Carol and Don Kissinger made a gift to the Department of Political Science to support where their careers started.
They met in a political science class at Kansas State University, working under Dr. Michael Suleiman and the founder of the department, Dr. Lou Douglas. These key moments laid the groundwork for their careers and ability to travel the world. Their education at K-State shaped Don and Carol Kissinger’s lives and has now influenced them to create an endowed excellence fund in the Department of Political Science.
“We decided that our donation to political science at K-State was best done at the departmental level where the most good would come from our donation,” Carol said.Although their relationship was started in the political science department, the Kissingers also appreciate the close ties K-State has with the military. Carol grew up with close relatives in the United States Air Force, and Don got his Air Force commission through the AFROTC program at K-State. The Kissingers recalled an enjoyable campus life of playing bridge at the student union, and washing their cars at Pillsbury Crossing. Now, giving back to K-State is a homage to the lifestyle they enjoyed in their early years together and to an education cultivated in the political science department they hope will grow with their endowed gift. “We hope our gift will inspire more critical thinking about the world and help build the reputation of the political science department,” Don said.
