A native of Melrose, Massachusetts, Dr. Lane’s career in higher education began in Boston as an assistant professor of accounting at Northeastern University. As a professor at Bradley University he served as Chair of the Department of Accounting, Associate Dean of the College of Business and Director of the MBA Program. In 1994 he was named dean of the School of Business at Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne. He later advanced to dean of the Campbell School of Business at Berry College in Rome, Georgia. At Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, Lane served over four years as provost and vice president for academic affairs. Prior to coming to Emporia State University, he was vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith.

Dr. Lane was active for many years in the American Accounting Association, serving on the board of the Midwest region. He served Beta Alpha Psi, the national accounting honors and professional fraternity for several years as faculty vice president at Northeastern University and Bradley University where he was selected as one of five “Outstanding Faculty Vice President” by the national organization. Dr. Lane also served on the national Council of Beta Alpha Psi.

As a business dean, Dr. Lane was active in regional activities of Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Dr. Lane has published or presented more than two dozen papers and has written ethics cases for a principles of accounting text book.

President Lane is a member of Congressman Jerry Moran’s Executive Committee. He recently completed a term as a member of the Math and Science Education Advisory Committee to the Kansas Legislature.  He is currently a member of the Kansas Park Trust, Steering Committee for the Visitors Center at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, and is a member of the Kansas Educational Leadership Commission’s Administrative Evaluation Design Team. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Kansas Business Hall of Fame, the Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas and the National Teachers Hall of Fame.  He is a member of the Kansas Cavalry, Emporia Area Chamber of commerce, the Rotary Club of Emporia and the 2009 Class of Leadership Kansas. 

President Lane’s wife, Dr. Peggy Lane, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Accounting and Information Systems in the ESU School of Business.

List of Speeches given by President Michael R. Lane

ESU Strategic Plan

Budget and Tuition Open Forum presentations