TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) _ A former member of the state Board of Regents with ties to Kansas State University will lead the search for a new school president.

He is Nelson Galle, of Manhattan. The board has named him chairman of the presidential search committee.

President Jon Wefald announced last week that he plans to retire at the end of the 2008-09 academic year.

Galle is a former chairman of both the Kansas State University Foundation Board of Trustees and the university's Alumni Association. He served on the board of regents in 2003-07, including as board president in 2006-07.

The board expects the committee to have about 15 members. Others will be named in June.

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