A K-State mentality: Getting to know Adam Walker ’04, ’09, our next president and CEO
During his time at K-State, Adam Walker ’04, ’09 has been involved in many facets
of the university. As a student, he was involved in K-State Athletics as a member
of the track and field team. Early in his career, he worked for the university as
an admissions representative, and later as a development officer for the KSU Foundation.
And now, his K-State journey is coming full circle, as he prepares to begin his new
role as the president and CEO of the K-State Alumni Association. It’s also a chance
to return home to the K-State family and a spot he loves full well in Manhattan, Kansas.
“It's the people that make K-State special,” he said. “This is such a unique position;
being able to interact with all areas really excites me. I think this is an ideal
role that I’m really going to enjoy.”
Walker comes to the Alumni Association from the University of Memphis, where he most
recently served as executive associate athletic director for administration. He traces
his roots back to western Kansas, where he grew up on a farm. He moved to Manhattan
when he was 13.
“The K-State mentality” became a part of his life and personal philosophy, and he
credits Pat Bosco ’71, ’73, K-State’s vice president for student life and dean of
students emeritus, for helping shape his career and instilling within him a lifetime
of purple pride.
“It’s that purple passion,” Walker said. “Dr. Bosco was my mentor and my boss in my
first role as admissions representative. He taught me in terms of being genuine and
authentic, making sure we're holding ourselves accountable. And there's just so many
life lessons. I'm so fortunate that I ended up in that role right out of college,
working with him. That really helped set me on my path to return home to K-State.
I’m very thankful for him.”
Of all the skills he gained at K-State, one of the most important to his career has
been time management. As a student-athlete, he had to balance waking up at 6 a.m.
for weights and then finding time for classes, training, practice, study sessions
and student organization involvement, plus travel. These are skills that will serve
him well as the new Alumni Association president and CEO, with his full schedule of
meeting with alumni; working with the university, athletics and the foundation on
campus; traveling to events; and more.
As the new leader of the Alumni Association, he plans to focus on three different
pillars/values:
- Service
- Walker believes the Association has a powerful role to play in serving the university, alumni and the community. He’s excited to dive into the university’s recruitment and enrollment efforts, as well as legislative advocacy.
- Align
- “Just making sure that missions, goals, expectations, we align with President Linton's goals and strategic plan, and that we’re a positive lens for the university, the Manhattan community and beyond.”
- Connect
- Walker wants to make sure the Alumni Association is connecting with K-Staters and
showing value to our members, encouraging them to stay involved with the university.
- Walker wants to make sure the Alumni Association is connecting with K-Staters and
showing value to our members, encouraging them to stay involved with the university.
He’s excited to be coming on board shortly before the Alumni Association’s 150th anniversary
in 2024, a time to reflect on the past and also push forward into the future. He’s
also ready to return to Manhattan to eat some Call Hall ice cream (purple pride, of
course!) and to attend K-State Athletics events.
“There's nothing like a K-State game day weekend, right?” he said. “You feel the energy
around Manhattan and campus.”
Finally, he looks forward to carrying on the legacy begun by retiring president and
CEO Amy Button Renz '76, '86.
“She’s done such a tremendous job,” he said. “So I would just say thank you for the
foundation she's laid. I was there when the K-State Alumni Center was built. I met
my wife in Anderson Hall, and we got married in the Alumni Center. It definitely holds
a special spot in my heart. Thank you to Amy; we wouldn't be where we're at without
her. So I’m just really humbled and fortunate to carry on that legacy.”
He said he is thankful for the opportunity to serve his alma mater, to work with the
Alumni Association board of directors, and to make sure all alumni feel that same
sense of purple pride and connection.
“We're all better together,” he said. “We're gonna be able to show them the value
of their membership and why it matters. We're going to make sure that they're engaged
and feel appreciated. All K-Staters are welcome, and we're going to make sure that
we show that and we're excited to engage with them and definitely need their support.”
Have a question or a greeting for Adam?
Walker will officially begin his duties at the K-State Alumni Association on July 24.