It is rare for one man to be both a symbol of continuity and a catalyst for change. The thousands of brothers who have attended Conclave over the years would be shocked if they did not see a signature red blazer on the legislative floor. For more than three decades, that blazer has been worn by Dr. Ed Hammond, Emporia State ’66. The same man is a futurist, a visionary who has helped his university and his fraternity play bigger, bolder roles on the national stage.

This is a man on a mission. He started on this path early in his career and has not wavered. He moves on to the next ambitious objective before the paint is dry on his previous win. Hammond’s long record of innovations, achievements and public service make him a model for brothers. After committing a lifetime to the advancement of higher learning, his work has left an indelible mark on campuses and Greek systems across the country.

This past June, Hammond retired as president of Fort Hays State University after more than 27 years at the helm, but his life’s work is far from complete.

In his signature role as the Fraternity’s Grand Chapter Parliamentarian, Hammond has presided over groundbreaking legislation for three decades.

Eyes on the future

Recognized as a futurist, a field in which he is widely published, Hammond has spent his career helping institutions and communities plan for emerging opportunities, global trends and advances in technology.

Hammond understands that the world is changing quickly, and he sees institutions of higher education at the center of these changes. “What used to take 100 years to occur in the agricultural age is now happening in a little over a year and a half,” said Hammond in a 2001 interview. “People are going to turn to institutions, like institutions of higher education, to sort through this tremendous explosion of information.”

Arriving at Fort Hays State in the late 1980s, Hammond was determined to “electrify” the campus. Always resourceful, a young Hammond quickly acquired computers and accessories from a failed Denver business. Shortly after, he helped secure a gift of computer equipment from telecom giant AT&T. As a result, all faculty received computers, and student computer labs were set up across campus.

Rather than raze the school’s dated but graceful limestone buildings, Hammond had them upgraded and equipped for Fort Hays State’s high-tech learning environment. The campus began to expand quickly as he spearheaded numerous construction projects, including academic buildings, student housing, and most recently, a 50,400-square-foot indoor training facility for student-athletes.

Technology and the ability to connect communities and people to information have always been important to Hammond. “We’ve taken our technology in computing and telecommunications and exploited [them] more than we’ve exploited any other technologies that have driven any other age,” Hammond said, reflecting on the exponential acceleration of the late 20th century.

At Fort Hays State, Hammond would pioneer changes in the way education was delivered. In 1997, he merged educational technology and continuing education programs to form the “Virtual College,” which now serves more than 5,000 students across Kansas, the nation and the world.

Just three years later, Hammond would anchor Fort Hays State to an international community through a trial partnership with China’s Sias International. A mere 50 students quickly grew to an enrollment of 3,200 at two partner universities in mainland China. Each spring Hammond led an American delegation, including members of the Kansas Board of Regents, to China so they could personally award diplomas to these graduates.

Working with SigEp, Hammond has also kept his eyes on the future. During his term as Grand President, the Fraternity ushered in a new era of chapter housing with the Residential Learning Community program, pioneered new education on alcohol and drugs, and helped all chapters connect with philosophies of the Balanced Man Program. In his signature role as the Fraternity’s Grand Chapter Parliamentarian, Hammond presided over groundbreaking legislation for three decades. These pivotal changes include the launch of the Balanced Man Program, the open acceptance of brothers regardless of sexual orientation and a constant rise in membership standards.

Helping students keep up

As education systems continue to evolve, Hammond has been unrelenting in his quest to ensure that students don’t fall behind. At both Fort Hays State and SigEp, he has been a tireless advocate for students and their access to education.

When Hammond stepped down this June, Fort Hays State had the lowest tuition of any four-year school in Kansas and among the lowest in the nation. With a commitment to hold the line on tuition in the face of declining state funding, Hammond devoted himself to raising private funds for the university. During his administration, the total assets of the Fort Hays State Foundation grew from $7.3 million to nearly $55 million, and the number of annual scholarships awarded to students has quadrupled.

But providing an affordable education wasn’t enough for Hammond. He was determined to connect with underserved communities and expose students to the opportunities available through a college degree. Hammond realized he needed to do more to attract first generation college students. He initiated an annual expedition to far-flung communities across the state and country. Hammond’s annual journey would take him and Fort Hays State faculty to more than a dozen cities where they would introduce high school students and parents to the burgeoning university.

Given the affordability and quality of Fort Hays State’s educational programs, its status as the fastest growing university in Kansas is no surprise. The Chronicle of Higher Education reported that Fort Hays State was the third-fastest-growing university in the United States from 2001 to 2011, and enrollment climbed above 13,500 at the end of 2013.

Hammond may have retired as president of Fort Hays State, but he remains the leading man behind SigEp’s Educational Foundation. Appointed as president of the Board of Trustees in August 2013, Hammond quickly went to work.

In his first year as Foundation president, Hammond stewarded a 15 percent increase in endowed funds to reach nearly $13 million, and the Foundation made the largest grant ever in support of Fraternity programs with $1 million this year. Now at the helm of SigEp’s Foundation, Hammond is maintaining his career-long focus—his eyes are on the future.