Bob Kustra | |
|---|---|
 Kustra during 2016 Navy Week in Boise | |
| 6th President ofBoise State University | |
| In office July 1, 2003 – June 30, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Charles Ruch |
| Succeeded by | Marlene Tromp |
| 10th President ofEastern Kentucky University | |
| In office July 1, 1998 – June 30, 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Hanly Funderburk |
| Succeeded by | Joanne Glasser |
| 43rd Lieutenant Governor of Illinois | |
| In office January 14, 1991 – July 1, 1998 | |
| Governor | Jim Edgar |
| Preceded by | George Ryan |
| Succeeded by | Corinne Wood(1999) |
| Member of theIllinois Senate from the 28th district | |
| In office January 12, 1983 – January 14, 1991 | |
| Preceded by | District created |
| Succeeded by | Marty Butler |
| Member of theIllinois House of Representatives from the 4th district | |
| In office January 14, 1981 – January 12, 1983 | |
| Preceded by | Michael Abramson |
| Succeeded by | District abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Walter Kustra (1943-03-21)March 21, 1943 (age 82) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | |
| Profession | Educator and politician |
Robert Walter Kustra (born March 21, 1943) is an American politician and academic administrator who served as theLieutenant Governor of Illinois from 1991 to 1998, President ofEastern Kentucky University from 1998 to 2001, and President ofBoise State University from 2003 to 2018.
Kustra received his Bachelor of Arts in political science fromBenedictine College inAtchison, Kansas, hismaster's degree in Public Administration fromSouthern Illinois University Carbondale, and his PhD in political science from theUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Kustra served in both houses of theIllinois General Assembly. He served in theHouse of Representatives, representing the 4th district, from January 14, 1981, to January 12, 1983, when he began representing the 28th district in theSenate, which he did until he resigned to become theLieutenant Governor in 1991. While in the Senate, he served as Assistant Minority Leader. He was voted Best Freshman Legislator during his first year in each house.[1]
He was elected43rd Lieutenant Governor of Illinois asJim Edgar's running-mate, and served from January 14, 1991, to July 1, 1998, when he resigned to become president of Eastern Kentucky University.
He sought the Republican nomination for theUnited States Senate in 1996 to succeedPaul Simon but was defeated in the primary by Illinois RepresentativeAl Salvi. Salvi's victory was considered a major political upset. Kustra before the primary was considered a heavy favorite to defeat Salvi, a relatively unknown conservative state representative, and Chicago area attorney.[2]
Kustra served as a member of the faculty atUniversity of Illinois Springfield,Loyola University of Chicago, theUniversity of Illinois Chicago, andNorthwestern University.[3] Kustra served as president ofEastern Kentucky University from 1998 until 2001. From 2003 to 2018, he was president ofBoise State University and is a member of the board of theWestern Interstate Commission for Higher Education. He also hosted the radio showReader's Corner onBoise State Public Radio.[4]
He has also served in the following university organizations:
While Boise State University saw enormous growth during Kustra's tenure there, his leadership was not without criticism. CongressmanRaúl Labrador in August, 2017 suggested that it might be time for Kustra to leave Boise State University. Kustra and Labrador have been critical of each other.[5]
Kustra retired from his position of President of Boise State in the summer of 2018, having announced his pending retirement in November 2017.[6]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forLieutenant Governor of Illinois 1990,1994 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of Illinois 1991–1998 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
