Debbie Kirchhoff, executive director of strategic initiatives, is responsible for community engagement and outreach in the Greater Kansas City region; and identifying and implementing opportunities for new initiatives that align with the strengths of Kansas State University. These efforts also position K-State Olathe as a springboard for growth opportunities for Kansas State University.
Kirchhoff brings more than 25 years of corporate relations, community engagement and leadership experience in the Greater Kansas City region. She joined the Kansas State University Foundation as the director of corporate and foundation relations for K-State Olathe from 2011-2014 and senior director of development for the university’s College of Veterinary Medicine from 2014-2016.
Prior to coming to K-State, she served as major gift director for the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s College of Arts and Sciences. She has held development director and executive director positions at not-for-profit organizations in the Greater Kansas City area, including the Kansas Children’s Service League, Sunshine Center School and Safehome.
Kirchhoff holds the Certified Fundraising Executive designation from CFRE International and is a certified workshop leader for Strategic Doing. She earned her undergraduate degree in business from Kansas State University and her Master of Business Administration from Mid-America Nazarene University. She has volunteered in the community for numerous organizations and currently serves on the board of directors for Youthrive.
She has lived in Johnson County, Kansas, most of her life. Kirchhoff currently lives in Olathe, Kan., with her husband and has two grown children.
Contact Debbie at debbierk@ksu.edu
Morgan Wills is a Project Development Specialist with the Office of Educational Innovation and Evaluation (OEIE) at Kansas State University. As a full-service evaluation center, OEIE provides program evaluation for a broad range of clientele in educational institutions, governmental agencies, and foundations. In her role, Morgan collaborates with internal and external Principal Investigators to prepare proposal materials for large- and small-scale funding agencies. Her work includes the design of responsive evaluation plans, logic models, indicators and metrics of success, budget justifications, letters of commitment, and other grant application materials. Morgan’s expertise includes project development and coordination, budgeting and finance, analyzing qualitative and quantitative data, and composing technical reports.
Morgan received an M.P.A. from Kansas State University and a B.S. in Political Science with a Secondary Major in Natural Resources and Environmental Science. Morgan is a member of the National Organization for Research Development (NORDP). Prior experience includes four years of service at both the local and state levels of government.
Morgan has experience implementing S.D. in cross-disciplinary settings to convene investigators from diverse disciplines in the development of convergent proposals. She also has experience implementing S.D. to advance offices and departments within higher education. Namely, identifying opportunities for advancement followed by creation of tailored Pathfinder projects designed to leverage team members’ existing assets toward a shared vision and determined end.
Morgan was born and raised in Liberal, KS. Home to Dorothy’s House and the beautiful, windy open planes of Southwest Kansas. She enjoys making frequent road trips to Kansas City, Augusta, KS, and Sun City, AZ to visit family.
Please contact Morgan at morgankwills@outlook.com.
