Author: Caelin Bragg

Wichita State University celebrates the following faculty members who were recognized at the Tenure and Promotion Awards ceremony April 21:

• W. Frank Barton School of Business:
  • Tenure awardees:
    • Abigail Devereaux, associate professor, economics
    • Ross Gruetzemacher, associate professor, FREDS
    • Andrea Lynn Matthews, associate professor, marketing
    • Smita Srivastava, associate professor, management
    • Xiaoyang Zhu, associate professor, economics
    • Alexander Ziegler, associate professor, marketing
  • Non-tenure track awardees:
    • Michael Flores, senior educator, accounting
    • Kate Kung‑McIntyre, senior educator, management

• College of Education:
  • Tenure awardees:
    • Jason Li, professor, CLES
    • Lindsay Luinstra, associate professor, HPS
  • Non-tenure track awardees:
    • Jill Wood, associate educator, TALS

• College of Engineering:
  • Tenure awardees:
    • Yanwu Ding, professor, electrical and computer engineering
    • Atri Dutta, professor, aerospace engineering
    • Deepak Gupta, professor, industrial, systems and manufacturing engineering
    • Hyuck Kwon, professor, electrical and computer engineering
    • Bayram Yildirim, professor, industrial, systems and manufacturing engineering
  • Non-tenure track awardees:
    • Gary Brooking, teaching professor, applied engineering

• College of Fine Arts:
  • Tenure awardees:
    • Timothy Jones, associate professor, music
    • Claudia Pederson, professor, art and design
    • Gerald “Jerry” Scholl, professor, music
    • Timothy Shade, professor, music
    • Leonid Shukaev, professor, music
  • Non-tenure track awardees:
    • Melissa Penkava Koza, associate teaching professor, performing arts
    • Robert Thomas, associate teaching professor, digital arts
    • Sabrina Vasquez, senior educator, performing arts

• College of Health Professions:
  • Tenure awardees:
    • Erin O’Bryan, associate professor, communication sciences and disorders
  • Non-tenure track awardees:
    • Laurie Alloway, teaching professor, medical laboratory sciences
    • Christopher Dudley, associate clinical professor, physician assistant
    • Candance Grant, associate educator, nursing
    • Melissa Vagts, clinical professor, communication sciences and disorders
    • Evan Ohlman, associate clinical professor, physician assistant
    • Donna Robinson, teaching professor, nursing
    • Elizabeth Tew, associate teaching professor, physical therapy

• Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences:
  • Tenure awardees:
    • Jim Bann, professor, chemistry
    • Chase Billingham, professor, sociology
    • William Groutas, professor, chemistry
    • Jodie Hertzog, professor, sociology
    • Twyla Hill, professor, sociology
    • Rannfrid Lasine-Thelle, professor, history
    • Quan Lei, associate professor, psychology
    • Mathew Muether, professor, physics
    • Mohamed Nasser, associate professor, mathematics
    • Brigitte Roussel, professor, modern and classical languages and literatures
    • Xiaoheng Wang, associate professor, public affairs
  • Non-tenure track awardees:
    • Rachel Heckman, senior educator, mathematics
    • Kerry Jones, teaching professor, English

The Shocker dance team earned a runner-up finish in the Spirit Rally Division 1 category at the National Dance Alliance National Championships April 11 in Daytona Beach, Florida.

The performance marks the team’s first appearance in the Spirit Rally Division, and was the first season under the head coach Amy Pollard-Yarberry

In an effort to support thoughtful and ethical campus adoption of artificial intelligence tools and strategies, Wichita State has launched the WSU Artificial Intelligence Strategy Council and wichita.edu/ai, a hub for AI resources and initiatives at WSU.

This approach will support Wichita State’s student-centered, innovation-driven approach by staying at the forefront of technology and by recognizing the need to provide a framework for the responsible and effective use of AI.

WSU AI Strategy Council

The AI Strategy Council was formed at the request of Provost Monica Lounsbery and in response to KBOR’s goal for this academic year: “State universities will submit a report detailing current initiatives, research, and instructional strategies related to Artificial Intelligence (AI). This effort will help identify best practices, foster collaboration, and position Kansas institutions as leaders in AI-driven education and workforce development.”

The council‘s strategic focus is on proactively guiding the thoughtful, purposeful and ethical implementation of artificial intelligence at Wichita State, ensuring it strengthens learning and workforce readiness for students, faculty and staff; advances research; supports operational effectiveness; protects sensitive data while engaging community and industry partners; and advances Wichita State’s mission and priorities.

The AI Strategy Council comprises faculty and staff from across the university to represent diverse constituencies and AI use cases at WSU, and it engages hundreds more through focus groups, training opportunities and discussion forums to ensure all voices are heard on issues regarding AI. By facilitating campuswide conversations and knowledge sharing around this emerging technology, the council envisions a future‑ready campus that harnesses AI to enhance human potential, prepares students for an evolving workforce and fosters interdisciplinary collaboration.

AI resources

The new artificial intelligence website, wichita.edu/ai, is the hub for current resources at Wichita State to help the campus community utilize AI. Included is:

• More information on Wichita State’s AI strategy, focusing on students, faculty and staff; research; operations; and community and industry partners
• Initiatives at WSU on the front lines of AI adoption and discussion, like the Faculty Senate AI Literacy Task Force, Center for AI Security, Evaluations, Control and Cooperation housed within Industry and Defense Programs, the Responsible AI@ICT group and the Applied AI in Education Lab in the College of Education
• Guides from the Office of Instructional Resources for using AI and for faculty to monitor AI usage in the classroom

Join the conversation

Opportunities for faculty and staff to participate in the conversations and initiatives surrounding AI at WSU, including working groups that support specific focus areas, will continue to expand. Keep an eye on WSU Today as further information is shared regarding these working groups and more.

For questions, ideas and opportunities to get involved with WSU’s AI strategy and implementation, reach out to the AI Strategy Council at ai@wichita.edu.

Additionally, WSU is committed to supporting the community and industry partners in using AI in their operations, and organizations interested in learning more can complete the contact form located on the AI website.

Wichita State now has an even bigger presence at the Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport with the installation of a new, nearly nine-foot WSU sculpture that Wichitans and visitors to the city see first thing when entering the airport.

The sculpture — designed and built by GoCreate, a Koch Collaborative, with the help of students — highlights WSU’s commitment to providing Shockers with applied learning experiences that prepare them for the workforce. It also further entrenches Wichita State’s place in the community as the university helps uplifts Wichita as a whole.

President Rick Muma and First Gentleman Rick Case’s annual Christmas tree at the President’s Residence has been replanted on Wichita State’s campus in dedication to Lowell Kaufman, maintenance supervisor, and Logan Alexander, arborist, with Landscape and Ground Maintenance.

The tree, a blue atlas cedar, was dedicated in honor of Kaufman and Alexander for their joint efforts in supporting sustainability and maintaining the green spaces on campus. It now sits on the east side of Morrison Hall.

“This tree is symbolic of the care and commitment to sustainability that Lowell and Logan bring to our campus every day,” Muma said. “Their idea to replant these trees allows something momentary to become lasting, and it’s a meaningful way to honor their impact on Wichita State.”

Instead of purchasing a chopped tree that could only be used for a short amount of time, it was Kaufman and Alexander’s idea to use balled and burlap trees, which still have their roots intact and can be replanted. These trees could be used at the President’s Residence and later be repurposed for the entire campus.

The first of these trees was dedicated to former dean of students James Rhatigan, located just north of the Rhatigan Student Center, following his passing in October 2024.

With the dedication this Arbor Day comes a new yearly tradition that promotes sustainability and supports a vibrant, green campus for students, faculty, staff, partners and the community.

“What began as a holiday tradition at the President’s Residence has grown into something far bigger,” Case said. “By replanting these trees, we’re creating a living legacy that supports a greener campus and reflects Wichita State’s shared responsibility to one another and to the environment.”

The College of Education’s School of Teaching and Learning has recognized outstanding educators with its Mentor Teacher Awards for their impact on teacher candidates and the profession.

The Mentor Teacher Award recognizes distinguished mentoring of teacher candidates and interns; strong modeling of pedagogical content knowledge; effective instructional co-planning and co-teaching grounded in research-based practices; meaningful feedback that supports candidate growth and development; participation in professional activities; and leadership in the teaching profession.

2026 Mentor Teacher Award recipients:

• Kathleen Moddelmog, kindergarten, Linwood Elementary
• Kristen Yacenda, first grade, Linwood Elementary
• Kristin Wolke, third grade, Chisholm Trail Elementary
• Hannah Kelderman, science, North High School
• Brian Curtis, social studies, Pleasant Valley Middle School
• Jack Doornbos, physical education, McLean Elementary
• Heather Hansen, English, North High School

Mackenzie Wilson broke the program record for career stroke average as Shocker women’s golf finished eighth at the American Championship April 22 at Southern Hills Plantation Club.
 
Wilson’s career stroke average of 75.22 broke the previous record of 75.55 set by Taryn Torgerson, who played at Wichita State from 2014 to 2018. Kate Tilma also surpassed Torgerson’s mark with a career average of 75.35, ranking second all-time behind Wilson.

The McNair Scholars Program is designed to prepare undergraduate students for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. Let your students know that the program is accepting applications for the 2026-27 academic year.

Key benefits:

• Mentorship from faculty members and experienced researchers
• Opportunities to conduct research and present findings at national conferences
• Workshops and seminars focused on graduate school preparation, including GRE prep and application assistance.

For more information, call 316-978-3139 or visit the McNair website.

Presession classes are courses designed to condense an entire semester’s worth of class into just two weeks, freeing up more time during the semester for studying and personal time.

The summer presession courses start May 18 and include the following courses that can fulfill some gen-ed requirements:

• Earth Science & Environment (GEOL 102), CRN: 30513 and 30535
• Energy, Resources, Environment (GEOL 300), CRN: 30536

Other major-specific presession courses include:

• Pre-Internship Seminar (SMGT 446), CRN: 31093
• Universal Design for Learning (TAP 329), CRN: 31142 and 31143
• Dental Hygiene Clinic II (DH 333), CRN: 30376
• Advanced Gen. Practice Seminar I (SCWK 760), CRN: 31044

Meet with your academic advisor to learn more about presession classes.

Join the Student Government Association Student Senate for a meeting at 5:30 p.m. today in 233 Rhatigan Student Center, Santa Fe Trail Room. Meetings will also be livestreamed on the SGA YouTube. This is the final meeting of the 68th session.

Where students come first, the Wichita State Student Government Association is the governing entity for the student experience at the university. SGA is charged with promoting and stimulating student participation in the university’s activities and providing an official channel of communication between the students, faculty, staff, administration and elected officials.

To learn more about SGA, visit wichita.edu/sga, email sga@wichita.edu or stop by the offices in 219 Rhatigan Student Center.