A Day in the Life of President Daniel Papp

Megan Emory, Editor-in-Chief, followed President Papp on a typical day. The following is a chronological first-person account to better your understanding of what he does during a typical day. 

It’s mid-September, classes are in full swing and fall is almost in the air. The campus is quiet, but President Daniel Papp started his day at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast at the Cobb County Library Foundation, followed by a 9 a.m. closed-door meeting.

I walk into the president’s office at 9:15 on the 5th floor of Kennesaw Hall and am immediately greeted by the woman at the front desk. I take the offered water and wait nervously for the start of the day. While I wait, I survey Dr. Papp’s office, which is filled with everything from rugby balls to books on international security.

Papp comes into his office 10 minutes later wearing a big smile and accompanied by an entourage. He welcomes me warmly, shakes my hand and off we go.

We are on the move to our first big meeting of the day– a Chairs Council meeting with KSU Cabinet members. Dr. Coleen Nolan, ACE Fellow, accompanies us as we step into the elevator; the two discuss morning news, including the death of the U.S. ambassador to Libya.

9:45 a.m. 

We are late to our first meeting in the leadership room located in the Student Center. Papp takes the time to say hello to every student and employee we pass as we walk across campus.

As Papp walks into the room, the atmosphere instantly changes. His presence commands attention, but his approachable charisma is ever present.

He must tell the cabinet members the hard facts of the state budget. Papp starts with the news of uncertainty and moves into things he is doing to make KSU better. Papp spent his summer visiting 16 of the 18 regents to talk about KSU’s strategic plan. Other cabinet members are working to expand Engage KSU to raise awareness of student and faculty achievements. Papp discusses all of this without looking at notes . . .he knows the information by heart.

The meeting ends and he exits the room before I can even catch up.

10:15 a.m. 

Papp leaves campus to attend the funeral of Otis Brumby, the long-time editor and publisher of The Marietta Daily Journal.

12:30 p.m. 

The Athletics Board meeting held in Room 4060 of the Social Sciences Building had already started when we walked in. We try to be as quiet as possible, but the members are excited that Papp is here. He listens intently to each demonstration and breakdown of finances. The board agenda includes discussions about facilities, changes in bylaws, the needs of student athletes and character development. The most talked about topic on the agenda . . . football.

Papp discusses how to achieve the projected football start date and what board members need to do to help. The board has back-up plans in place for any scenario regarding raising the necessary money. Not only is Papp prepared for the hard work, but he is also excited about bringing football to KSU.

Papp glances at his watch; time is up again.

1:30 p.m. 

We walk across campus back to Kennesaw Hall. What should be a short walk turns into a long one as Papp talks to a student who asks him a question. Once again, he says hello to everyone he passes. It’s hard not to notice the shock or awe on the faces of students and employees as they see their president for possibly the first time.

“Have you gone to the farmer’s market today?” Papp asks the entourage following him back to Kennesaw Hall as we walk past the market on the Campus Green.

He seems genuinely interested in their responses and urges them to go next week; he’s disappointed he doesn’t have time today.

2:15 p.m. 

As we walk to Prillaman Hall to meet with 35 Nigerian judges, I asked Papp about his personal life.

“I might be doing research for the Department of State or the Department of Defense,” said Papp when asked what he would be doing if he wasn’t in academia.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in international security from Dartmouth College and a Ph. D. in international security from the University of Miami.

Papp walks into the reception room and the Nigerian judges are excited to see him. The judges were here for a four-day program that ended with their receiving an honorary KSU certificate. Papp speaks for a few minutes about what an honor it is to have the judges at KSU, and his speech ends to a standing ovation from the judges.

They all want individual and group pictures with Papp and he is happy to oblige.

2:30 p.m. 

Papp has another closed-door meeting and I wait outside his office. I meet the other individuals who work on his floor. I realize that I am not the only one waiting for Papp to finish the meeting. It is almost as if a line is forming outside his office. He finishes the private meeting and, if you’ve ever heard the phrase “walk and talk,” then you already know how Papp spends most of his day.

3:00 p.m. 

A meeting with Ken Harmon, provost and vice president for academic affairs, takes place back in Papp’s office. Harmon sits on the sofa and Papp sits in a chair as they casually discuss administrative details. It seems as if Papp is a part of every aspect of KSU and likes it that way. He is more comfortable in his office and takes the time to discuss personal topics with Harmon. He even asks about texting etiquette after his phone goes off multiple times throughout the meeting.

“I hardly text,” Papp said. “What is texting etiquette? Look at all of these messages.”

We laugh as he continues the meeting, as if he never got off track.

3:30 p.m. 

The weekly meeting with Executive Assistant Lynda Johnson begins; both Johnson and Papp come to the sofa with a pile of papers to sort through.

Johnson and Papp joke around like old friends and comment that Papp’s pile may start as the biggest, but it is Johnson’s pile and to-do list that grow after their weekly meeting.

Papp talked about how he handles all the aspects of his job.

We have one final task of the day: attend a Career Services reception at the Jolley Lodge.

4:00 p.m. 

Papp exits Kennesaw Hall and heads to his car; his license plate is KU1. He opens my door and off we go, with Coleen Nolan, who has accompanied us throughout the day, to the reception.

During the car ride, I ask more questions about his hobbies and his family.

“I played rugby for 40 years. I’ve played basically all over the world,” Papp said. “I started my sophomore year at Dartmouth and stopped two years after marrying Susan 10 years ago.” He continues to talk excitedly about his rugby playing days and was excited that his oldest son plays.

Papp has two sons, William and Alexander, and two stepsons, Michael and Benjamin.

Papp moved to Georgia in 1973 and was an assistant professor of international security at Georgia Tech. He also served as executive assistant to the president of Georgia Tech from 1994 to 1997 and as interim president of Southern Polytechnic State University from 1997 to 1998. Prior to his appointment as president of KSU in 2006, Papp served as senior vice chancellor for academics and fiscal affairs for the University System of Georgia Board of Regents.

After the short car ride, we pull up to the Jolley Lodge and go inside to find the reception in full swing. As soon as Papp enters, everyone in the building rushes to talk to him. The reception is to thank workers and contributors for easing the effects of the recession on employees and students.

Papp is rushed around the room and doesn’t have time to end a conversation before he begins another. He makes his way around the room and back to the door, where we are waiting to end our day when one final person stops to ask Papp a question.

“It’s like everyone wants to stop and talk to him,” Nolan said. “He is so good about talking to people and having a real conversation with them.”

Nolan said this is what a typical day is in Papp’s life.

As I watch Papp walk back to Kennesaw Hall for more closed-door meetings, I can’t help but wonder how he got through our six hours together without food. It’s obvious that he prides himself on his work ethic and truly cares about the KSU community.