Diana McElwain

Diana L. McElwain is a seasoned higher education professional with over 25 years of experience in administrative leadership, fiscal operations, and human resource management. She currently serves as the Budget/Fiscal Officer in the Office of the Dean for the College of Architecture, Planning & Design at Kansas State University, where she leads strategic financial planning and supports operational excellence across the college.

Throughout her distinguished career at Kansas State University, Diana has held a variety of key leadership roles, including Business Manager for the College of Arts and Sciences, Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Human Capital Services, and Community Affairs Coordinator in the Office of the President. Her expertise spans budget development, research administration, personnel management, project coordination, and program facilitation.

In addition to her administrative leadership, Diana is an accomplished educator. She serves as an instructor in the Departments of Psychological Sciences and Political Science, where she teaches courses on industrial-organizational psychology and public personnel administration. Her teaching emphasizes practical application and leadership development for students pursuing careers in public service and nonprofit management.

Diana earned a Master of Public Administration from Kansas State University with an emphasis in Advanced Personnel Management. Her capstone project, Growing the Local Economy: The Economic Impact of Kansas State University, reflects her passion for community and institutional development. She also holds a Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting.

Her comprehensive professional skill set includes expertise in enterprise systems such as PeopleSoft, QuickBooks, PowerBI, Canvas, ImageNow, and MIP Fund Accounting Software. She is a Certified Notary Public and a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, and she previously held certification as a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), demonstrating her commitment to continuous learning and operational efficiency.

Diana is actively involved in the professional higher education and HR communities, maintaining memberships with the Payroll Org and the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR). She has served on numerous university committees and boards, including the University Handbook Committee, Women of K-State (Chair), and the KSUnite Committee, where she contributed to campus-wide diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

A dedicated leader and mentor, Diana McElwain is committed to fostering organizational excellence, inclusive leadership, and student success across the university community.