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Dean of Continuing Education Honored at Retirement Reception
A reception was held at the K-State Alumni Center on May 17 to honor Elizabeth Unger, vice provost for academic services and technology and dean of continuing education. Dean Unger is retiring July 1 after serving over a decade in her current position and over 40 years as a professor of computer science at K-State
Dean Unger was the third woman to graduate from Michigan State University with a degree in engineering. She later obtained her Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Kansas and has become a pioneer for the use of technology in education at K-State.
Among her many accomplishments has been the development of K-State Online, a course management system used by K-State students and faculty. She also took part in the creation of the Information Technology Assistance Center (iTAC), which provides a first point of contact for the resolution of technology-related questions by K-State faculty, staff, and students.
Dean Unger's role in developing K-State distance education programs and technologies has raised K-State to a position of national prominence in distance education, receiving more national awards than any other university. K-State now offers over 40 distance education degree or certificate programs and many professional development opportunities to students and working professionals in all 50 states and 16 foreign countries.
Remarks and remembrances at the reception were given by President Jon Wefald; Provost Duane Nellis; Betty Stevens, associate vice provost for technology partnerships and associate dean of continuing education; Virgil Wallentine, department head for computing and information sciences; and Rebecca Gould of iTAC. Dean Unger's son, who attended the reception along with several other family members, presented a slideshow and remembrances. Staff from the K-State Division of Continuing Education presented Dean Unger with a plaque honoring her exceptional guidance and success in the Division.
Many thanks to Dean Unger for her boundless contributions to K-State. She has brought together the roles of technology, academics, and continuing education to extend K-State's educational resources further than ever before. She will continue to be a visionary leader in DCE history.
