Cris Fanning

Cris Fanning, Ph.D., serves as the Executive Director of Programs and Risk Reduction at the Kansas Department of Corrections since June 2020, previously holding the position of Director of Education. Fanning is also the Region IV Director for the Corrections Education Association since August 2021 and served as the Dean of Education and Innovation at Manhattan Area Technical College from December 2016 to August 2018. A long-term affiliation with Kansas State University spanned from June 1997 to December 2016, culminating in the role of Associate Director. Key responsibilities include teaching multiple courses, managing distance education programs, supervising project managers, and evaluating federally funded projects. Fanning's academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction, with a focus on Critical Race Theory, Epistemic Beliefs, and Culturally Responsive Instruction, alongside a BS in History and an MS in Secondary Education from Kansas State University.