Pawlicki to retire from Continuing Education

LAWRENCE – Fred Pawlicki, executive director of Continuing Education at the University of Kansas since May 2006, will retire Jan. 17. He has worked at KU for more than 21 years.

Pawlicki supervises all aspects of KUCE activities, including the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center near Hutchinson, the Kansas Fire & Rescue Training Institute and the University of Kansas Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, all of which serve the entire state of Kansas.

Since 2006, KUCE has greatly expanded its regional, national and international professional development programming, especially in the fields of aerospace engineering and online technology courses. KUCE works closely with KU administration, deans, department chairs and faculty to provide non-credit professional training, conference management and workforce development and educational outreach opportunities to more than 70,000 participants annually.  

Pawlicki joined the university in 1992 as the first director of operations for the Lied Center, where he spent 14 years. 

“I had the extraordinary opportunity of working with and learning from one of the nation’s most respected performing arts presenters, Jackie Davis, now the executive director of the Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center in New York,” Pawlicki said.

When Davis left for New York, Pawlicki served as interim executive director of the Lied Center in 2000 and 2001.  From 2002-2006 he served as associate director of the Lied Center, working with Executive Director Tim Van Leer.

Pawlicki also served as interim director of the Helen Foresman Spencer Museum of Art at KU in 2004 and 2005.  While with the Lied Center and Spencer Museum, he served on the boards of directors for several state and regional arts organizations and associations.

“I want to express a special thanks to former Provost David Shulenburger for giving me the opportunity to work in leadership positions in three very dynamic and exciting environments. In each position, I experienced tremendous support from skilled and professional staff members who contributed greatly to the successes we achieved,” Pawlicki said.

Fred and his wife of 37 years, Cathie, plan to remain in Lawrence and enjoy the many opportunities this university town has to offer.