Maureen Herspring Retires

Maureen Herspring is retiring at the end of the 2009-2010 academic year after spending 15 years on the staff of the College of Architecture, Planning and Design.

Mrs. Herspring first joined our staff in 1995 as an academic advisor for the Department of Architecture. Utilizing her many years of experience as a high school educator, Mrs. Herspring effectively interacted with the students to work through personal issues, help define their career goals and enroll in courses that fulfilled degree requirements.

In 1996, Mrs. Herspring began working in the Student Services area of our Dean’s Office. Her duties as academic specialist/advisor included academic advising for all our first-year students, coordinating new student orientation and enrollment, performing graduation checks and clearances, monitoring academic progress, handling course transfer and substitution, processing curriculum changes, communicating academic probation/warning/dismissal and coordinating academic progress review.

Because of the change by our college to offer master’s degrees in lieu of bachelor’s degrees, Mrs. Herspring was promoted in 2007 to Director of Student Academic Services and Academic Advisor. The degree change required Mrs. Herspring to assume additional duties and a higher level of autonomy in overseeing the academic operations and curricula of our entire college. Mrs. Herspring was instrumental in ensuring that this dramatic transition was well thought out and carefully, correctly implemented.

One of Mrs. Herspring’s greatest achievements and lasting contributions has been in the area of academic data management. During her time with us, she developed a comprehensive college-wide internal database system that facilitates the work of all of our college’s academic advisors, as well as our selective admissions, academic progress, scholarship awards and other processes. In addition, she has been our college’s liaison as K-State has transitioned to and implemented KSOL, DARS and, most recently, iSIS.

In recognition of her unending patience, inherent calmness, innate sensibilities, comprehensive knowledge and intelligence, high degree of accuracy and keen sense of humor, Mrs. Herspring has earned the appreciation and respect of the faculty, staff, graduates and students of the Kansas State University College of Architecture, Planning and Design.