From its founding as Kansas State Normal School on February 15, 1863, 14 presidents have seen the institution through wars, political change, funding and enrollment concerns, and cultural upheaval.
This site provides a look back at those who have built the university into the nationally recognized and outstanding institution it is today. Information about the former presidents was provided by the ESU Archives, past issues of the ESU Bulletin and The Emporia Gazette, and from past issues of Spotlight, the ESU alumni publication.
| 2006 John Schwenn |
1953 John Jacobs |
1882 - 1901 Albert R. Taylor |
| 1997 - 2006 Kay Schallenkamp |
1945 - 1953 David L. MacFarlane |
1879 - 1882 Rudolph B. Welch |
| 1985 - 1997 Robert E. Glennen |
1943 - 1945 James F. Price |
1873 - 1879 C.R. Pomeroy |
| 1967 - 1985 John E. Visser |
1913 - 1943 Thomas W. Butcher |
1871 - 1873 George W. Hoss |
| 1966 - 1967 Larry Boylan |
1906 - 1913 Joseph H. Hill |
1865 - 1871 Lyman B. Kellogg |
| 1953 - 1966 John E. King |
1901 - 1906 Jasper N. Wilkinson |