PRESIDENT DANIEL S. PAPP, Ph.D.
President, Kennesaw State University

Daniel S. Papp has served as president of Kennesaw State University, Georgia’s third largest university, since July 2006. Under his leadership, Kennesaw State has risen in academic stature as it became a doctorate-granting institution and launched its first Ph.D. program. In 2008 and 2009, KSU was recognized as an up-and-coming school by U.S.News & World Report. Since Papp became president, KSU also has completed its transition to NCAA Division I and expanded its infrastructure with the opening of state-of-the-art buildings such as the student dining hall, the 8,300-seat KSU Soccer Stadium and the Health Sciences Building. Under Papp, KSU is launching a football program.

Prior to assuming the presidency of KSU, Papp, an international affairs scholar, served as senior vice chancellor for academics and fiscal affairs of the University System of Georgia from 2000 to 2006. In that role, Papp was responsible for systemwide academic issues, business and financial affairs, academic and business information-technology systems, and strategic planning for the university system’s 35 institutions. Previously, Papp directed educational programs for Yamacraw, Georgia’s initiative to become a global leader in broadband technologies. He served as interim president of Southern Polytechnic State University from 1997 to 1998 and as executive assistant to the president of Georgia Tech from 1994 to 1997.

Papp was founding director of Georgia Tech’s Sam Nunn School of International Affairs from 1990 to 1993 and director of Georgia Tech’s School of Social Sciences from 1980 to 1990. He joined Georgia Tech’s faculty in 1973 as an assistant professor of international affairs. While at Tech, Papp was also visiting professor at the Western Australia Institute of Technology; research professor at the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College; senior research professor at the Center for Aerospace Doctrine, Research and Education of the U.S. Air War College; and visiting professor at Fudan University in Shanghai. In 1993, Papp was recognized as distinguished professor at Georgia Tech, the first time the honor went to faculty other than an engineer or physical scientist. He has twice been awarded the Army’s Outstanding Civilian Service medal.

Papp is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Dartmouth College and received his Ph.D. in international affairs from the University of Miami. His academic specialties include international security policy and U.S. and Russian foreign and defense policies. He has authored or edited 10 books on these topics, including the biography of former U.S. Secretary of State Dean Rusk. He has published more than 60 journal articles and chapters in edited books.

Papp’s research has been funded by the Army, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Information Agency, the U.S. Institute of Peace, the Department of Education and NATO. He has traveled extensively in the former USSR, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa and was the recipient of a Sloan scholarship and a National Defense Education Act fellowship.