1981 The Kentucky State women's basketball team wins the first NAIA Women's Basketball Title in 1981. The team defeated Texas Southern University 73-67 for the championship in Kansas City, Missouri. The team members included Carolyn Walker, the tournament's most valuable player and was named First Team All-Tournament, Pam King, who was named Second Team All-Tournament; and Angelia Barnett was named Second Team All-Tournament. Other team members included Paula Jennels, Felicia Jordan, Darlene Brown and Rhonda Beauford. The team was initially coached by Cornieth Y. Russell, then replaced by Ron Mitchell, who was also the school's athletic director, who was named NAIA Coach of the Year after the tournament.
1982 Raymond A. Burse named twelfth president. A native of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Burse received a bachelor's degree in chemistry and mathematics from Centre College and a law degree from Harvard University. His tenure was marked by record enrollment, more than $60 million in capital improvements, and significant enhancements in the academic and financial operations of the institution-including the establishment of the Whitney M. Young College of Leadership Studies in 1983.
1986 The University celebrated its centennial anniversary and purchased the Research and Demonstration Farm.
1990 John T. Wolfe Jr. named thirteenth president. Wolfe received a bachelor's degree in English education from Chicago State University, a master's degree in English education and a doctoral degree in linguistics from Purdue University. His tenure was marked by strong support of the Paul G. Blazer Library and he was responsible for significantly increasing the number of library positions at the school.
1991 Mary L. Smith named fourteenth president and first woman president. She had most immediately served as Kentucky State University's vice-president for academic affairs. Smith completed her graduate study at the University of Kentucky where she earned a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Education degree in curriculum and instruction. Her tenure was marked by the initial accreditation of the master's degree in public administration she spearheaded the establishment of the Center of Excellence for the Study of Kentucky African-Americans (CESKAA).
1992 William Exum Athletic Center built. Born in Illinois, William Exum was the first African-American varsity football player at the University of Wisconsin where he was both an outstanding track star and student and completed his bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees. In 1949, Exum was hired as head of the Kentucky State's physical education department and later was made head of the athletics department, sometimes coaching various sports teams. In addition to coaching the Kentucky State men's cross country team to an NCAA Division II championship in 1964, he was the manager of the United States Track and Field teams at the 1972 and 1976 Olympics. Inducted into the National Association of College Directors of Athletics Hall of Fame in 1978, Exum retired from Kentucky State in 1980.
1993 Cooperative Extension Building built. This 25,000 square foot building houses five conference rooms and a demonstration kitchen with satellite downlink capabilities; video production and print studios; and 27 offices.
1998 George W. Reid named fifteenth president. During his tenure as president, the Council on Postsecondary Education approved the creation of Kentucky State University's first Program of Distinction, an honor that was given to the Aquaculture program. A new master's degree program in that area, entitled Aquaculture/Aquatic Sciences, was also approved by CPE.