Ballinger Senior Principal Honored as Distinguished Kansas State Alum

Founded in 1983, the Kansas State Alumni Fellows program recognizes graduates with high levels of professional accomplishment and distinguished service in their careers. The program brings fellows back to campus to meet with students and faculty and to share their expertise in the classroom and in informal settings. This spring, Ballinger Senior Principal Louis A. Meilink Jr., FAIA, FACHA, ACHE ’87 returned to his alma mater as the 2023 College of Architecture, Planning, and Design’s Alumni Fellow. During his visit, Lou served as a distinguished guest, mentor, friend, and counselor to current students.

Lou earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Kansas State’s College of Architecture, Planning, and Design in 1987 and came to Ballinger shortly after graduation. He remains committed to his alma mater and advancing its mission of accessibility. In 2013, he established the Janetann and Louis A. Meilink Jr. Scholarship in Architecture, and he currently serves as president of the Dean’s Advisory Council. He sponsors the Vital Design Studio, an interdisciplinary research initiative exploring the relationship between population health and the built environment, creating an opportunity for students to address real-world design challenges.