Dr. Mike Strohschein named dean of Washburn Institute of Technology

Washburn University announced Monday that Dr. Mike Strohschein has been named the dean of the Washburn Institute of Technology (Washburn Tech.)  Strohschein has been the interim dean at Washburn Tech since January1, 2022 following the retirement of Dr. Gary Bayens.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Mike’s caliber to step into this key role at Washburn Tech,” said Dr. Jerry Farley, president of Washburn University.  “We are very proud of the unique relationship between Washburn Tech and Washburn University and the dean plays a key role in serving business and industry in this region.”

Strohschein joined Washburn Tech in April of 2020 as the associate dean of technical instruction. In this role, he was responsible for the overall administration, coordination and oversight of Washburn Tech’s academic programs.

Strohschein earned a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Education from South Dakota State University, a master’s degree in Education Leadership from Mid America Nazarene University and a doctorate in higher education and adult learning with a focus on career and technical education from Walden University, Minneapolis, MN.

Founded as Northeast Kansas Vocational Technical School in 1964, the school was renamed Kaw Area Vocational Technical School in 1967, followed by Kaw Area Technical School in 1992.  In 2008, the management of the school shifted and Washburn Tech became a unit administered by Washburn University and governed by its Board of Regents.

Washburn Tech operates from a campus at 5724 SW Huntoon in Topeka and offers associate degrees in a wide variety of career and technical programs and also offers a wide range of continuing education opportunities.  While the school serves individuals seeking to expand their job skills or shift to a new industry, almost half of Washburn Tech’s students are co-enrolled in high school and earn credits toward an associate’s degree while they are completing their high school education.