College of engineering dean Royce Bowden is leaving Wichita State June 30 to “invest the next chapter of his life to philanthropic and scholarly interests,” according to a news release.

Interim Provost Rick Muma will work with the engineering faculty and staff to select an interim leader and conduct a national search for the next dean, the release says.

Bowden will have completed 30 years of higher education work when he leaves the university, with the last five of those at WSU. He became dean of the college in 2014.

Before coming to WSU, Bowden served as associate dean for academic affairs at Bagley College of Engineering at Mississippi State University.

In that time, Dean Bowden “has done a tremendous amount of work on the progress of the university’s mission by advancing STEM education, research and developing new cutting-edge teaching spaces in the Experiential Engineering Building,” Muma said in the release.

“Royce has been a great colleague and he will be missed. We wish him well.”

Bowden said he’s “grateful to have had the opportunity” to oversee and help grow the college of engineering.

“I am proud to be a Shocker and will forever cheer for Wichita State’s continued success,” Bowden said in the release.