Provost Muma will serve as acting president while President Bardo recovers from surgery

President John Bardo is focusing on his recovery from November and December surgeries for a lung condition. During this time, he has requested Provost Richard Muma serve as acting president.

Dennis Mullin, chair of the Kansas Board of Regents, said: “We wish Dr. Bardo well in his recovery. It is the Regents’ expectation that Wichita State continue to pursue the strategy, vision, mission, and goals that have brought it success in recent years.”

Muma and Chief of Staff Andy Schlapp met with President Bardo on Tuesday. In that meeting, the president emphasized sustaining momentum in enrollment, research, fundraising and addressing workforce needs to build the regional economy.

Muma will work closely with members of the Executive Team, deans, constituent group presidents and president’s staff to keep the university’s agenda on track.


The mission of Wichita State University is to be an essential educational, cultural and economic driver for Kansas and the greater public good. Wichita State is a doctoral research university enrolling nearly 15,000 students and offering 59 undergraduate degree programs in more than 150 areas of study in seven undergraduate colleges. The Graduate School offers 45 master's and 12 doctoral degrees that offer study in more than 100 areas. Wichita State's Innovation Campus is an interconnected community of partnership buildings, laboratories and mixed-use areas where students, faculty, staff, entrepreneurs and businesses have access to the university's vast resources and technology. For more information, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/wichitastate and Facebook at www.facebook.com/wichita.state.