Dianne BoydDianne Boyd

assistant vice president for budget and operations, Academic Affairs and Research

Dianne Boyd started at Wichita State as director of the Advising Center in the Barton School of Business and a faculty member in management. Five years later, she was named assistant dean for Undergraduate Student Support Services and Barton School lecturer. In 2005, she accepted a position in the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research as assistant vice president with two major responsibilities: managing commencement and budget duties.

Boyd retired in September 2009.

Many other changes occurred in Boyd’s 16 years at WSU: new parking lots and roads, the addition of the Marcus Welcome Center, improvements to Eck Stadium and even her last name (from Coleman to Boyd). But among the biggest for budget officers was the Banner operational system.

“Every function and operation on campus was changed to bring the campus into the 21st century operationally and technologically,” said Boyd. “The students were the main beneficiaries of this implementation, and that is the mission of WSU.”

Working with students, teaching management classes and serving as adviser for Sigma Phi Epsilon were some of Boyd’s greatest joys at WSU.

“All the years of advising students will always be dear to my heart,” said Boyd. Many of those students continue to maintain relationships with Boyd.

Also among her best memories are her interactions with administration, faculty and staff. Boyd worked with many individuals across campus on major projects from initiating the student success courses with Martha Shawver to serving on the implementation and training team for the Banner system. Boyd’s work on commencement allowed her to work with more than 150 campus volunteers to make each ceremony a success for graduates and their families.

“It's the people and the relationships that one will remember for the rest of their lives. The duties you performed earned an income, but the relationships developed are priceless and I sincerely miss all of my co-workers,” said Boyd.

She married George Boyd in 2008 and now lives in Stillwater where she enjoys redecorating, crocheting, reading, golfing and visiting the couple’s combined 12 grandchildren in Stillwater and Wichita. She plans eventually to renew her first responder certificates with the American Red Cross and serve in times of crisis.