Year Inducted: 1976
Kala Stroup majored in speech and drama, but she found her home on a stage larger than any theatre. As a national leader in higher education, she became a mentor and model for countless young women, starting at KU, where she spent eighteen years as a teacher and adviser, including a stint as dean of women.
She served as chief academic officer at Emporia State University, then spent twelve years as a university president at Murray State University in Kentucky and Southeast Missouri State University. In 1995, she expanded her role in Missouri as commissioner of higher education, serving on the Governor's Cabinet until 2002. She is now president of American Humanics, which prepares future leaders of universities and nonprofit groups.
For KU, she has served on the board of the Alumni Association from 1985 to '90, and on the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center Advisory Board from 1974 to 1983; she began a second term on the center's board in 2004. She is a member of the KU Women's Hall of Fame and received the Alumni Honor Citation from the Division of Speech and Drama. A fountain at Southeast Missouri State University is named for her, and two honorary degrees are among her many professional and civic awards.
Honors and awards:
KU Distinguished Service Citation
Seven honorary degrees
Phi Beta Kappa
Mortar Board
KU Women's Hall of Fame
Ohio Valley Conference Hall of Fame
ACE Fellow
Who's Who in America
Who's Who in the World
Phi Kappa Phi
Points of Night Award
President Stroup Inaugurated
Distinguished Alumnus
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The University of Kansas Medical Center
