Author: Laura Manning

The Office of Academic Affairs will celebrate the career and accomplishments of Kathy Downes, dean of University Libraries, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 31 in 262 Rhatigan Student Center, Herrman Room.

Downes has served as dean since 2017 and has worked for over 40 years at Wichita State. During her time with WSU Libraries, she spearheaded many facility expansions, including coordinating the west addition project from 1985 to 1989 and helping with the 2019 expansion of the 24-hour study room. She also co-led the systems migration from NOTIS to Voyager and initiated an ongoing project to prepare for the next generation of cloud-based library services. Many other transformations and enhancements of Ablah Library’s learning spaces, collections and services were also led by her.

She will retire in September 2023. Please join us in congratulating her on a successful academic career and wishing her a happy retirement.

The third candidate, Stephen Patton, chair of the Systems Department, Cunningham Memorial Library, Indiana State University, will be on campus Aug. 9 and Aug. 10.

Faculty, staff and students are invited to attend a public forum at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9 in 261 Rhatigan Student Center, Olive Room.

Additional information regarding the candidate can be found on the Academic Affairs webpage.

The second candidate, Dr. Michele Reilly, Alma implementation lead, content services digital projects coordinator and professor, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, will be on campus Monday, Aug. 7 and Aug. 8.

Faculty, staff and students are invited to attend a public forum at 3:30 p.m. Aug. 7 in 261 Rhatigan Student Center, Olive Room.

Additional information regarding the candidate can be found on the Academic Affairs webpage.

The first candidate, Brent Mai, dean of the Thomas G. Carpenter Library and director of the Volga German Institute, University of North Florida, will be on campus Aug. 3 and 4.

Faculty, staff and students are invited to attend a public forum at 3:30 p.m. Aug 3 in 261 Rhatigan Student Center, Olive Room.

Additional information regarding the candidate can be found on the Academic Affairs website.

The Academic Year (AY) 2023-24 academic and tenure and promotion calendars are now available to view from Academic Affairs.

The fourth and final candidate, Marie Bukowski, associate dean of graduate programs and faculty affairs, College of the Arts, Kent State University, will be on campus Wednesday, May 3 and May 4.

Faculty, staff and students are invited to attend a public forum at 3:30 p.m. May 3 in 262 Rhatigan Student Center.

The third of four candidates for the College of Fine Arts dean, Dr. Wanda Knight, assistant dean for diversity, equity and inclusion, professor of art education, African American studies, women’s gender & sexuality, and bioethics at Pennsylvania State University Harrisburg, will be on campus Monday, May 1 and May 2.

Faculty, staff and students are invited to attend a public forum at 3:30 p.m. on May 1 in 256 Rhatigan Student Center.

The Office of Academic Affairs will celebrate the career and accomplishments of Dr. Rodney Miller, dean of the College of Fine Arts, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 10 in 305/306 Rhatigan Student Center, Beggs Ballroom.

Miller has served as dean for 19 years, starting in June 2004. During his tenure, the School of Digital Arts was created and enrollment in the college has grown to over 1000 students. Working with the Foundation and Alumni Engagement office, the college scholarship/fellowship funds have reached $1 million in annual awards to College of Fine Arts students.

Miller will retire in June 2023. Join Academic Affairs in congratulating him on a successful academic career and wishing him a happy retirement.

The second of four candidates for the College of Fine Arts dean, Amy Johnson, assistant dean at the School of Architecture and Design, University of Kansas, will be on campus on Wednesday, April 26 and April 27.

Faculty, staff and students are invited to attend a public forum at 3:30 p.m. April 26 in 265 Rhatigan Student Center.

The first of four candidates for the College of Fine Arts dean, Amy Green Deines, dean of the College of Art and Design at Lesley University, will be on campus Monday, April 24 and 25.

Faculty, staff and students are invited to attend a public forum at 3:30 p.m. April 24 in 301 Rhatigan Student Center.