Marie Bukowski has been named the next dean of Wichita State University’s College of Fine Arts (CFA), effective July 9, 2023.

Hailing from Kent State University, where she served as the associate dean of graduate programs and faculty affairs in its College of the Arts, Bukowski comes to WSU with almost 30 years of teaching experience. Bukowski has taught many classes in the arts, including in painting, lithography and design.

Bukowski will replace Dr. Rodney Miller, who retires in June, and who served as dean of the college for 19 years. Bukowski hopes to continue upholding the legacy and goals of CFA and Wichita State while pushing the college forward.

“I am thrilled to join Wichita State University as the next dean of the College of Fine Arts at this exciting time in its history,” Bukowski said. “The college is poised to further elevate learning, scholarship and its strategic goals. The arts play a pivotal role in providing valuable cultural experiences to the community, and I look forward to engaging in collaborations and partnerships to create innovative programming. I am excited to work with the faculty and staff of the college to identify strategies to make Wichita State a destination for students in the arts.”

The vision Bukowski shared for the future of CFA made her a stand-out candidate to head the college into the future as a leading fine arts institute.

“Marie’s vision for the College of Fine Arts future aligns perfectly with our vision of providing impactful applied learning experiences and driving economic prosperity,” said Dr. Shirley Lefever, WSU executive vice president and provost. “Her passion, along with her experience working in education, make her a perfect fit for Wichita State.”

Bukowski has been with Kent State University since 2017, where she started serving as the director for its School of Art. Prior to joining Kent State University, Bukowski served as the director of the School of Art and Design and professor of art at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Bukowski earned her Master of Fine Arts in painting and printmaking from the University of Pennsylvania and a certificate in Polish and art history from Jagiellonian University, Poland.

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Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling almost 22,000 students between its main campus and WSU Tech, including 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.

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