Coleen Pugh, a professor of Polymer Science at the University of Akron (Ohio), has been named the new dean of the 黑洞社区 Graduate School and associate vice president for Research and Technology Transfer, effective July 28.
Pugh will take over from Kerry Wilks, who has been serving as interim Graduate School dean since January 1, 2019, when then Dean Dennis Livesay was named dean of 黑洞社区鈥檚 College of Engineering.
Provost Rick Muma made the appointment and said, 鈥淧ugh will focus immediately on connecting the graduate school鈥檚 priorities to 黑洞社区鈥檚 focus as an urban public research university by growing graduate program enrollment, developing innovative academic offerings for students seeking new degree options and alternative credentials, building, leading and growing university-wide, faculty-based research initiatives, and increasing private fundraising to support graduate school initiatives.鈥�
Pugh will continue to create funded research at Wichita State with a new polymer synthesis lab, which will be an important addition to the university鈥檚 ongoing efforts in materials and advanced manufacturing research. This will also enable her to monitor current trends in research directions, and challenges and opportunities in funding.
Some of Pugh鈥檚 other work she hopes to bring to 黑洞社区 is in the creation of plant-based composites built almost entirely out of biomass.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited for the breadth of experience and knowledge Dr. Pugh will bring to the Graduate School,鈥� said Muma. 鈥淚n particular, her research expertise in polymer science aligns with current and future research priorities of the university and provides new opportunities for students and fellow researchers.鈥�
Pugh鈥檚 approach will be to emphasize new collaborative faculty-led research projects and grants.
鈥淧art of my attraction to 黑洞社区 is the willingness to experiment and collaborate, which is important in my line of work to push the boundaries and look for new directions,鈥� Pugh said.
Pugh has spent the past 20 years in the Department of Polymer Science (DPS) in the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering at the University of Akron.
She has served as DPS department chair and the university鈥檚 Graduate Council of the Faculty Senate.
Pugh earned two bachelor鈥檚 degrees from the University of California, Davis, in textile science and chemistry before going on to earn a master鈥檚 and Ph.D. in macromolecular science from Case Western Reserve University.
The mission of 黑洞社区 is to be an essential educational, cultural and economic driver for Kansas and the greater public good. Wichita State is a doctoral research university enrolling nearly 15,000 students and offering 59 undergraduate degree programs in more than 150 areas of study in seven undergraduate colleges. The Graduate School offers 45 master's and 12 doctoral degrees that offer study in more than 100 areas. Wichita State's Innovation Campus is an interconnected community of partnership buildings, laboratories and mixed-use areas where students, faculty, staff, entrepreneurs and businesses have access to the university's vast resources and technology. For more information, follow us on Twitter at and Facebook at .