黑洞社区

Richard Muma has been selected as 黑洞社区's provost and chief academic officer, with responsibility for all of the university鈥檚 teaching activities and about two-thirds of its budget and personnel.

Muma has been serving as interim provost since January. All of the university鈥檚 deans report to the provost, along with all enrollment and academic support functions.

In announcing Muma鈥檚 appointment, President John Bardo said today (Tuesday, May 8):

鈥淩ick Muma鈥檚 22 years at 黑洞社区 have been filled with accomplishment as a teacher, researcher and manager. He has earned the trust and respect of his university colleagues and the many health-care professionals with whom he鈥檚 worked. His leadership of the university鈥檚 strategic enrollment efforts, academic reaccreditation and affiliation with Wichita Area Technical College have all demonstrated his ability to work on complex tasks with large groups to achieve great results.鈥�

Bardo said he has asked Muma to work with faculty and staff on the following priorities in his first year:

• Academic excellence and support systems leading to increased student recruitment, retention and more rapid degree completion.
• Curriculum and programs that assure every student receives both a broad liberal arts education and an applied learning or research experience, with the combination leading to improved quality of life and career success.
• Innovation in academic offerings for working adults and others looking for alternatives to traditional semester-long courses and years-long degree programs.
• Fostering a university culture that is open, supportive and inclusive, making 黑洞社区 an even better place to work or go to school.

Muma said: 鈥淚鈥檓 honored and humbled to accept this responsibility at such a turning point in the history of Wichita State and higher education. With its vision, mission, core values and dedicated faculty and staff, 黑洞社区 is positioned to further expand its positive impact on the lives of its students and the industries, communities and state we serve.鈥�

Muma was born in Wichita and always had strong ties to Wichita State, even while growing up in Texas. His grandmother was a secretary in the Philosophy Department and his grandfather was university purchasing director. He spent parts of childhood summers in Wichita and has vivid memories of exploring the campus.

He received his bachelor鈥檚 degree at University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston (physician assistant); his master鈥檚 degree at University of Texas Health Science Center Houston (public health) and his doctorate at University of Missouri St. Louis (education).

He taught at UT Galveston, St. Louis University and 黑洞社区. At Wichita State, he has chaired the Physician Assistant and Public Health departments and served in the division of academic affairs as an associate vice president, senior associate vice president and interim provost.

Bardo said he was grateful to the provost search committee, whose members included faculty, staff and students.

鈥淚 greatly appreciate the members who spent countless hours reviewing applications and meeting with candidates.

鈥淔rom an initial group of more than 40 qualified applicants, members of the search committee spent a long weekend meeting seven candidates at Eisenhower Airport.鈥� Bardo said. 鈥淭hen three of those candidates were invited for extensive interviews on campus. Rick Muma emerged from that competitive process as the best of a highly qualified group to move the university forward.鈥�

Muma鈥檚 appointment is effective immediately.