Richard D. Muma, PhD, MPH

President
Wichita State University

Richard (Rick) Muma was named the 15th president of Wichita State University on May 6, 2021.

Muma, who goes by Rick, was born in Wichita but raised in Houston. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston, a Master of Public Health in Community Health from the University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, and a Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

He has more than 30 years of experience as a professor, administrator and physician assistant in internal medicine and infectious diseases.

Before assuming the presidency, Muma was executive vice president and provost of Wichita State, serving as the university's chief academic officer and providing academic leadership for the university's priorities — including enrollment, applied learning, funded research, and regional economic development.

While at Wichita State, he has also served as senior associate vice president for Academic Affairs and Strategic Enrollment Management and chair and professor in the departments of Public Health Sciences and Physician Assistant. Muma has also served as chair for Saint Louis University's Department of Physician Assistant Education and an assistant professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston’s Department of PA Studies.

Prior to assuming administrative roles at Wichita State, Muma was active in reshaping health profession education at Wichita State. Most notably, he was responsible for developing undergraduate degrees for paramedics and health science majors, a master’s degree in physician assistant studies, and reorganizing the Department of Public Health Sciences to include undergraduate degrees in health management and health science and a graduate degree in aging studies.

Muma has published his research in notable journals and has edited four books, two on HIV infection and two others on patient education.