WSU Today: Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023

Featured Stories

From books to screens, Kathy Downes helped Wichita State students find information for 43 years

While libraries underwent significant transformation, Kathy Downes adapted without changing the focus of her job.

“They do a lot of listening to our students,” said Dr. Shirley Lefever, executive vice president and provost at Wichita State University. “She reads a lot, and so she is always looking ahead for ‘What’s the next big thing,’ and what is the role of the university?’”

Downes, dean of University Libraries since 2017, came to Wichita State in 1979 as a biomedical librarian. She also served as assistant dean, associate dean and senior associate dean. She will retire in September.

WSU’s Engineers without Borders building much-needed bridge for Ecuadorian village

Several Wichita State University engineering students are bringing Shocker innovation to a tiny village in Ecuador.

Through the WSU chapter of Engineers without Borders, three students recently began the process of working with the rural community of Mercedes de Agua Sucia in Manabi, Ecuador, to build a pedestrian bridge that will give residents safe passage to the main road and nearby cities to sell the goods and products from their farms, shop in nearby El Carmen, and for children to attend school.

Three students — Julian Vasquez, a sophomore in electrical engineering from Wylie, Texas; Austin Rempel, a junior in product design and manufacturing from Hillsboro, Kansas; and Nicolas Reyes, a senior in computer engineering from Oklahoma City— traveled to Ecuador over the summer to begin assessing the community’s needs.

Campus construction update reflects growth at Wichita State

Wichita State University’s campus continues to evolve, guided by a commitment to the people, businesses and economy of our state. As you return to campus, you will notice construction cranes, dirt moving and updates to existing buildings.

See all of the developments happening on campus

Events and Recreation

Attend retirement reception for Kathy Downes, dean of University Libraries

The Office of Academic Affairs will celebrate the career and accomplishments of Kathy Downes, dean of University Libraries, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 31 in 262 Rhatigan Student Center, Herrman Room.

Downes has served as dean since 2017 and has worked for over 40 years at Wichita State. During her time with WSU Libraries, she spearheaded many facility expansions, including coordinating the west addition project from 1985 to 1989 and helping with the 2019 expansion of the 24-hour study room. She also co-led the systems migration from NOTIS to Voyager and initiated an ongoing project to prepare for the next generation of cloud-based library services. Many other transformations and enhancements of Ablah Library’s learning spaces, collections and services were also led by her.

She will retire in September 2023. Please join us in congratulating her on a successful academic career and wishing her a happy retirement.

Attend Corbin Connect event Aug. 29

Don’t miss the Corbin Connect Speaker Series: “Cultural Institutions & Educator Support Panel Discussion” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29 in 105 Heskett Center.

Hosted by the College of Applied Studies and sponsored by Credit Union of America, explore insights from speakers representing prestigious organizations like Wichita Art Museum, Music Theatre Wichita, Exploration Place, Credit Union of America, Storytime Village and others sharing their impact on local schools. Discover partnership opportunities, engage in interactive discussions, and enjoy light appetizers.

RSVP for the event

Join the Office of Diversity and Inclusion for meet and greet

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion invites the campus community to its first meet and greet of the fall 2023 semester.

The meet and greet is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7 in 233 Rhatigan Student Center. Come step into the vibrant atmosphere to get to know your Men of Excellence and Phenomenal Women groups at Wichita State.

News

5G MiFi upgrade available for departments

Because of a promotion from Verizon, now through Aug. 31, ITS Telecommunications is offering 5G MiFi upgrades to eligible data lines at no additional charge. If your department has aging hotspots and you would like to replace them with newer, faster equipment, submit a ticket online.

ITS will verify that your line is eligible before ordering. The offer is good for new activations as well. Be sure to add funding info to your tickets, as ITS will not be able to proceed without it. The offer is only available for a limited time, so ITS will need tickets submitted no later than Aug. 31.

For additional inquiries, contact the ITS Helpdesk at 316-978-4357.

Check out the new ITS Resources site

Log in into the new site for ITS resources, including software downloads, set up instructions and additional ITS-related information.

The site is located at wichita.edu/itsresources and is updated regularly as new ITS information is available. Check back often.

Presentations and Talks

New York Times best-selling author named Barton School’s newest Executive-in-Residence

The Barton School of Business has announced Curt Coffman as its fall 2023 Executive-in-Residence. Coffman is the founder of The Coffman Organization and co-author of New York Times bestsellers, “First Break All the Rules: What the World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently” and “Culture Eats Strategy for Lunch.”

As Executive-in-Residence, Coffman will provide mentorship opportunities to students, exchange ideas with Barton School faculty and staff, and host a conversation with industry leaders. The theme of his residency and title of his keynote presentation is “The Power of You: New Formula for Growth.” Following the keynote, Coffman will distribute and sign two of his books to those in attendance.

RSVP for the keynote, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13 in Woolsey Hall, at no additional charge.

Job Openings

College of Engineering is looking for new associate dean

The associate dean for undergraduate and graduate programs in the College of Engineering serves as the chief operating officer for the undergraduate and graduate academic programs in the college.

The role will assist in the leadership and oversight of undergraduate and graduate affairs, ensuring the delivery of high-quality programs at the forefront of engineering education and fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment. Collaboration with faculty and staff will allow the associate dean to develop and implement innovative strategies enhancing undergraduate and graduate educational experiences.

The candidate’s passion will be fueled in multiple ways in the role as they will have the opportunity to create and lead new initiatives. The role has involvement in program management, faculty and student support, academic standards, assessment and accreditation, stakeholder engagement, as well as the previously mentioned new initiatives.

Apply now for the position