Topeka ? Fred Logan of Leawood was elected chair of the Kansas Board of Regents on Thursday, and Kenny Wilk of Basehor was elected vice chair.

Both Logan and Wilk were appointed in 2011 by Gov. Sam Brownback to the nine-member board that oversees higher education in Kansas.

Logan and Wilk said higher education was critical to the future of Kansas.

“It is no coincidence that two of our state’s most important initiatives were successful, in part, because of higher education excellence,” said Logan, an attorney.

He was referring to the National Cancer Institute designation for Kansas University and the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility at Kansas State University. “Higher education excellence doesn’t just happen — Kansas will have to continue to work at it,” he said.

Wilk, a former state legislator, said, “The future growth and prosperity of our state depends on having a higher education system aligned with and anticipating the needs of our dynamic economy.”

Logan will replace Tim Emert as chair, and Wilk will take Logan’s place as vice chair.

Both will serve one-year terms starting in July.