Longtime K-State Innovation Partners President and CEO Kent Glasscock has announced his retirement, after more than 20 years of service.
K-State Innovation Partners is responsible for commercializing and facilitating collaboration between the university, industry and communities through corporate engagement, technology commercialization and economic development.
“Kent’s vision for Innovation Partners has had a truly significant impact on K-State’s relationships and community partnerships,” says K-State president Richard Linton. “Through his leadership, K-State has partnered with countless industry and community groups, added hundreds of jobs to the Kansas economy and put the university in a great position to be a next-generation land-grant university.”
Over the past two decades, Glasscock helped the organization gain more than $100 million to benefit the university. Glasscock also helped provide structure and exploration for four university presidents, helping lead the Global Food Systems and Global Aeronautics initiatives and the creation of the Edge Collaboration District. He also helped create the K-State Economic Prosperity Plan for Kansas
Glasscock is a former Manhattan city commissioner and mayor as well as a former state representative and Speaker of the House.
“The relationship between K-State and the greater Manhattan community is truly unique,” says Jason Smith, Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO. “Kent’s leadership has allowed us to have one of the strongest — if not the strongest — town-gown relationships in the country.”
His retirement is effective April 1. An internal search for his successor will begin immediately, according to the university.
