Wichita ? Robert L. Kindrick, Wichita State University’s vice president for academic affairs and research since 2000, died Thursday at a Wichita hospital.

He was 61 and had been ill for some time, not working for about a month, said his wife, Carolyn.

Kindrick was an expert in medieval literature who came to Wichita State from the University of Montana, where he was provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Originally from Kansas City, Mo., he received his bachelor’s degree from Park College and a master’s from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. His doctorate, earned in 1971 from the University of Texas, was in English medieval literature.

He later taught and held administrative positions at Texas, Central Missouri State University, Western Illinois University, Emporia State University and Eastern Illinois University, and then Montana.

Last month he received an award from the Medieval Academy of America for his contributions to medieval studies.