Dr. John Bardo, 1948-2019

Dr. John Bardo

WSU President Dr. John W. Bardo died March 12, 2019, after a long illness. In his nearly seven years leading WSU, Dr. Bardo strategically and physically transformed the university and set us on an exciting course of innovation and creativity.

Dr Bardo addresses Congress

Champion of Innovation

Wichita State University has never seen a more effective, vibrant agent of change than Dr. John Bardo. From the first days of his presidency, he began to outline the path to a bold, audacious new future for the university and the city of Wichita.

  Read about Bardo's vision WSU News story about his death Board of Regents' statement
 
Bardo speaks at the launch of GoCreate

Timeline: The Bardo Years

Under Dr. Bardo's leadership, WSU has experienced an unprecedented period of rapid growth, with new buildings, partnerships, infrastructure and much more on the way.

Bardo and Gregg Marshall celebrate WSU's win over No. 1 Gonzaga in the 2013 NCAA Tournament

Making WSU All American

Buoyed by the success of WSU's basketball team, Dr. Bardo helped engineer a move to the American Athletic Conference to align with nationally recognized, city-centered research universities.

Dr. John Bardo with campus landscape.
 
He was the right person at the right moment in time. I can’t envision anyone else who could have done it better. He was looking 40 years into the future. His creativity and broad vision of education that he brought to the university has changed it forever.
David Mitchell, 1970, 1972 alumnus and WSU Innovation Alliance board member
He was a breath of fresh air and a visionary who saw where this community could go and how this university could lead us there better than anybody else.
Harvey Sorensen, partner, Foulston Siefkin LLP
Read more comments about Dr. Bardo

 

Bardo Gallery