Kansas State University’s Chief Government Relations Officer Sue Peterson is retiring next month.
Peterson, who also serves as assistant to the President Richard Linton, will retire after nearly 34 years of service on April 7. Coming to K-State in 1989, Peterson has had direct responsibility for all university liaison activities with the state legislature and federal government. She’s also has served as a political science instructor since 1992.
“Sue has had an amazing career at K-State that has led to immeasurable impact for our university,” said Richard Linton, Kansas State University president. “She has been a tireless advocate for the university, but her legacy is even bigger than that — she has laid the groundwork for incredible growth both within the university and across our region and state.”
Peterson serves on the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities Council on Governmental Affairs and is a founding member of the Kansas Board of Regents Council on Governmental Relations. She also helped found the Big 12 Council of Governmental Relations Officers.
“It has been my honor to represent Kansas State University, my alma mater, with Kansas policy makers over the past three decades,” said Peterson. “During this time, I have worked with four university presidents in advocating for higher education and Kansas State University.”
Throughout her distinguished career, Peterson has been recognized for her work. Notable honors include the 2011 Marvin D. “Swede” Johnson Achievement Award and the 2016 Flinchbaugh Family Wildcat Pride Award. In 2019, she delivered the Betty Colden Memorial Lectureship and also received the Career Excellence Award from the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities’ Council on Governmental Affairs.
