Boehmke to retire, King named Interim Director

PULLMAN – Joan King has been named interim executive director of planning and budget for WSU, succeeding Karl Boehmke, who will retire from the executive director position on Jan. 1 after 32 years with the university.

Boehmke has served as executive director since 1999. From 1975 to 1986, Boehmke worked in the College of Business and Economics, first as administrative assistant to the dean and then as college finance officer. In 1986, he moved to the budget office.

“I feel extremely fortunate to have spent my career at an institution as friendly and as successful as WSU. It has been remarkable to see it grow from single campus regional institution to an internationally recognized multi-campus research university. I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the Cougar family,” said Boehmke.

“Karl’s work at Washington State University has been extraordinary, both for its longevity and its quality. His expertise on budget issues has been a great resource for the university,” said WSU President Elson S. Floyd.

Boehmke said his wife Mary Ann will be retiring from her position at the University of Idaho on the same date. He said they plan to do lots of bicycling, hiking and travel during their retirement.

King is a Clarkston, Wash., native and a 1984 graduate of the University of Idaho in computer science. She also has an MBA from the University of Dallas in management information systems.

She came to WSU in 2001 as associate budget director from Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh, Pa., where she had been the financial manager of the Software Engineering Institute. In January 2007, she became director of the operating budget for the university.
 
There will be a farewell reception for Karl Boehmke on Thursday, Dec. 13 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the Lewis Alumni Centre. For more information, please call Willemina Kardong at 509-335-6664.
Add comments and photos honoring Boehmke on the new WSU Today “Retirements” page. Just click on the Retirements link in the left-hand navigation bar, then on the Submit Retirement link. Comments will be forwarded to the WSU Today staff and posted shortly after.

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