Ted Ayres, a longtime leader in higher education and community affairs, will retire June 30 as vice president and general counsel of Wichita State University. Ayres will continue after retirement to serve part-time as chair of the "Enough is Enough" task force, WSU President John Bardo announced Wednesday.

“Ted’s leadership and wisdom have positively touched multiple aspects of the campus, community and Kansas higher education,” Bardo says. “I salute his long service, and I’m pleased he has agreed to continue his efforts on behalf of WSU to build a safe, economically vibrant neighborhood around campus.”

Ayres joined Wichita State as general counsel and associate to the president in 1996. In 2002, he was promoted to vice president and general counsel. He also serves as general counsel to the WSU Foundation, the WSU Intercollegiate Athletic Association and the WSU Board of Trustees.

Ayres has also served as interim president of Pittsburg State University and as interim director of the WSU Ulrich Museum of Art on two separate occasions.

His nearly 40-year career in higher education law included serving as general counsel and director of governmental relations for the Kansas Board of Regents prior to coming to WSU.

Ayres was instrumental in securing the Gordon Parks Papers for the university and has been recognized for community service by organizations including Diversity Kansas and the Wichita chapter of the NAACP.

Bardo said he would soon initiate a search for a university attorney to allow time for transition prior to Ayres’ retirement.