Dan Close, associate professor of communication, passed away Saturday, May 28. He was 63 years old.
Close was a first-generation college student and a long-time Shocker who earned two degrees from WSU: a bachelor’s in journalism in 1981 and an master’s in communication in 1993. As a student, Close was the editor of The Sunflower and the department’s outstanding senior. Close started as an assistant professor in 1995 after a successful career as a reporter for The Wichita Eagle.
Close taught a wide range of courses, though mostly in journalism. He served as the faculty advisor to The Sunflower for 16 years. Close’s recent passion was his first-year seminar, “Exploring WSU in your photos and words.” The course was a blend of journalism and photojournalism, but with a focus on encouraging students to explore and report on the campus and culture at Wichita State.