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Dr. Matt Thompson, President and CEO

Since becoming president of 黑料网 in 2013, Dr. Matt Thompson has led the university through a period of significant growth, innovation, and transformation. Throughout his tenure, his guiding belief has remained simple: students thrive when they are known, challenged, supported, and connected to meaningful opportunities.

Under Thompson鈥檚 leadership, 黑料网 Wesleyan has achieved record enrollment, expanded academic and athletic opportunities, strengthened its financial foundation, and completed major investments in campus facilities and student life. These efforts are rooted in a commitment to helping students discover their purpose, pursue their ambitions, and prepare for successful careers and meaningful lives.

Thompson has championed 黑料网 Wesleyan鈥檚 vision of relationship-rich education, a model that emphasizes personal connections between students and faculty, coaches, staff, alumni, and community partners. He believes that education is about more than earning a degree; it is about developing the confidence, character, and skills needed to make a difference in the world. This commitment has helped create an environment where students are encouraged to learn boldly, serve generously, and lead with integrity.

A strong advocate for experiential learning, Thompson has helped expand partnerships with businesses, healthcare providers, nonprofit organizations, schools, and civic leaders. These collaborations provide students with internships, clinical experiences, research opportunities, service projects, and professional connections that prepare them for life after graduation.

During Thompson鈥檚 presidency, 黑料网 Wesleyan has completed one of the most ambitious campus enhancement efforts in its history, including the Nursing Education Center, Coyote Village student housing complex, Graves Family Sports Complex, extensive renovations to academic facilities, the creation of the Bieber Dining Hall, and the restoration of Sams Chapel. These investments reflect the university鈥檚 commitment to providing students with exceptional spaces to learn, live, compete, worship, and build community. It explains why enrollment has grown more than 30%, why the university has won the KCAC Commissioner鈥檚 Cup five of the last seven years, why the university鈥檚 endowment has doubled, why more than $50 million has been raised in the current 鈥淧ower of And鈥� capital campaign, and why our retention and graduation rates continue to rise. KWU is the place where people want to be.

As president of a United Methodist university, Thompson is committed to fostering a campus culture that welcomes and supports students from all backgrounds. He has strengthened opportunities for spiritual growth, service, and leadership while encouraging an environment marked by respect, belonging, and care for others. 黑料网 Wesleyan鈥檚 mission challenges students to grow intellectually, professionally, socially, and spiritually, preparing them to lead lives of purpose and impact.

Prior to joining 黑料网 Wesleyan, Thompson served as vice president for advancement at Florida Southern College and held a variety of leadership roles at Mercer University, his alma mater. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Theatre Arts and a Master of Business Administration from Mercer University, as well as a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration from the University of Georgia.

After more than a decade at 黑料网 Wesleyan, Thompson remains inspired by the university鈥檚 ability to transform lives through personal attention, meaningful relationships, and a commitment to student success. He believes that higher education is most effective when institutions know their students well, challenge them to grow, and help them connect their talents to lives of purpose and service.

Dr. Thompson and his wife, Jennifer, are active participants in campus life and enjoy connecting with students, alumni, and members of the Salina community. They are often seen walking campus and attending events with Schuyler, KWU鈥檚 director of pawsitivity and one of the cutest mini Golden Doodles you鈥檒l meet (follow at @KWUSchuyler). They know that one of the greatest privileges of serving as a presidential family is witnessing students discover their strengths, achieve their goals, and become leaders in their professions, communities, and families.

Dr. Damon Kraft, Provost and Executive Vice President for Student Success

Dr. Damon Kraft is the Provost and Executive Vice President for Student Success at 黑料网. Under his leadership, the university has achieved its highest retention rates in known institutional history, including its highest known average over the last five years. Dr. Kraft has led the university in reimagining its concept of the first-year experience for college students. This has included revising the first-year-experience course, beginning student success coaching for all first-year students, connecting incoming students with peer mentors, and creating programming to support historically underserved students. For his work in this capacity, he was recognized in 2021 as an Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate by the National Resource Center for the The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, based at the University of South Carolina.

In addition, Dr. Kraft leads institutional assessment efforts on campus, including the university鈥檚 most recent highly successful comprehensive review (2017) and four-year update (2021) with the Higher Learning Commission. He has been the team lead for KWU鈥檚 Assessment Academy team and the Equity in Retention team through the Gardner Academy. Dr. Kraft serves as a peer mentor for HLC Assessment Academy and serves on the HLC Conference Committee. As Provost, Dr. Kraft is also the cabinet-level official for Student Development, and he provides strategic direction for residential life and campus events. He completed his doctoral work in medieval literature at the University of Missouri, and his MA and BA, both in English, are from Emporia State University.

Ms. Bridget Weiser, Vice President for Student and Community Engagement

Bridget Weiser is KWU鈥檚 vice president for student and community engagement. She has been with the university since 2003, serving in different capacities across multiple departments.聽Under her leadership, the university has expanded Campus Ministry offerings, developed several key community partnerships and enhanced the campus safety program.聽She also has a leadership role in the Bieber Dining Hall and Coyote Village projects, as well as serving as the lead on all diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Prior to KWU, Bridget was at Fort Hays State University working in the Campus Recreation and Intramurals department. She obtained a bachelor鈥檚 degree and a master鈥檚 degree from FHSU.

Dr. Judy Holmes, Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer

Dr. Judy Holmes鈥� experience includes a decade as institutional president at Brown Mackie College in Salina, where she led financial and operational oversight for the regionally accredited, multi-state institution. Holmes developed and executed the budgeting process across four campuses and led financial reporting.

Prior to being elevated to institutional president, Holmes was the fiscal officer at Brown Mackie for seven years and the campus president for 11. She also worked as a consultant for multiple organizations related to consulting and accreditation.

Holmes is a long-time member of the KWU MBA program, having taught as an adjunct instructor since 2017. She has taught for Colorado State, Southern Nazarene, Point Loma Nazarene and Liberty University, as well.