Dr. Shirley Lefever has been named as Wichita State University’s next executive vice president and provost, effective immediately.  

Lefever has held the role of WSU’s interim executive vice president and provost since fall 2020. Prior to that, she was dean of WSU’s College of Education, which in 2018 she transitioned to the College of Applied Studies. During her tenure as dean, enrollment in the college grew more than 60%, and several new programs were added — including the Teacher Apprentice Program, which remains one of the largest enrolled programs at the university. 

As interim EVP and provost, Lefever has continued to support WSU’s enrollment efforts, which have led to record growth, while guiding the university through the immense challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her work is focused directly on Wichita State’s priorities of access and affordability of higher education, talent development, and economic prosperity.   

As she moves forward in this role, Lefever will continue her focus on growing need-based aid; increasing student retention; implementing WSU’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion plan; expanding the talent pipeline through applied learning; and growing faculty research.  

“Having worked closely with Dr. Lefever for 17 years, I can say firsthand how committed she is to our success as a university and the people who make up our Shocker community,” said Dr. Rick Muma, Wichita State president. “I look forward to our continued work together.”  

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Wichita State University serves as the Kansas urban-based research university, enrolling more than 16,000 students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.

The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.

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