Homecoming

Homecoming Steering Committee

2011 Homecoming Steering Committee Contacts

We are no longer accepting applications for the 2012 Homecoming Steering Committee.

For many years, Homecoming events were run by Student Union Activities (SUA), a group that regularly brought famous personalities to perform at Allen Field House. In the 1990s, KU's Homecoming celebration primarily consisted of a parade on Friday afternoon of Homecoming Week with no other major events or activities. SUA organized the parade with help from other student groups, including the Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic, Black Student Union and the Student Alumni Association. Each organization had a student and adviser on the committee.

In the '80s and '90s, an umbrella committee called PADABADAHOCO oversaw Parents Day, Band Day and Homecoming. The committee consisted of representatives from Band, Parking, Facilities Operations, Campus Police, the KU Alumni Association, Office of Admissions and Scholarships, New Student Orientation and Student Union Activities. PADABADAHOCO coordinated dates and served as a clearinghouse to ensure all University units were aware of activities.

In 2001 Richard Johnson became KU's dean of students. He saw the lack of student involvement in Homecoming and sought to improve its organization and leadership. He dissolved PADABADAHOCO after the fall of 2001 and moved control of Homecoming to the Dean of Students Office. In 2002, the Homecoming Steering Committee (HSC) was formed, giving students a greater voice in event planning. The Steering Committee could decide how to allocate funds from the Office of the Dean of Student Life, Student Senate and the state, which improved Homecoming's financial standing.

The Homecoming Steering Committee included about 10 student officers (serving as parade chair, daily events chair, community service chair, campus outreach chair, publicity chair, sponsorship chair, etc.) and four KU staff advisers that included Richard Johnson and representatives from the KU Alumni Association, SUA and the Department of Student Housing. Homecoming dramatically improved with the increase in student involvement, the creation of week-long activities and a better overall management of Homecoming Week. The HSC now oversees popular daily events, special events and community service events over an eight-day period called Homecoming Week.

In October 2005, the Steering Committee had grown to 15 students and Richard Johnson was no longer at KU. The dean of students position became assistant vice provost of student success, and Marlesa Roney filled the role as appointed by David Mucci, director of Kansas Unions. Roney became an HSC adviser along with representatives from the Department of Student Housing and Jennifer Alderdice, of the KU Alumni Association.

As we enter Homecoming's 100th year, we continue to progress and improve the structure of the Homecoming Steering Committee. The KU Alumni Association serves as the primary host of the Steering Committee with the vital support of the entire KU campus and Lawrence community. The HSC currently consists of 15 students and an adviser from the KU Alumni Association, Stefani Gerson, coordinator of student programs.