MANHATTAN, Kan. — Richard Linton, who has served as the president of Kansas State University since 2022, is poised to step down from his post to lead Virginia Tech, multiple sources confirmed to The Manhattan Mercury on Tuesday afternoon.
The move marks a significant and unexpected transition for the K-State leadership. Linton, who became the 15th president in the history of the Manhattan-based institution after succeeding Richard Myers, is expected to be formally named the next president of Virginia Tech pending final approval.
While neither university has issued an official statement, the schedules of both governing boards suggest a transition is imminent. The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors has announced a special public meeting for Wednesday at noon Central Time in Blacksburg. The agenda for that meeting includes a formal vote to appoint a new university president.
Concurrently, the Kansas Board of Regents—the body responsible for hiring and firing university presidents—has scheduled a special closed-door meeting for Wednesday at 12:15 p.m. The session is slated to address a “non-elected personnel” matter, signaling that an announcement regarding Linton’s tenure at K-State is likely to follow the Virginia Tech proceedings.
For Linton, the appointment would represent a homecoming. He is a triple alumnus of Virginia Tech, holding bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from the institution. His deep academic and personal ties to the Blacksburg campus are expected to play a central role in his appointment as he prepares to lead his alma mater.
Linton has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the impending move.
Since taking the helm at Kansas State in February 2022, Linton has focused on expanding the university’s research profile, bolstering student enrollment, and strengthening ties with the state’s agricultural and industrial sectors. His departure comes during a period of ongoing strategic initiatives at K-State, leaving the university to potentially begin a search for its 16th president.
The rapid timeline of these scheduled board meetings indicates that a definitive announcement could come as early as midday Wednesday. The academic community, particularly in Manhattan and Blacksburg, awaits official confirmation as both institutions prepare for what would be a major shift in their executive leadership.
As of Tuesday evening, operations at both Kansas State and Virginia Tech remained unchanged, but the back-to-back board meetings suggest that the transition process is already in its final stages. For now, the focus shifts to Wednesday’s meetings, which are expected to solidify the future of both presidential offices.
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