Two members of Wichita State University’s executive team have announced their upcoming retirements. 

Dr. Shirley Lefever, provost and executive vice president of WSU, will retire at the end of the calendar year. And Werner Golling (GOH-ling), vice president of finance and administration, will retire in July. 

“While Shirley and Werner are leaving WSU in the same year, the timing is coincidental,” says Dr. Rick Muma, WSU president. “They have both chosen to move on to this new phase in their lives, and though I will be sad to see them leave the university, I’m really happy for them.” 

Lefever has been at Wichita State for nearly 20 years. She was appointed interim executive vice president and provost in the fall 2020 before being officially selected to the role in April 2022. In her time at WSU, Lefever held many roles in the College of Applied Studies, including department chair, associate dean, senior associate dean, interim dean and eventually dean of the college. 

Golling has been vice president of finance and administration since January 2017, where his job includes oversight of all financial, facilities, public safety, information technology and human resources matters. He was in a similar role at Emporia State University prior to WSU, and his other work has included positions at Concordia College and a private biotech firm. 

WSU has begun forming search committees to conduct open national searches to replace both positions. The campus community will be updated throughout the process. 

Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 23,000 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.

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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