Donald Lee Beggs was the President of Wichita State University from 1999 until 2012 when he was replaced by John W. Bardo.
He was chair of the Kansas Board of Regents Council of University Presidents for the 2002-03 academic year.
At Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Beggs received his bachelor's and master's degrees.
He served in numerous administrative positions during his 32-year tenure at Southern Illinois University, including Dean of the College of Education, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and President, retiring in 1998 as Chancellor of SIU system.
He was selected to serve on the Executive Committee of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the NCAA Division I Board of Directors beginning in 2001.