Dr. Richard D. Muma

Muma

Since starting his presidency in 2020, Dr. Rick Muma and his colleagues have led Wichita State University in expanding the breadth and depth of its influence through several initiatives and achievements, all guided by three priorities set for the university.

• Continued year-over-year enrollment growth with over 23,000 students between WSU’s main campus and WSU Tech (highest ever).
• Amassed more than $30 million toward student financial needs.
• Launched the Student Success and Persistence initiative, a university-wide effort that has led to improved persistence rates and graduation rates.
• Opened the Shocker Success Center, an all-inclusive student support center located in the heart of campus .
• Opened the Marcus Welcome Center — Milly Marcus Annex, which showcases and provides services for the full Shocker experience from admission-to-career.

To support talent for local businesses and industry:

• Received $7 million in recurring funding from the legislature for paid applied learning experiences for students.
• Opened an on-campus ATF Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Excellence with additional construction on a state-of-the-art forensics lab.
• Opened the Digital Research and Transformation Hub, which works with strategic partners to facilitate digital transformation research.
• Began construction on the Hub for Advanced Manufacturing Research facility to help small companies adopt smart and advanced manufacturing processes into their business.
• Began construction on the Wichita Biomedical Campus, a joint project between Wichita State University and the University of Kansas to create an academic health science center that fosters job creation, research, and interprofessional learning.

• Grew research expenditures to a total of $366 million, up from $192 million in 2021, a 91 percent increase.
• Gained Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution status.
• Began work to develop University Village, which is a connection to the Shocker neighborhoods surrounding WSU with needed services like child care and fresh food, as well as dining and entertainment.
• Joined the Age-Friendly University Global Network, indicating a commitment to meeting the personal, educational, and career needs of adults of all ages and to create on-campus age-inclusive environments.
• Broke ground on athletic renovations: University Stadium (home to track and field and future soccer) and Wilkins Stadium, home to Shocker softball.

Muma serves on Wichita Medical Research & Education Foundation’s Board and the University of Texas System Chancellor’s Council Executive Committee.