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Raymond M. Burse was named on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014, as Kentucky State University’s 14^th president during the regular Board of Regents meeting.

Burse served as interim president since July 1, 2014. He made national headlines after giving up $90,000 of his salary to increase the pay of the university’s lowest-paid workers. Now the university has launched a campaign to encourage alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends to also GIVE 9. For more information about GIVE 9, click here. 

“The job to be done is not a 12-month job,” Burse said. “It requires a longer period of service. I’m pleased to be in that position again to serve Kentucky State University.”

The board voted unanimously to name Burse as president. After board chair Karen Bearden congratulated the president, the audience exploded with applause.

A native of Hopkinsville, Ky., Burse has a long record of achievement in academics, athletics and community service. As president of KSU, from 1982 to 1989, he oversaw record enrollment, more than $60 million in capital improvements and significant enhancements in the academic and financial operations of the institution, including the establishment of the Whitney M. Young College of Leadership Studies.

He later became an executive at General Electric Company from which he retired in 2012 after 17 years. He initially served as GE Appliance’s senior counsel and then became a corporate officer as vice president and general counsel. Before joining GE, he was a partner in the law firm of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs in Louisville, Ky.

Burse received his law degree in 1978 from Harvard Law School. He received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and mathematics in 1973 from Centre College, where he was named to the Deans’ List for four years. He is also Rhodes Scholar.