Year: 2024

Join KMUW for An Evening in Two Acts: a journalism fundraiser, with special guest Korva Coleman of NPR, Wednesday, June 19.

Act I

• Act I features cocktails and appetizers from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at The President’s Residence.
• Hosted by President Rick Muma and First Gentleman Rick Case.

Act II

• Act II moves to Walkers Jazz Lounge, 252 North Mosley, for dinner and jazz from 6:45 to 9 p.m.
• Hosted by Walker’s Jazz Lounge, featuring a performance by the WSU Student Trio, with dinner generously provided by Olive Tree Catering.

Thanks to the generous donations of Muma and Case, Walker’s Jazz Lounge and Olive Tree Catering, 100% of the ticket price goes directly to providing the tools and experience for the next generation of journalists.

Lot 41, the parking lot near Woolsey Hall, will be closed starting at 3 p.m. Thursday, June 13 for an event in the building. Faculty and staff that typically park in this lot will need to vacate the lot at that time. The YMCA lot is not available for faculty, staff or event guest parking and could result in a citation. Green student lots are open and free for parking in the summer.

The purpose of lot reservations is to help accommodate large groups of guests visiting campus for events. Lot reservations are not to be used for WSU affiliates. Remember, visitors to campus can park without an ePermit up to three times each semester.

Red reserved and ADA stalls are not subject to lot closures and proper use is permitted during this time.

Andrew Hippisley, dean of Wichita State’s Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has accepted a position as vice provost for Academic Affairs at The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). His last day at WSU will be July 2.

David Eichhorn, associate dean of the Fairmount College, will fill in as interim dean while the university conducts a national search for Hippisley’s replacement.

Hippisley has been dean at Wichita State for six years. During his time as dean, the Fairmount College has seen unprecedented growth in research, with proposal dollars nearly doubling from $22 million to $40 million a year and external dollars received increasing from $7 million to more than $13 million a year. Research strategies developed in this time include a discipline-specific workload policy and a buy-out policy.

In his time at WSU, Hippisley also helped launch new programs such as the master’s in mathematical data science, bachelor’s in applied linguistics, bachelor’s in American Sign Language, Associate of Sciences, and certificates in sustainability studies, ArcGIS and space sciences. In addition, he helped create new academic pathways through the Law 3+3 program with University of Kansas School of Law, a 4+3 pathway with the Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, and articulation agreements with multiple community colleges.

“Under my leadership, the college has overhauled its requirements to reframe them as competencies that are outcomes of a liberal arts education in order to make explicit the career-readiness value of a liberal arts and sciences education,” Hippisley said.

Community engagement has also been one of Hippisley’s priorities as he made strong efforts to strengthen the college’s ties with its alumni base. In partnership with the WSU Foundation, Hippisley has helped secure $24 million to support the mission of the Fairmount College and has developed new industrial and business partnerships, including a legal professions advisory board and an industrial math clinic.

“It has been a pleasure working with Dean Hippisley as both a fellow dean and as a colleague over the years,” said Dr. Shirley Lefever, provost and executive vice president of Wichita State. “He has brought a vision of collaboration and strategic thinking during his tenure that has resulted in more interdisciplinary programs and increased research productivity across several departments in the college. We wish him well in his new role.”

Students ages 13-18 will embark on a transformative journey guided by seasoned WSU Esports professionals and coaches who will provide expert training and mentorship.

This immersive camp is designed to cater to all skill levels. Participants can expect a blend of intensive gameplay sessions, strategic workshops and hands-on experience with state-of-the-art gaming equipment throughout the camp. Games covered are Valiant, Overwatch 2, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Rocket League.

The camp will be June 17-21 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. Registration is $370 per person.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to share this information with those who may be interested in this opportunity. Session two of the camp begins June 24.

Join Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) for the Career Day workshop from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday, June 13 at the Digital Research and Transformation Hub.

The workshop is designed to better equip you for job hunting by enhancing your resume writing skills as well as your interview skills.

Refreshments will be provided. Contact the VUB office to register for the event at 316-978-6742 or contact Shauntelle Thompson at shauntelle.thompson@wichita.edu.

The Kansas Council for Economic Education invites the campus community and the public to ‘Railroaded: The Industry That Shaped Kansas,’ a presentation by Dr. Leo Oliva, retired Fort Hays State University professor and historian. The presentation, funded by a grant from Humanities Kansas and the National Endowment for the Humanities, is part of KCEE’s two-day Social Studies Extravaganza teacher workshop. The presentation will take place at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 18 in 141 Woolsey Hall, Fidelity Bank Ballroom.

Few industries dominated the economy of the nation in the 19th century more than the railroad. Railroads brought immigrant settlers, created jobs and fed beef markets in the east. They enabled regular mail service and the adoption of standard time. Most Kansas towns were founded because of the railroad, and few survived without it. Yet the advancement of the railroad industry came at a significant cost to the Plains Indians who were forcibly displaced by this westward expansion. The presentation examines the complicated legacy of railroads and the impact on native peoples who called Kansas home.

Questions may be directed to Charlene Nichols, KCEE executive director, at charlene.nichols@wichita.edu.

Wichita State University announces the appointment of Pierre Harter as interim associate vice president for Research.

In this position, Harter will focus on faculty-led academic research, aiming to enhance WSU’s applied research efforts and align both with its vision for applied learning.

Harter also serves as associate vice president of research operations for Industry and Defense Programs. He returned to the university in 2021 after spending 21 years in various executive leadership, research and engineering positions at Spirit AeroSystems, Bombardier Learjet and Adam Aircraft Industries. In his current position, Harter oversees some programs within the National Institute for Research and Digital Transformation and the National Institute for Aviation Research, engaging multiple university departments and IDP labs in interdisciplinary research.

Harter reports to John Tomblin, WSU executive vice president for Research and Industry and Defense Programs and NIAR executive director.

“I am confident Pierre will be an ideal leader for WSU research,” Tomblin said. “He has a passion and track record for bringing together multiple departments to accomplish a broader goal. This will serve WSU well, not only in efforts to increase WSU research programs, but also to grow applied learning and enrollment in graduate and undergraduate programs.”

Tomblin resumed oversight of the division of Research in March.

Harter completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering from Wichita State. As a student, he worked in the Advanced Materials Lab at the National Institute for Aviation Research. He earned his MBA from Newman University and was a previously an adjunct lecturer for the business school there. He served on the WSU Board of Trustees for nine years and is currently a member of the USD 385 school board and the Industry Advisory Board for WSU’s College of Engineering.

Faculty and staff will have an opportunity to meet with Harter and Research Office staff at an event in early August.

The Ablah Library will be closed starting Friday, June 14 for construction and is expected to reopen Saturday, June 15.

Celebrate Pride Month with new Pride Shocker gear at the Shocker Store. You can find a Pride T-shirt, stickers, lanyards and lion plush in both the Rhatigan Student Center store and through the online storefront.

Visit the Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes in June to try its Pizza of the Month, Da’ Bronx Bomber.

It’s topped with zesty pizza sauce, pepperoni, salami, pepperoncini, pork sausage, Canadian bacon, roasted red peppers, black olives, five cheese blend, oregano and chili flakes.