Donald L. Beggs — President
Wichita State University
Dr. Beggs earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in education from Southern Illinois University and his doctorate in educational measurement and statistics in 1966 from the University of Iowa.
Prior to accepting the presidency at WSU in 1999, Dr. Beggs served in numerous administrative positions during his 32-year tenure at Southern Illinois University and retired as chancellor of SIU in 1998.
Dr. Beggs is the senior author of a nationally standardized test and the author of several books and many academic articles. Respected by his peers, Dr. Beggs was selected to serve on the NCAA Executive Committee and the NCAA Division I Board of Directors beginning in 2001. He was also chair of the Kansas Board of Regents Council of University Presidents for the 2002-03 academic year.
Don and his wife, Shirley, have two children and four grandchildren.
Ted D. Ayres — Vice President and General Counsel
Wichita State University
Mr. Ayres earned his bachelor's of science degree in business administration from Central Missouri State College in 1969 and his juris doctorate degree in 1972 from the University of Missouri.
In May of 1996 Ayres joined Wichita State University as general counsel and associate to the president. In July of 2002, he was promoted to vice president and general counsel. He also serves as general counsel to the WSU Foundation, the WSU Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Inc., and the WSU Board of Trustees.
Ted and his wife, Marcia, have three sons.
Gary L. Miller — Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research
Wichita State University
Dr. Miller graduated from The College of William and Mary in 1976 with a bachelor's in biology and a minor in anthropology. He remained at William and Mary to pursue graduate work and received a master's in biology in 1979. Miller received his doctorate in biological sciences from Mississippi State University in 1982.
Dr. Miller joined Wichita State University in June of 2006 as vice president for academic affairs and research.
He is married to Georgia L. Nix. They have three children.
Ron R. Kopita — Vice President for Campus Life and University Relations
Wichita State University
Prior to his arrival at Wichita State, he served as vice president for student affairs at California State University, Northridge and Moorhead State University, and has twice been awarded the Associated Student Administrator of the Year Award at CSUN.
Dr. Kopita has more than 35 years of experience in higher education and has a personal commitment to student and faculty development.
Ron and his wife, Pearl, have two children.
Mary L. Herrin — Vice President for Administration and Finance
Wichita State University
Mary L. Herrin, CPA, was named WSU's vice president for administration and finance in Jan. 2008, replacing Roger D. Lowe, who retired.
Ms. Herrin received bachelor's and master's degrees from Wichita State University and was awarded a Kansas Certificate of Certified Public Accountant in 1979. She joined WSU in 1973 as an administrative assistant and served as Associate Vice President for Administration and Finance/Director of Budgets before being named to her current post.
Ms. Herrin is secretary of the board of directors of the Central Association of College and University Business Officers and a member of the National Association of College and University Business Officers. She also serves on the 2008 YWCA board of directors as vice president of finance and is a member of Mortar Board and Soroptimist International of Wichita.
Ms. Herrin was honored in with the 2003 President's Service Award, and in 2005 with the Wichita State University Alumni Association's Staff Recognition Award.
Eric L. Sexton – Director, Intercollegiate Athletics
Wichita State University
Eric Sexton was appointed as director of athletics in April of 2008. A 1987 graduate and former student-athlete at WSU, Sexton previously served the university as Executive Director for Government Relations and Board of Trustees.
He received both his bachelor of business administration in management and master of public administration from Wichita State University, and his doctorate in political science from the University of Kansas.
During his tenure, Sexton has received numerous awards, including the Wichita Business Journal 40 under 40 award; the National Security Forum of the U.S. Department of Defense; Leadership Wichita; and the University of Kansas Black Faculty and Staff Council President's Scholar. In the summer of 2002, President George W. Bush named him to the Presidential Commission for the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
