Michael D. Shonrock, Ph.D.
Became President of Emporia State University on Jan. 3, 2012.
As Dr. Michael D. Shonrock begins his tenure as the 16th president of Emporia State University, he brings with him a reputation for innovation and collaboration, having served more than ten years as a vice president and a senior vice president at Texas Tech University. He has extensive experience in public higher education, as well as in university strategic planning and enrollment management, with a keen appreciation and understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with managing a complex organization, maintaining an open communication style, and making a commitment to the region and community.
Shonrock’s agenda for Emporia State, including providing focused strategic leadership, articulating a clear vision for the university, cultivating an entrepreneurial spirit, developing a collegial and collaborative culture, capitalizing on the richness of the Emporia community, and developing financial support for the university and its programs, has been an agenda that he has embraced as an administrator at Texas Tech, where he executed new initiatives with a substantive track record of achievement. Additionally, he understands the importance of developing effective relationships with the various constituents of a statewide system of higher education, with a commitment to the importance of creating a shared vision for the future, enhancing the identity of the institution and its programs, maintaining a strong financial position, and ensuring a future of distinctive institutional achievement.
While at Texas Tech University, Shonrock led the successful reorganization of enrollment management to increase enrollment to over 32,000 students, representing the most diverse and qualified freshman class in the history of the university. His conservative strategic financial planning supported some $200 million in new construction and renovations, and he commissioned the first-ever economic impact studies related to enrollment growth projections.
In the few weeks he has been at Emporia State, Shonrock has continued his tradition of being highly visible and engaging ESU’s constituencies of students, faculty, and staff, as well as the Emporia community. With his wife, Karen, Shonrock has a history of community involvement, what he calls paying “civic rent,” or giving back. The Shonrocks look forward to continuing this commitment to the community in their new home of Emporia.