Student Centered, Innovation Driven: A Guide to Transforming Higher Education

The president of Wichita State University shows how you can take your university from good to great.

In Student Centered, Innovation Driven, Wichita State University President Rick Muma shares the unvarnished, hard-fought transformation of a mid-sized public research university into a national model for applied learning, research, and industry collaboration.

Higher education is at a crossroads. Shrinking enrollments, increasing demands for workforce alignment, and the ever-changing expectations of students and communities require bold leadership and innovative solutions.

Drawing from his own experiences, President Muma guides fellow university leaders through an exploration of embracing change, viewing existing assets through a fresh lens, and building student-first institutions that thrive in today’s evolving educational landscape. This book serves as both a reflection on Wichita State’s transformation and a thought-provoking workbook, inviting readers to assess their own institutions and chart a path forward.

Whether you’re a university president, provost, or administrator seeking inspiration and practical guidance, Student Centered, Innovation Driven offers a compelling case study on how innovation, access, and affordability can drive meaningful institutional success—even when the path forward is anything but easy.

WSU President Richard Muma has been a member of the Wichita State community for twenty-nine years—working as a faculty member, administrator, and provost before being named as the university’s fifteenth president in 2021. 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 PhD in higher education administration from the University of Missouri–St. Louis.