photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Emporia State University is pictured in October 2025.

An administrator at Northwest Missouri State University has been chosen to become the next president of Emporia State University.

The Kansas Board of Regents on Thursday named Matthew Baker as the next president of Emporia State during a brief meeting at the Emporia campus.

Baker currently is the vice president of student affairs at Northwest Missouri State, where he oversees student engagement, housing, dining, wellness, recreation and other services at the Maryville, Mo. university.

“I have followed Emporia State University throughout my career and have always been impressed with the caliber of students, faculty and staff and the commitment of the community,” Baker said in a press release. “It is the honor of my career to return to Kansas to serve as the university’s next president.”

Baker is replacing ESU President Ken Hush, who announced his retirement earlier this year.

Regents did not announce a start date for Baker, but rather authorized the president and CEO of the Board of Regents to negotiate a compensation agreement and contract with Baker.