Lutheran University. After becoming a succesful student he earned a BA in History in 1959. Wefald earned his MA in Political Science from Washington State University in 1961 and PhD in history from the University of Michigan in 1965. In 1965, Wefald returned to Minnesota and began his first faculty position at Gustavus Adolphus University and taught history for six years. In 1970, he was a campaign manager for Hubert Humphrey, elected to return to the U.S. Senate. From 1971 to 1976, he served as Minnesota's Secretary of Agriculture and guest lectured in classrooms. In 1976, He became Vice President of Southwest State University in Marshall, MN. In 1982, he became a Vice Chancelor for the University of Minnesota System. It was July 1986, when Dr Wefald began his service as President of Kansas State University. Taking a very proactive and productive approach, he has succesfully lead Kansas State in an astonishing direction. He expanded the library, added more classroom buildings and recruited from around the United States. He is admired and adored by many students, faculty, staff and alumni, is always available to them and is very approachable.