Author: Caelin Bragg

The College of Innovation & Design and the Center for Entrepreneurship have named Lance Minor as the new director of the Kansas Family Business Forum (KFBF).

The KFBF has been supporting and promoting family-owned businesses for more than 27 years.

As director, Minor envisions a deliberate growth strategy to increase KFBF’s local presence, expand membership, and deliver valuable and timely programming, regardless of the stage of growth they are in. His first day was Jan. 9.

Minor is no stranger to campus, before joining the College of Innovation & Design, he was an ecosystem and alliance manager for Deloitte’s Smart Factory @ Wichita on the WSU Innovation Campus. Prior to that, he was a partnership manager for the Shocker Career Accelerator, as well as the CEO of his own family-owned business, Aero Plains Brewing.

Minor is a military veteran, having served 21 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He earned his undergraduate degrees in English and education from The Citadel and the University of Maryland and his graduate degree in English from Florida International University. Minor’s career in higher education also includes eight years teaching for Hawaii Pacific University.

On behalf of Shocker Nation, we are heartbroken at the news of the horrific violence experienced on another college campus in our nation. We stand with our friends and colleagues at Michigan State University whose lives have been irrevocably changed, and we offer our sincere and wholehearted support as the Michigan State community grieves, heals and rebuilds.  

For our Wichita State family, we understand that events like this can raise concerns. Our highest priority is your safety.  

Please take a moment to go over some of WSU’s safety measures:  

• While walking and attending outdoor events on campus, students, employees and visitors can alert the WSU police department of a safety threat by pressing a button on one of the more than 40 emergency call boxes across campus. Activating the emergency device will dispatch an officer to the area and alert people in the area of the distress with bright flashing lights. 
• The university police department is a fully commissioned enforcement agency, trained and experienced to handle all levels of threat. The dedicated officers here at WSU are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to serve and protect students, faculty, staff and our community. And as always, if you see something, say something. 
• Active shooter training, safety escorts, and emergency and first responder support are also provided by WSU police. More information on training for campus departments or groups can be requested from the university police department at police@wichita.edu or 316-978-3450. 

We are continuously reviewing, improving and updating our campus safety protocols and technology to ensure that our Shockers can learn and grow in a safe and secure environment. If you have any questions, please reach out to UPD or submit a concern on the safety feedback form.  

For those who are struggling to with anxiety about safety, Wichita State offers several mental health resources, including Counseling and Prevention Services, the CARE Team and the Employee Assistance Program.  

Please remember that at WSU, no call is too small, and help is just a phone call away. As Shockers, we’re always here to support each other. 

The Kansas Women in State Employment (WISE) Career Development Subcommittee, part of the Kansas Department of Administration, will host its “Being Part of a Multigenerational Team” event from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23 via Zoom.

The event is open to all state of Kansas employees, including Wichita State faculty and staff.

Each week, Shocker Athletics provides an update on the latest results, upcoming events and notable moments in WSU sports history.

During the recent Wichita State sickle cell awareness blood drive on Feb. 7 and 8, the American Red Cross collected a total of 51 pints of blood against a goal of 62 pints, achieving 82% of its goal. There were 71 donors who registered, including 15 first time donors.

The American Red Cross appreciates all of the donors who came out to give blood.

President Rick Muma and Shirley Lefever, provost and executive vice president, are conducting a town hall for W. Frank Barton School of Business staff and faculty.

The town hall begins at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 13 and will be conducted via Zoom.

Update: This event has been canceled due to weather and travel complications. Thank you for your patience.

Actor, digital creator and TikTok influencer Chris Olsen will speak about his rise to fame during An Evening with Chris Olsen at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17 at the Wichita State Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex (5015 E. 29th St. North).

Advance tickets are free to WSU students, $15 for faculty/staff and $25 for general public. Purchase tickets here.

This event is intended for those 12 and older.

Leanne Caret — a Wichita State University alumna, former executive president of Boeing, and former president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) — is serving as the Sam Bloomfield Distinguished Engineer in Residence for the College of Engineering at WSU for 2023. She will provide industry knowledge, insight and guidance to students and faculty.

Caret has more than 30 years of aerospace industry experience. For five consecutive years from 2017-21, Fortune magazine included Caret in its Most Powerful Women list. She retired from Boeing in 2022 and currently serves on the United Service Organizations (USO) board of governors, the Raytheon Technologies board of directors and the John Deere board of directors.

Caroline Tallent has big goals for herself. The mechanical engineering major at Wichita State University hopes to someday become an Air Force pilot or astronaut — perhaps even work at NASA.

She’s just a sophomore, so she has plenty of time to dream and plan. But right now, her immediate goal is to put softballs into flight as a first baseman on the WSU softball team. She chose Wichita State after checking into schools with strong engineering and strong softball.

The Wichita State University College of Engineering is hosting an Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (IGED) event, commonly known as Girl Day, for high school girls from Wichita Public Schools. The event is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23 in the Shirley Beggs Ballroom on the third floor of the Rhatigan Student Center.

WSU expects 100-150 participants for the IGED event. The students will participate in hands-on STEM activities, listen to inspirational female speakers, and meet women from the engineering and computing industries, including professionals, WSU faculty, and students. There will also be an industry fair featuring companies from STEM fields. Breakfast pastries and lunch will be provided.