Shocker Blast: Feb. 25, 2019

Muma, 56, has made a steady climb at Wichita State University throughout his 23 years on the hill. Most recently, he was Senior Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Strategic Enrollment Management two years ago, then became the university's chief academic officer as Provost last year.

President John Bardo was hospitalized for a chronic lung condition in November, and Bardo named Muma acting president Jan. 2. He leads the university through a busy time, most notably a March referendum that asks students to raise their own fees to pay for a new School of Business building and other campus improvements.

Associate editor Kirk Seminoff sat with Muma recently for his thoughts on his new role and the qualities he brings to it.

You have said that being a provost of a university pales in comparison to taking care of terminally ill patients as a physician’s assistant, but what qualities of a PA have you brought to the role of provost and now acting president?

One of the things is, when you’re learning to practice medicine, is you learn how to listen and take information from individuals and diagnose the situation. So that’s very relevant to what I do every day in terms of meeting with different colleagues, my dean colleagues and various people across the university. It’s problem solving, diagnosing the situation, coming to some sort of conclusion. All of those are very relevant.

Many of those who work with you describe you as a good listener and someone who’s genuinely interested in them as students, staff members or university supporters. From where did you learn to be that type of person?

One of the things I found most gratifying about taking care of patients is hearing their stories and the interest they bring to the patient-clinician encounter. A lot of times, people don’t have an opportunity to tell their story until they get into a situation where they’re struggling. I just think that’s fascinating and what made patient care so interesting. That also translates to everybody has a story as a student, everybody has a story as a faculty member, everybody has a story as an administrator, and I like hearing them. It makes for a better relationship and a much more richer experience. And I can also better understand where they’re coming from and see where they are in the situation.

Do you consider yourself a shy person, an outgoing person, somewhere in the middle? And is that part of being a good listener?

I’ve been told and I believe this, more reserved than most people. You’ll see me listening for a while before I bring anything forward because I think it’s important to have context and full understanding. Some people may say I’m a more reserved person, but I don’t think people who get to know me would think that, really. My colleagues who I’ve worked with for a really long time know a different side of me. I don’t think of myself as shy, but some people might think that because they confuse being reserved and being more thoughtful to being shy.

How does your leadership style differ from Dr. Bardo’s?

Dr. Bardo is a very visionary individual. He’s really transformed the university. He’s a transformational president. I also can be visionary, but I know from experience and being a manager and an administrator that you also have to execute. So I’m probably more focused a lot of times, certainly looking at vision and where we need to go, but how are we going to make that happen? It’s one thing to talk about it, it’s yet another thing to move through the processes with students and faculty and it’s all very complex and you have to get them on board with whatever the issue might be.

The “Shock the Future” referendum that students will vote on March 4-6 would, if passed, add $6 per credit hour to students’ fees and help finance projects such as classroom and laboratory renovations, plus a new Barton School of Business building. What kind of reactions have you personally received from students who could be adding to their cost of attending college?

As you can imagine, it’s mixed. Anytime we’re asking a student to increase their fees, no one’s going to say, "Oh yeah, sign me up." I’d say that there’s going to be a number of students who are just not going to vote for it because they’re concerned about the increase in tuition and fees and I totally get that. I understand that. I hate that we have to do that, but there’s really no other way to make these improvements because the state’s not investing in those kinds of things.

But when I do have a student who is sort of on the fence and they want to hear more about it, then they can understand the need for this and the whole notion of rising tides affect all ships. Even though you may not be a business student, you might take a class in the new business building. You might never go into Henrion Hall, but your best friend’s a fine arts major and you hate the fact they’re studying in a building that has no air conditioning. So once we explain that a little bit more and also bring up the fact that students previous to them considered this same kind of thing when the (Rhatigan Student Center) was decided to be renovated. ... Now look how nice that is for them.

So getting both sides of it. We’re doing as many outreach efforts and town halls … to talk to students and we’re encouraging faculty to do the same thing. The more we talk about it, the more people understand why this is important. They don’t like it, I don’t like it either, to be quite honest. I would like for the state to help us to do these kinds of things.

What would be the next step if it fails?

We have basically two major initiatives in the overall referendum, business school and other parts in the core of the institution. If this doesn’t pass, those projects on the core part of the campus are not going to be able to move forward in an expeditious kind of a way. We have access to some resources, minimal resources, for repair and rehabilitation that we can use for some of these projects maybe, because that all has to fit into the guidelines of the state.

The business building needs to be built. We have donors who have given $30 million to build that building. There's an interest in the business community to get that facility built. If it doesn’t pass, we’ll have to take that referendum just to the business students to raise their fees, which would be a significant amount more than what we’re proposing now.

When I was given this to execute on, there’s a vision, right, and then you've got to make sure you work on how this is going to happen. I just wasn't comfortable taking a referendum to the student body just for a business school building when there’s so many needs on this side of campus.

The university’s Innovation Campus is entering its sixth year. Are you happy with its progress and where do you see it going in its next six years?

I think all of us who have been involved in that work are really surprised that it’s taken off like it has in terms of different industry partners that have located here or are working with us on other kinds of research projects because of it. From that perspective, I think that’s been good, there’s a lot of support for it in the community.

We’ve had some controversies surrounding our housing and some other things on that part of campus, but I think that’s going to be expected when you start thinking about public-private partnerships. People aren’t used to that. I’ve been at two other institutions (and it’s) very common to have public-private investment together on a university campus, both in an urban kind of setting and a small-town kind of setting. So I’m kind of used to that.

Obviously to this community, this is new to them, so we’re working through some of those issues. What I think will help move things forward is to have much more transparency, have an open, honest conversation built on trust and integrity. That’s been my main message with the faculty — make sure everyone has an opportunity to come forward. I think we’re going to continue to see investment from the private sector. The industry wants to be a partner with us. They want us to be fully engaged with their needs and how we train students so when they graduate they’re ready to work or (get) the minimal kind of training. That’s all good for industry but it’s also very good for the students.

I think for the most part people understand it and that it’s a good move for the institution. One of the things I talk about when I go talk to the Legislature and the Governor is we’re Kansas’ only urban public research university, and urban public research universities do something different. One of the things they do is provide access to the people in this community and that’s a major focus of ours. We have the most diverse student body of any of the regent schools. That’s really important to make sure we’re serving this community, but we’re also helping industry solve some of their most pressing issues. And marrying those together I think really helps drive the economy, helps with jobs, and ultimately helps students.

---------

RICK MUMA

Title: Provost, professor and acting president, Wichita State University

Age: 56

Education: Bachelors, University of Texas Medical Branch; masters, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston; doctorate, University of Missouri.

Experience: University of Texas Medical Branch, 1988-94; Wichita State University, 1994-99; Saint Louis University, 1999-2000; Wichita State, 2001-present.

Family: Spouse, Rick Case; children, Drew, 29; Collin, 26.

We appreciate the campus community’s patience during this time and are excited for the improvements this project will provide for our student-athletes.

The renovation includes a new 10,000-square foot performance facility that will feature a strength and conditioning center, locker room, media room, player lounge and offices for coaches and staff.

For any questions, please contact the ticket office at 978-FANS (3267).

"Citations: How Do I Write Papers in APA Style?" from 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

           "Scopus Webinar: The Basics" from 10-11 a.m. Friday, March 1, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

           "Dear Diary: How Can I Find Diaries, Journals, and Letters?" from noon-1 p.m. Friday, March 1, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

          "Scopus Webinar: The Basics" from 2-3 p.m. Friday, March 1, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

          "Scopus Webinar: The Basics" from 11 a.m.-noon Monday, March 4, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

           "Scopus Webinar: Beyond the Basics" from 1-2 p.m. Monday, March 4, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

            "Scopus Webinar: Beyond the Basics" from 11 a.m.-noon Tuesday, March 5, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

          "Scopus Webinar: The Basics" from 2-3 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

          “Copyright Concepts for Entrepreneurs” from 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

         “Research: How Do I Write a Literature Review?” from 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

            "Scopus Webinar: The Basics" from noon-1 p.m. Thursday, March 7, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

            "Scopus Webinar: Beyond the Basics" from 4-5 p.m. Thursday, March 7, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

           "More Endnote: What Else Can I Do with It?" from noon-1 p.m. Friday, March 8, in 217 Ablah Library. See workshop details.

For more information and event registration, go to library events. Students, faculty and staff are welcome to attend.

Those interested in participating in the project will first be asked to complete a brief, online screening survey that assesses their level of discomfort about spiders. Those who qualify will be contacted with additional information and details about further participating in the project

In addition to learning skills that have shown promise in helping individuals cope with similar distressing situations, participants will also be eligible to receive a $40 dollar gift card and $80 dollar gift card. Our further hope is that the findings from this project may help improve services offered to those who may experience even more severe levels of anxiety and distress.

Interested individuals who may experience slight to moderate discomfort related to spiders can access the brief screening survey by going to: http://tinyurl.com/beliefsandexperiences.

Questions or requests for further information about this project may be directed to either Kyle Rexer at Kgrexer@shockers.wichita.edu, 248-765-4099 or Robert Zettle at robert.zettle@wichita.edu, 978-3081.

Five undergraduate students and nine graduate students from WSU will share their findings with legislators, the Kansas Board of Regents, industry representatives and other attendees.  Students from other Board of Regents institutions in Kansas will also participate at the summits. 

“Ensuring undergraduate research and creative activity is critical to the university’s mission to be an economic and cultural driver in the state of Kansas. These students and their faculty mentors are the best representatives of the excellent work happening every day on campus,” said Kimberly Engber, dean of the Dorothy and Bill Cohen Honors College.

“The Graduate School is proud to be a part of an event which showcases the innovative research that WSU graduate students are doing that directly benefits the state of Kansas and her residents,” said Kerry Wilks, interim dean of the Graduate School.

WSU undergraduate students presenting at the event, with their respective faculty mentors in parentheses, are the following: Mouhamad Ballout (Dr. C. Brendan Clark); Lynn Buchele (Dr. Nickolas Solomey); Abby Jurgensmeier (Dr. Moriah Beck); Austin Nelsen (Dr. Nickolas Solomey); Dale Small (Dr. Robert Bubp).

WSU graduate students presenting at the event, with their respective faculty research advisors in parentheses, include: Ali Sattar (Dr. Eylem Asmatulu); Fayez Alruwaili (Dr. Kim Cluff); Suvagata Chakraborty (Dr. Visvakumar Aravinthan); Heather Forster (Dr. Bin Shuai); Jacob Griffith (Dr. Kim Cluff); Parsa Kianpour (Dr. Deepak Gupta); Jenny Masias (Dr. Enrique Navarro); Seyedali Mirzapourrezaei (Dr. Ehsan Salari); Naveen Mukundan Ravindran (Dr. Vinod Namboodiri).

For more information, contact Kerry Wilks, interim dean of the Graduate School, at 978-6244 or kerry.wilks@wichita.edu, or Kimberly Engber, dean of the Honors College, at 978-6459 or kimberly.engber@wichita.edu.

Emerging Artists is presented by the Art & Design Advocates, the patron group supporting ADCI. The Advocates create opportunities for WSU art and design students, including fundraising to support student travel, project costs and equipment purchases.

Sculptor Constance Ernatt is 2019 Emerging Artists juror. She will award three prizes of $1,000, $500 and $250. Celebrity Cruises is the award sponsor.

“We chose to partner with the Art & Design Advocates after last year’s great showcasing of WSU’s stellar art talent,” said Angel C. Gomez, Celebrity associate vice president of guest sales and service. “We have no better way of telling our local artists to stay local, and applaud them for their work, than by investing money into their talented work.”

Most of the work in the Emerging Artists show will be available for purchase from the artists.

Students were selected to participate based on faculty nominations, and works represent all four ADCI programs including art education, graphic design and studio art. Two art history students will serve as co-curators, and students are responsible for pricing and selling their own work.

Regier has a BFA in sculpture from Kansas State University and an MFA in studio arts from Maine College of Art. He is represented in numerous museums and private collections nationwide including the Emprise Bank Collection, Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, and the Spencer Museum of Art. Public commissions include Salina Arts Commission, the Wichita Public Library Foundation and most recently “Open Spaces,” an international sculpture biennial installed in parks and urban spaces throughout Kansas City, Missouri.