Ken Gladish is the retired President/CEO of the Seton Foundations in Austin Texas. Seton is an affiliate of the national Ascension Healthcare ministry. Ascension/Seton is the largest and most comprehensive non-profit hospital/healthcare provider in central Texas. At Seton Ken led fundraising, volunteer services, and endowment development for the entire Seton system. This work included annual, sustaining, capital campaign and charitable initiatives. In this work, Ken also served as acting leader for Seton’s mission and ethics efforts and related departments on several occasions. Thru four affiliated volunteer led foundations Ken helped engage more than a hundred volunteer directors and more than fifteen hundred direct service volunteers.

During a nonprofit leadership career spanning forty years, Ken has also served as President/CEO of two major community foundations ( Indianapolis, IN & Austin, TX ); a state based NEH affiliated humanities council ( Indiana Humanities); and a major national nonprofit ( YMCA of the USA).

On the academic front Ken has held regular and adjunct appointments at Butler University, Indiana University ( Indianapolis), Grand Valley State University ( Grand Rapids, MI ), and the University of Texas ( Austin ). He has also been affiliated with three major university based philanthropic studies centers – the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy ( Indiana University ), The Johnson Center for Philanthropy ( Grand Valley State University ), and the RGK Center for Philanthropy ( The University of Texas). Ken holds an undergraduate degree ( with honors) from Hanover College ( IN ), masters and doctoral degrees from the University of Virginia ( VA ) and several honorary degrees .

During his career Ken has served as a volunteer, director, trustee, committee member and donor with many non-profit organizations at the local, state, national and international levels. He continues this work as a volunteer in his retirement. As Adjunct Professor Ken continues to teach at the LBJ School and its RGK Center at the University of Texas.

Recent Courses

Summer 1 2020 - 87410 - PA F388L - Advanced Topics in Management- Perspectives on Philanthropy

Summer 1 2019 - 88515 - PA F388L - Advanced Topics in Management - Perspectives on Philanthropy