Ballard to remain at ECU

GREENVILLE, N.C.  —Chancellor Steve Ballard announced today that he has withdrawn as a candidate for the presidency of Kansas State University and will remain at East Carolina University.

“The simplest reason is that Kansas State just didn’t feel as good to me as ECU does,” Ballard said. “You always learn something interviewing for competitive positions, and this one reminded me what a great place ECU is and how much I like working with the people here.”

Ballard was one of three finalists for the position in Manhattan, Kan., and he and his wife, Nancy, spent two days there earlier this month. Kansas State has not announced who will succeed retiring president Jon Wefald.

Ballard has been chancellor of ECU since May 2004. In that time, enrollment has soared and the university has added major new facilities and programs such as the East Carolina Heart Institute and the School of Dentistry.

Bob Greczyn, chair of the ECU Board of Trustees, said, “It is great news that Steve is staying with us. He is a great fit for this university, and we will need his skills and vision as we move through the challenging months ahead.”