An American Cubist in Cuba?
It started out like any of his other courses, but Royce Smith’s idea to take his class to the Havana Biennial Art Exhibition in May 2012 culminated in a major honor this summer. Smith, WSU associate professor of art history and director of the art and design school, became the first professor from the United States to be invited by the Cuban Ministry of Culture to teach at its national art school, Instituto Superior de Artes.
Smith started talking with ISA administrators about what it would be like to have more normalized relations with one another, which started a conversation about his coming back to work with Cuban students at the university. After what seemed like a very long wait, the Cuban government gave its blessing for Smith to teach at the university. “There was a lot of red tape,” Smith says, “but it turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had.”
— Travis Gillespie
Kriz Lands in Wichita
Ken Kriz’s work has taken him to far-off countries, immersing him in their cultures as he learned everything he could about foreign economies. Now, he has brought his knowledge and talents to Wichita State as Regents Professor of Public Finance in WSU’s Hugo Wall School of Urban and Public Affairs.
Kriz hopes to help continue to grow the academic reputation of the Hugo Wall School, develop cutting-edge research in public finance, and generate research on topics of interest to stakeholders. As for why he was eager to come to Wichita, it’s simple: “The original Pizza Hut and Shocker basketball!” he says.
Welcome, Dean Bowden!
Royce Bowden will become dean of WSU’s College of Engineering on Jan. 16, 2014. Associate dean for academic affairs at the Bagley College of Engineering at Mississippi State since 2011, Bowden says, “I am eager to join the team of faculty, staff, students and government and industry partners working together with the Wichita State administration and the engineering alumni to propel the college higher.”
AAFSA Scholarship Fund
Members of WSU’s African American Faculty & Staff Association are hard at work promoting one of the organization’s key initiatives: its Scholarship Fund, established in 2010 and designed to assist deserving African American students at WSU. Interested in making a tax-deductible contribution? Contact the WSU Foundation and designate your gift for the AAFSA Scholarship Fund (fund #210984): foundation.wichita.edu.
Claycomb Serves as Interim Dean
Cindy Claycomb ’79/91, who has taught at Wichita State since 1994 and earned praise for her leadership as co-chair of the WSU strategic planning committee this past year, is interim dean of the Barton School of Business. Her areas of expertise include marketing management, relationship marketing and supply chain management. She will serve for the 2013-14 academic year while a national search is conducted for a permanent dean.
Global Impact
Three years ago, the government of Sri Lanka asked WSU business professor Dharma deSilva, a Sri Lanka native, to study eight of the nation’s business schools. Officials wanted deSilva to recommend ways to modernize the institutions and make them more globally effective. This summer, he was able to grant the request, thanks to a Fulbright Senior Specialist grant. He reviewed the schools’ teaching practices and listened to business leaders talk about what they want students to be taught. He returns to Sri Lanka in November to help rework curricula that will better prepare students for business careers.
Cecil Finds the Perfect Fit
Matthew Cecil, new director of the Elliott School of Communication, had stopped looking for a job when nothing seemed to fit. Then an Elliott School search committee member asked him to apply at WSU. Cecil was a bit wary. But a trip to Wichita changed his mind. “I immediately liked Wichita and was impressed with the faculty, staff, students and facilities of the Elliott School. It is a great place, and I am grateful for this opportunity.”
— Lainie Rusco
Congrats to Harpool!
Dorothy “Dotty” Harpool ’87, director of student and community initiatives and a marketing lecturer at WSU’s W. Frank Barton School of Business, has been named 2013 Wichita American Marketing Association Marketer of the Year. Harpool serves on the WSU Alumni Association board of directors.
