Retiring facilities manager keeps student tradition alive, contributes to KU's research mission

Scott Campbell  | Facilities Manager | Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research

It’s well known that following KU football wins, fans occasionally remove one of the goalposts from David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium and toss it into Potter Lake. What might not cross peoples’ minds are the staff members involved in retrieving the goalpost. Scott Campbell is one such employee, who worked with Facilities Services and the Douglas County Sheriff’s dive team to retrieve the goalpost from the lake after a recent victory.

Campbell has been at KU for 25 years and is retiring in January. He has served in a number of roles in the Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research, including as associate researcher and associate director of outreach and public service. He is currently the facilities manager.

“Scott knows a great deal of history about the Kansas Biological Survey and the biota of the state of Kansas. That has proven very valuable for decision making,” said Sara Baer, director of the Survey and professor of ecology & evolutionary biology. “He also cares deeply about the Kansas Biological Survey, including our mission, the research we conduct and the people we reach.”

Campbell has contributed significantly to the university’s research mission. He served as principal investigator on multiple projects, including a more than 20-year-long ecological study of the endangered Topeka shiner. He has also helped connect other departments to the Kansas Biological Survey. Students and faculty from the School of Engineering and the School of Architecture & Design have worked with Campbell on numerous public-facing projects at the KU Field Station and other facilities.

“When Sara Baer was about to join us, Scott came up with the great strategy of utilizing spaces in the Smissman Labs for her research, and it has been extremely helpful. He constantly comes up with creative solutions to space issues,” said Kirsten Bosnak, communications coordinator for the Survey.

Campbell also helped develop and implement the research center’s first reservoir assessment program. This initiative mapped more than 60 reservoirs across Kansas for the first time. During the process he also engaged the public and important interested parties, such as lawmakers, so they could fully appreciate the complex issues posed by sedimentation in many of our state’s water supply reservoirs.

Colleagues said that beyond his many accomplishments, the way Campbell handles his work sets him apart.

“Scott tends to the responsibilities of his job as if this place and the people within the facilities are an extension of his family,” Baer said. “He feels responsible for the functionality of the infrastructure and for the safety of all users, but people’s happiness is equally important to Scott and motivates his performance.”