Former Kansas University Chancellor Gene Budig has been elected chairman of the board of directors for The News-Gazette Inc.

In addition to The News-Gazette newspaper in Champaign, Ill., the company owns and operates two radio stations as well as East Central Communications, a group of weekly newspapers.

Budig, senior adviser to the president at the College Board, was KU’s chancellor from 1981 to 1994. He also was president of Illinois State University, West Virginia University, and of professional baseball’s American League. He has served on News-Gazette’s board since 2005.

He writes an opinion column that appears in newspapers nationwide, including the Lawrence Journal-World and The Star-Ledger in Newark, N.J.