Wichita State has been relying on interim deans to run five of its six academic colleges over the past few semesters.

One of those holes got plugged this semester: Royce Bowden from Mississippi State University took over as the dean of the College of Engineering in January. His past activities include textbook writing and developing missiles for the U.S. Navy.

The other four positions are still waiting to be filled.

Ron Matson, who is in the middle of a three-year stint as interim dean, is running the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The search committee hasn’t yet narrowed the field of candidates for that position.

The College of Health Professions, the College of Education and the Barton School of Business all are expecting to have new deans by July.

There are three candidates being considered for the College of Education: Shirley LeFever-Davis, John J. Wheeler and Michael F. Sayler.

LeFever-Davis is the College of Education interim dean. She left the University of Arkansas to join WSU in 2005. She has been an associate dean at WSU for almost six years.

John J. Wheeler is director of Early Childhood Development at East Tennessee State University. His career has included an emphasis on improving special needs education.

Sayler is senior associate dean for Academic Affairs and Research at the University of North Texas. He focuses on education for gifted children.

“They’ve all had their campus visits, and we’re in the process now of making a selection,” said Linnea Glenmaye, associate vice president for academic affairs.

The previous education dean, Sharon Iorio, retired last year.

The dean is the overall leader of a college. He or she sets academic policies, oversees the budget and approves faculty hiring.