In a letter to the campus community, Dr. Daniel S. Papp announced his retirement from his position as president of Kennesaw State University, effective June 30.

It has been a pleasure to serve as president of this great University for the past 10 years, and to enjoy a 43-year career with the University System of Georgia.

Together we have accomplished much during the past decade. Most recently, Kennesaw State University was recognized as a doctoral university in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Learning. Over the past two years, faculty, staff and administrators joined together to successfully complete our consolidation with Southern Polytechnic State University. And we launched football with a terrific inaugural season that makes Fifth Third Stadium the place to be on Fall Saturdays in Cobb County!

Over the past 10years, we have consistently increased our enrollment, and now number more than 33,000 students. Our campus has undergone a physical transformation with the addition of multi-million dollar state-of-the art buildings. Most importantly, our academic profile has risen with the addition of high-quality, first-rate undergraduate and graduate programs, including high-demand master's and doctoral degrees that meet the workforce needs of our state and the region.

So we have much to celebrate, and much more to look forward to for the extremely bright future of Kennesaw State University.

In the coming days and weeks, additional announcements will be made regarding the appointment of an interim president. But rest assured I will continue to serve this institution and the University System with great pride and dedication right up to my last day as president.

Meanwhile, I look forward to expressing my personal appreciation to as many of you as possible for the incredible work that you do each and every day on behalf of Kennesaw State University. You are the heart and soul of this institution, and the reason why KSU has become what it is today.

Thanks for the opportunity to have served as your president. Keep up the great work - and I can't wait to see what lies ahead for KSU!