From the Office of Public Affairs | https://www.news.ku.edu

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University Press of Kansas launches new nonfiction line Plainspoken

LAWRENCE — The University Press of Kansas has launched Plainspoken Books, a new nonfiction trade imprint focused on bringing Midwest stories into national conversations. The debut title, out September 2025, is “Whirlwind” by native Kansan and acclaimed journalist Bill Kurtis, with forthcoming titles from Kansas City-based author Chris Arnone, former Kansas poet laureate Huascar Medina and journalists Max McCoy and Clay Wirestone. The press is currently accepting proposals at all stages.

KU School of Business partners with Healthy Bourbon County Action Team to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystem in southeast Kansas

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas School of Business has launched a collaboration with a Bourbon County organization to support local entrepreneurs and small business owners. The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT) will work with KU entrepreneurship programs both to identify community business projects for student engagement and to access programmatic resources. The collaboration allows KU students to gain hands-on experience while HBCAT and its community partners benefit from KU’s expertise, tools and support for entrepreneurial development.

Male monarchs throughout history portrayed as ‘mother’ figures, new research reveals

LAWRENCE — Rulers have traditionally relied on masculinity to display their ability to govern. Or have they? New research suggests that throughout history — and within many cultures — male monarchs have often been positively portrayed as maternal. The topic is explored in the new article “King as Mother: Gendered Metaphors of Power in Early Modern Europe,” written by Luis Corteguera, professor of history at the University of Kansas, and published in the Journal of Women’s History.

Full stories below.

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Contact: Alec Loganbill, University Press of Kansas, 785-864-1258, [email protected]
University Press of Kansas launches new nonfiction line Plainspoken

LAWRENCE — The University Press of Kansas has launched Plainspoken Books, a new nonfiction trade imprint focused on bringing Midwest stories into national conversations.

Far more than flyover country, the Midwest is a dynamic, important place that is vital to understanding who and what America is and where it is going. This imprint was created to lift up authentic voices and stories from the middle of country and publish meaningful books for readers everywhere.

Plainspoken Books is taking a boutique approach, offering whole-press attention, supportive editorial partnerships and collaborative marketing strategies. The entire staff at the University Press of Kansas will be involved with Plainspoken authors, combining the experience of the nearly 80-year-old publishing house with a deep knowledge of and appreciation for the Midwest. Editor Alec Loganbill is leading the imprint.

“As a lifelong Kansan, I recognize the cultural value of the often underestimated Midwest,” Loganbill said. “It is truly exciting to create an imprint that brings together the incredibly talented authors, journalists and storytellers from the Midwest, supports them with authenticity and understanding, and helps develop their impact and reach far beyond the boundaries of our region.”

The debut title, out September 2025, is “Whirlwind” by Bill Kurtis, the legendary Chicago journalist whose early life in Kansas set him on a path to cover some of the most iconic stories in modern history. In the fall of 2026, Plainspoken Books will release “My Name Was Baby: An Intersex Memoir,” a candid and inspiring story of growing up different and learning to love oneself by Kansas City-based author Chris Arnone; and “God’s Misfits,” journalist Max McCoy’s search for the heart of good and evil in the wake of an Oklahoma murder. Other titles under contract include “The Prairie Fool,“ a lyrical meditation on politics, class and culture by former Kansas poet laureate Huascar Medina; and “In the Shadow of Trump,“ in which veteran reporter and editor Clay Wirestone unpacks the past decade of Kansas politics to offer clarity for today and hope for tomorrow.

Plainspoken Books is the place for strong, concept-driven books about the politics, cultures and environments of the Midwest. Whether it is narrative journalism, sharp political commentary, inspiring memoir or zeitgeisty history, this is an imprint for authentic authors, stories with a sense of place and ideas that can capture the national imagination.

Loganbill is currently accepting proposals at all stages from agents and authors. For more, visit the Plainspoken webpage.

The University Press of Kansas was organized by the Kansas Board of Regents and is operated and funded by Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Kansas State University, Pittsburg State University, the University of Kansas and Wichita State University.

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KU activity supports nearly 88,000 jobs — or 1 in every 23 jobs in Kansas.

If KU by itself were its own industry sector, it would be the 10th-largest sector in Kansas.

https://economicdevelopment.ku.edu/impact

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Contact: Lauren Cunningham, School of Business, 785-864-9540, [email protected]
KU School of Business partners with Healthy Bourbon County Action Team to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystem in southeast Kansas

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas School of Business has launched a collaboration with a Bourbon County organization to support local entrepreneurs and small business owners.

The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT), an organization dedicated to building a healthy, thriving workforce, will work with KU Business entrepreneurship programs both to identify community business projects for student engagement and to access programmatic resources. The collaboration allows KU students to gain hands-on experience while HBCAT and its community partners benefit from KU’s expertise, tools and support for entrepreneurial development.

“Our partnership with the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team exemplifies KU’s commitment to fostering economic development throughout Kansas while enhancing the student learning experience,” said KU School of Business Dean Jide Wintoki. “Our students get to apply their business expertise to support small but growing companies, with the potential to generate new jobs in the region. It’s a powerful way to strengthen our students’ professional skills while creating meaningful impact in the state.”

The partnership will support Bourbon County businesses through three tailored pathways, each grounded in a KU Business entrepreneurship co-curricular program.

Jayhawk Consulting: HBCAT will identify local startups and small businesses that could benefit from student-led consulting services.
RedTire (Redefine your Retirement): HBCAT will connect with businesses nearing an ownership transition and work with KU’s RedTire team to assess fit for the program’s comprehensive business valuation and succession planning services.
The Catalyst: HBCAT will help launch a locally led version of KU’s program, which supports aspiring entrepreneurs through mentorship and venture development. KU will provide HBCAT with training and resources on curriculum and program management, with the first Bourbon County Catalyst cohort expected to launch in spring 2026.
Through this partnership, KU students will gain a stronger connection to and understanding of Kansas’ economic landscape while contributing to its continued growth.

“Our entrepreneurs have been clear about what they need: more guidance, more support and more opportunities to grow,” said Jody Love, HBCAT president and CEO. “Partnering with KU allows us to respond directly to those needs and ensure that small businesses in southeast Kansas have the resources to succeed.”

The KU School of Business provides entrepreneurial curricular and co-curricular education to students of every major and across all stages of interest, from those exploring new ideas to those actively launching ventures. Students learn to solve meaningful problems with purpose and creativity, building a mindset that equips them to thrive in any career path.

More information about KU Business entrepreneurship programs can be found at the school’s entrepreneurship webpage.

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Research at KU powers 54 active startups with more than half based in Kansas.

https://ku.edu/distinction

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Contact: Jon Niccum, KU News Service, 785-864-7633, [email protected]
Male monarchs throughout history portrayed as ‘mother’ figures, new research reveals

LAWRENCE — Rulers have traditionally relied on masculinity to display their ability to govern. Or have they?

New research suggests that throughout history — and within many cultures — male monarchs have often been positively portrayed as maternal.

“Good rulers should be strong warriors and upright against injustice. But they also need to be nurturing and caring,” said Luis Corteguera, professor of history at the University of Kansas.

His new article titled “King as Mother: Gendered Metaphors of Power in Early Modern Europe” explores this concept using biblical and classical sources and evidence from nature to describe the authority of male rulers across early modern Europe. The metaphor contributes to cultural understanding of female authority and of the effectiveness of women’s agency based on the same allegories and images.

The research appears in the Journal of Women’s History.

“It’s hard to wrap your head around what this means,” Corteguera said. “I had seen a medievalist write about Christ as mother, which is an easy metaphor to understand because theology and spiritual things are kind of malleable. But then I began seeing it elsewhere and kept wondering to what extent male monarchs could be thought of as mothers.”

Co-written by Irene Olivares, a professor at Johnson County Community College who earned her doctorate at KU, the article looks at how such maternal imagery contributed to kings’ authority, laws and governance. It argues that specific depictions — like a nursing king — helped writers promote an image of male leaders as accessible and approachable, reinforcing the idea of an intrinsic bond between ruler and subject based on the relationship between mother and child.

“Some of the images, like illustrating French king Francis I with male and female body parts, is metaphorical. But in this period, the language of symbols and emblems is very powerful, and people responded to striking images,” he said.

The concept is hardly limited to that period. Egyptian pharaohs are sometimes represented through the image of the Nile. And the Nile, which feeds Egypt, is often represented as a male with breasts. Because of that metaphor, pharaohs sometimes are shown with breasts.

It is even contained in the Bible. Isaiah 49:23 states: “And kings shall be thy nursing fathers and their queens thy nurses.”

“You see it in pre-Columbian America, in African cultures, in Asian cultures. We find examples from India, Japan and China. This idea of combining maternal and paternal instincts and virtues exists in many cultures over many centuries,” Corteguera said.

The impetus for the article sprung from Olivares’ research into the history of petitions to a king.

“She was looking at women writing letters to the king of Spain and asking for things. We had been noticing how there was consistent language of appealing to the king as someone with sentiments that were not necessarily manly,” he said.

Considering this pattern has been going on for millennia, current U.S. President Donald Trump could also benefit from being perceived as more maternal, Corteguera said.

“On the surface, it might seem impossible for Trump to act like this. He likes to be so macho and masculine. But certainly there’s no way he could have the platform he has without conveying being more than just an assertive, aggressive person,” he said. “When he talks about being assertive, it’s usually in a protective way. He is protecting Americans from all those dangers, whether they’re immigrants or criminals or radical politicians. So that protective aspect could be hinting at those soft sides of power.”

Now in his 31st year at KU, Corteguera studies early modern European history, specializing in Spain, the Spanish Empire and Catalonia. He is a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“I’m always interested in trying to understand how we make sense of power,” he said.

“While we all recognize that power as force is very clear, it’s interesting to see how that is often not enough. I’ve seen references to Mao and Stalin, some of the most egregious tyrants of history, who discuss how power is ultimately about convincing people. It’s about images and impressions. This metaphor of king as mother seems to be another aspect of that.”

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KU News Services

1450 Jayhawk Blvd.

Lawrence KS 66045

[email protected]

https://www.news.ku.edu

Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, director of news and media relations, [email protected]

Today’s News is a free service from the Office of Public Affairs

From the Office of Public Affairs | https://www.news.ku.edu

Headlines

Chancellor appointed to NCAA governing boards

LAWRENCE — University of Kansas Chancellor Douglas A. Girod has been appointed to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Board of Directors and the NCAA Board of Governors. The Division I’s board of directors is the division’s top governing body, responsible for strategy, policy, legislation and management of the division. The board of governors provides strategic leadership on association-wide issues that affect all three NCAA divisions.

Spencer Museum of Art exhibition ‘Soundings’ lets viewers imagine the ocean

LAWRENCE — Visitors can dip their toes into the art and idea of the ocean in the exhibition “Soundings: Making Culture at Sea,” on display now through Dec. 14 at the Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas. The exhibition is drawn primarily from the Spencer’s own collection, with some loans from KU Libraries.

KU School of Architecture & Design announces fall 2025 design lecture series schedule

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas School of Architecture & Design series will open with a talk by KU alumnus Tad Carpenter, followed by an opening reception for a retrospective exhibition of Carpenter’s “SUNday SUNS” series in the Edgar Heap of Birds Family Gallery.

Full stories below.

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Contact: Joe Monaco, Office of Public Affairs, 785-864-7100, [email protected]
Chancellor appointed to NCAA governing boards

LAWRENCE — University of Kansas Chancellor Douglas A. Girod has been appointed to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Board of Directors and the NCAA Board of Governors.

The Division I Board of Directors is the division’s top governing body, responsible for strategy, policy, legislation and management of the division. The board includes 20 presidents and chancellors, including one from each of the 10 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conferences, 10 from the remaining 22 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and Division I conferences, the chair of the NCAA Division I Council, one faculty athletics representative, one senior woman administrator representative and two student-athletes.

The Board of Governors provides strategic leadership on association-wide issues that affect all three NCAA divisions. The board consists of nine voting members and seven ex officio nonvoting members, including presidents and chancellors from each division, graduated student-athletes, select leaders from the NCAA membership and independent members.

Girod’s appointments run through August 2029.

“It’s an honor to serve on these boards and to partner with peer institutions on behalf of student-athletes across the nation,” Girod said. “This is a challenging and important moment for collegiate athletics and higher education, and I’m glad for the opportunity to help ensure KU and the Big 12 Conference are represented in discussions that impact our students.”

“I’m thrilled Chancellor Girod will represent the Big 12 Conference on the NCAA Division I Board of Directors and the NCAA Board of Governors,” Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark said. “Chancellor Girod believes deeply in the value of athletics and higher education, and he recognizes the positive impact student-athletes have on our universities. Furthermore, he is recognized as a national leader and respected voice on policy matters impacting college athletics. The NCAA and the Big 12 will benefit from his leadership as we navigate the evolving world of college athletics.”

In addition to these appointments with the NCAA, Girod serves as vice chair of the Association of American Universities board of directors and as chair of the Big 12 Conference board of directors.

“Chancellor Girod has an established track record of successful stewardship of KU including record-setting enrollment, national designation for KU’s Cancer Center and nine consecutive years of increased research expenditures,” said Blake Benson, chair of the Kansas Board of Regents. “At the same time, he has become a national leader through his roles with the Association of American Universities, the Big 12 Conference and now the NCAA, ensuring that the University of Kansas is represented in important policy discussions and has a role in shaping the future of higher education. The Regents are grateful for Chancellor Girod’s efforts, and we look forward to his continued leadership.”

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KU News Service is now on BlueSky.

Follow for KU News Service stories, discoveries and experts.

https://bsky.app/profile/kunewsservice.bsky.social

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Contact: Rick Hellman, KU News Service, 785-864-8852, [email protected]
Spencer Museum of Art exhibition ‘Soundings’ lets viewers imagine the ocean

LAWRENCE — Visitors can dip their toes into the art and idea of the ocean in the exhibition “Soundings: Making Culture at Sea,” on display now through Dec. 14 at the Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas.

Curated by Emily Casey, Hall Assistant Professor of American Art and Culture in KU’s Kress Foundation Department of Art History, and Celka Straughn, museum deputy director for public practice and curatorial, “Soundings” is drawn primarily from the Spencer’s own collection, with some loans from KU Libraries.

It includes works like the exquisite, late-period Winslow Homer watercolor painting “West India Divers” and a life-size carved-wooden mermaid that once served as an advertising sign above a 19th-century seaside supply shop.

With photographs of Greenland glaciers, it draws a connection between 19th-century Arctic explorer Lewis Lindsay Dyche, after whom KU’s Dyche Hall — home to the Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum — is named, and the KU scientists exploring the effect of climate change on Antarctic ice sheets today.

And while Casey came to KU from an East Coast college just a couple of years ago, she noted that the existence of these materials proves that oceans have long been relevant to the people of Kansas.

“When I came here, I thought, ‘What does it mean to teach a class about the art of the sea in a landlocked state?’ But I think the exhibition really helps to highlight some of the ways in which there are so many connections to the ocean here,” Casey said. “And part of that is the fact that there were people who explored maritime spaces who have connections to KU. Dyche is an example.”

“Soundings” is divided into four sections, Casey said.

In the maps section, a Mercator projection is contrasted with Buckminster Fuller’s radically different “Dymaxion” representation of the globe.

The second section, about crossing or living alongside the ocean, is where Homer’s painting of shell divers is displayed alongside a screen showing “Encore (Paradise Omeros: Redux),” a four-minute video by British artist Isaac Julien that reflects on his own Caribbean heritage.

The third section, in which the Greenland photographs are located, emphasizes the way artists play an important role in raising awareness about the current ecological threats to the ocean.

The final section, about the ocean as trade route, features a tea chest, porcelain vessels and textiles, among other works.

Casey said the exhibition grew out of her area of research.

“I focus on the context of the early United States — so the late colonial, early national period,” she said. “My book project, which I’m working on right now, examines how people imagined and represented the ocean around the time of the American Revolution.”

Casey said she would teach her fall course, Art and the Sea: From the Age of Sail to the Age of Climate Change, in conjunction with the exhibition, calling it “a great example of collaboration between the museum and the classroom.”

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for additional news about the University of Kansas.

Contact [email protected]

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Contact: Dan Rolf, School of Architecture & Design, 785-864-3027, [email protected]
KU School of Architecture & Design announces fall 2025 design lecture series schedule

LAWRENCE — The School of Architecture & Design at the University of Kansas has announced programming for the Fall 2025 KU Design Professional Lecture Series.

The series kicks off at 6 p.m. Aug. 21 with a lecture by designer and KU alumnus Tad Carpenter. Following the lecture, an opening reception for a retrospective exhibition of Carpenter’s “SUNday SUNS” series will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Edgar Heap of Birds Family Gallery in Chalmers Hall.

For over four decades, the KU Design Professional Lecture Series (formerly the Hallmark Symposium) has introduced KU students and the local creative community to artists and designers working in a wide range of disciplines, media and professional fields.

Lectures begin at 6 p.m. in 3140 Wescoe Hall on the KU Lawrence campus, except where stated otherwise. Virtual lecture details will be published on the lecture series webpage the week of the event. Events are free and open to the public.

Aug. 21

Tad Carpenter is a designer, illustrator, author and founding partner of Carpenter Collective, a Kansas City, Missouri-based graphic design and branding studio. Carpenter has illustrated more than 20 children’s books and designed more than 200 gig posters for musicians, bands and tours. His personal projects include his weekly SUNday Suns and Made in the Middle. In 2017, he was named a Graphic Designer To Watch by GDUSA.

Sept. 4

Jeff Breazeale is a designer, brand strategist and founding partner at The Matchbox Studio. He has worked for more than 25 years helping clients identify brand opportunities and develop creative solutions. At The Matchbook Studio, Breazeale has led teams developing work for clients that include American Airlines, Dallas Museum of Art, FedEx, Fossil, Neenah Paper and the State Fair of Texas. In 2020, Breazeale launched MBX Real Estate Creative, a sister-agency to Matchbox dedicated to multifamily residential branding.

Sept. 18

Aggie Toppins is a graphic designer, collagist and scholar who combines a studio background with humanities methods to explore meaning making in visual and material culture. Her book “Thinking Through Graphic Design History: Challenging the Canon” (Bloomsbury, 2025) surveys the terrain where historical research and visual communication meet. The project challenges traditional understandings of graphic design history, offering ways for designers to shape socially engaged, critical practices.

Oct. 2

Adam Henry is an animator, writer and producer with more than 20 years of experience working in film and television. Beginning his career at Warner Brothers as an animator on the film “Iron Giant,” Henry went on to serve a variety of roles – including storyboard artist, producer and showrunner at Disney (“Penn Zero,” “Tinkerbell Movie”), DreamWorks (“She Ra,” “Jurassic Park”), Nickelodeon (“Kung Fu Panda,” “The Loud House,” “Ni Hao Kailan,” “Random Cartoons,” “Robot Monster”) and Netflix (“Dogs in Space”).

Oct. 23 (virtual event)

Jeremy Vickery is an artist specializing in light and color who works in film, television and video games. Credits include “Assassins Creed,” “Brave,” “Cars,” “Fallout,” “The Incredibles,” “Inside Out,” “Ratatouille,” “Wall-E,” “Westworld,” and “Uncharted.” Vickery also founded Lighting Mentor, a company that provides educational courses, workshops and apprenticeship programs to students and other artists seeking to enhance their skills.

Nov. 6

Wesley Bedrosian is an illustrator and art director whose editorial illustrations have appeared in numerous publications, including The Boston Globe, The Hollywood Reporter, New York Magazine, The New York Times, Scientific American, Vanity Fair and The Wall Street Journal. He has taught and lectured at Parsons School of Design, Pratt Institute and The School of Visual Arts.

Nov. 20: To be announced.

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KU News Service

1450 Jayhawk Blvd.

Lawrence KS 66045

[email protected]

https://www.news.ku.edu

Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, director of news and media relations, [email protected]

Today’s News is a free service from the Office of Public Affairs

From the Office of Public Affairs | https://www.news.ku.edu

Headlines

Contact: Daniel Berk, Kansas Athletics, 785-312-2159, [email protected]; Daryl Bell, KU Endowment, 785-832-7322, [email protected]
KU Athletics receives historic $300 million gift from longtime donor and alumnus David Booth

LAWRENCE — Just days before the Kansas Jayhawks football season kickoff against Fresno State on Aug. 23, the University of Kansas announced an unprecedented gift from alumnus David G. Booth of Austin, Texas. The extraordinary gift, amounting to approximately $300 million, is the largest in Kansas Athletics and University of Kansas history, and is among the largest single gifts in the history of college athletics.

Booth, a graduate of both Lawrence High School and KU, is an investing legend and founder of Dimensional Fund Advisors — a global investment firm that manages $853 billion in assets as of June 30, 2025. Booth’s visionary gift includes a $75 million challenge to other donors that launches the next phase of progress on the Gateway District and David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. The remainder of his commitment will generate a stream of income that will strengthen Kansas Athletics across generations.

“David’s unprecedented generosity is transformative now and for our future,” said KU Athletics Director and Vice Chancellor Travis Goff. “It accelerates phase II of the Gateway District and the new ‘Booth’ and inspires others to step up and join in completing this vision. We’re profoundly grateful for David’s leadership and extraordinary impact on generations of student-athletes and fans. There is no more generous and impactful Jayhawk, and we are so fortunate to call him a friend and mentor.”

It’s not just the scale of the gift that is remarkable, but what it will accomplish. Booth’s commitment will propel the Gateway District’s next phase, which adds to private and civic investment for a new hotel, additional retail and restaurant spaces, student housing, improved parking and an outdoor event plaza.

The remainder of Booth’s gift will allow Kansas Athletics to be strategic, innovative and maintain a leadership position in college athletics. With the advent of revenue sharing and the continued changes in NCAA and conference dynamics, his generosity will help enable KU to take the next step in cementing itself as a national leader in college athletics.

“David has always believed in the power of athletics to unite communities, generate Jayhawk spirit and create lasting bonds between alumni, students and fans,” said KU Chancellor Douglas A. Girod. “His generosity is inspiring, and his loyalty to KU runs deep. We are beyond grateful for his transformative gift.”

For Booth, giving back to KU is an investment in the university and its mission. He hopes his philanthropy will inspire others to also support the Gateway District project and what he calls “the prototype for future football stadiums” at whatever level they can.

“One of life’s greatest privileges is being able to give back to the people and places that gave so much to you,” said Booth. “KU and Lawrence are a big part of my story, and it means a lot to support the community that invested in me. Philanthropy, like investing, pays dividends over time. Each gift compounds, creating opportunities not just for today, but for years to come. This is really about the future we’re building.”

When he was a child, Booth’s parents, Gilbert and Betty Booth, moved the family from their home in Garnett to Lawrence at 1931 Naismith Drive, near Allen Fieldhouse. The family gathered regularly to listen to KU games on the radio, glued to Max Falkenstien’s iconic voice. At the age of 13, Booth attended his first game through the Boy Scouts, working as an usher in the football stadium. He later worked basketball games at Allen Fieldhouse by selling popcorn in the stands.

The Lawrence High graduate attended KU, earning both a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1968 and a Master of Science in Business in 1969 before earning his Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago in 1971.

Booth founded Dimensional Fund Advisors in 1981 to apply the principles of financial science to practical investment solutions. Booth started Dimensional in collaboration with several others from the University of Chicago, including Booth’s mentor, former professor and Nobel Laureate Eugene Fama, and classmate Rex Sinquefield, who co-founded the firm. Booth and Dimensional have been recognized for helping transform the industry toward more transparent, low-cost and data-driven solutions for investors. That story was recently profiled by Academy Award winning director Errol Morris in the film “Tune Out the Noise.”

Booth’s landmark gift is the most recent in his long legacy of support at KU, helping transform athletics and its impact for the university. Booth provided a foundational gift of $50 million in 2017 to kick off renovations at the stadium, which was named for him in 2018. In 2010, he donated James Naismith’s original rules of basketball to the university, a top attraction at the Booth Family Hall of Athletics, which he and his family provided $5 million for in 2004, followed by $4 million for subsequent improvements. His philanthropy is legendary and extends across areas, including the arts and academics. In 2008, he provided a gift valued at $300 million to the University of Chicago School of Business, where he earned his MBA. The school was named the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in his honor.

With KU’s football season opener around the corner, Booth’s excitement to get back to the stadium is growing.

“I feel the same inspiration that I felt as an usher in the stadium in 1960,” Booth said. “I was blown away by all the people in the stands, the Jayhawk spirit. I’m feeling the same way now — I’m ready to celebrate with everyone.”

About KU Endowment

KU Endowment is the independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment was the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.

About Kansas Athletics

Kansas Athletics is a not-for-profit corporation which was organized in 1925 to foster development of intercollegiate athletics in conjunction with the educational activities of the University of Kansas. Kansas Athletics operates the varsity intercollegiate athletic programs (18 men’s and women’s intercollegiate teams) of the University of Kansas in facilities owned by the State of Kansas. A major comprehensive research and teaching university with an enrollment of approximately 30,000, the University provides outstanding excellence in education and research. Kansas Athletics is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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KU News Service

1450 Jayhawk Blvd.

Lawrence KS 66045

[email protected]

https://www.news.ku.edu

Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, director of news and media relations, [email protected]

Today’s News is a free service from the Office of Public Affairs