Kansas Board of Regents names Jennifer Bonds-Raacke as new president, CEO

TOPEKA — The Kansas Board of Regents on Tuesday selected Jennifer Bonds-Raacke to lead the state’s top public higher education organization as president and CEO. 

Bonds-Raacke had served as the vice president for academic affairs at KBOR. She fulfills the Regents’ goal to bring an “experienced, credible and inclusive leader” to the leadership role, chairwoman Alysia Johnston said. 

Bonds-Raacke replaces Blake Flanders, who led the state’s top public higher education organization since 2015. He resigned in February.

“We looked for a student-centered leader with strong understanding of access, success and completion, and experience aligning academic programs with workforce needs,” Johnston said. “We wanted a leader with strong financial acumen and understanding of resource allocations and revenue strategies.”

Bonds-Raacke has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from Christian Brothers University and a master’s and doctorate in experimental psychology from Kansas State University. 

She previously held positions as university president at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey, Washington, and held other leadership roles at Saint Norbert’s College and Fort Hays State University. 

Bonds-Raacke said she has “tremendous confidence” in the Kansas higher education system. 

“Our governed and coordinated institutions have real distinct missions,” she said. “They serve communities across Kansas, and they bring unique strengths to our system. But together, we create opportunities for Kansans in every part of our state.”

Bonds-Raacke said she looks forward to strengthening relationships with individuals throughout the higher ed system, as well as with policymakers and other partners. 

“We have important work to do to strategically position higher education to meet those evolving needs of our state,” she said.

Bonds-Raacke assumes her new role Aug. 2.