Author: Caelin Bragg

Trevor R. Nelson, assistant professor of musicology in the School of Music, gave two presentations at the American Musicological Society National Conference and Music, Diplomacy, Propaganda: Towards New Directions.

“Staging Inclusion: Commonwealth Ideals in the Mid-Twentieth Century British Children’s Opera” at Music, Diplomacy, Propaganda: Towards New Directions (international conference hosted by the Université de Montréal) on Oct. 18, 2025.

Description: In Commonwealth studies, much attention is paid to Britain’s diplomatic efforts promoting the Commonwealth as the Empire’s nonhostile successor (Murphy 2018, Prior 2019). Domestically, the British government buoyed attempts to promote Commonwealth belonging particularly among young people by sponsoring children’s media espousing Commonwealth values. In exactly what ways were these values communicated, and was this propaganda effective? Drawing on Timberlake’s theories of children’s opera as political education (2015), Nelson analyzes select scenes from Britten’s Let’s Make an Opera! (1949) and Bush’s The Spell Unbound (1953). Nelson argues that divergent understandings of Commonwealth citizenship led young performers and audiences to reject these works’ political overtones. By attending to the political ramifications of children’s operas, music scholars come to a better understanding of how music worked as a tool in shaping post-imperial Britishness.

“So Long, Farewell: The Musical Politics of Westminster Abbey Independence Services, 1962–1966” at American Musicological Society National Conference in Minneapolis on Nov. 8, 2025.

Description: Spectacle and ceremony are well-understood tools of the British Empire, overwhelming the senses of spectator-participants and enculturating them into a particular worldview. Such scholars as Wendy Webster (2005), Nalini Ghuman (2014), and Sarah Kirby (2022) have analyzed how British colonial forces used music, spectacle, and ceremony to shape understandings of imperial order across the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, in both the metropole and the colonies. Furthermore, historians have noted ceremonies as key tools in crafting a post-colonial identity across the former British empire (Cannadine 2008, Kaul 2008, Kahn 2008). But what role did these ceremonies play in shaping the people of Britain’s national consciousness during the anticolonial moment of the 1960s?

Nelson answers this question by analyzing music used to mark the independence of British colonies at ceremonial events in London across the 1960s. Using Katie Day Good’s framework for understanding spectacle as a pedagogical tool (2020), Nelson focuses on a series of ceremonies hosted by Westminster Abbey, intended to welcome former colonies as independent members of the British Commonwealth. Planned by the Abbey and the British Government’s Colonial Office, these spectacular events took the form of Anglican worship services and featured musical well-wishes to these independent nations. These pieces included hymns and instrumental works that would not feel out of place in the Abbey’s hallowed halls, leading to the ceremonies having a uniform sound, one distinctly British in nature, rather than idiosyncratic approaches highlighting the unique musical qualities of the varying nations. Drawing on materials from the British National Archives and the Westminster Abbey Archives, Nelson reconstructs the questions and debates leading up to the ceremonies for Jamaica (1962), Kenya (1963), and Guyana (1966). Nelson argues that, through music, one hears how the British Government’s desire to control and shape the Commonwealth in their national image led programmers to structure these events to please British attendees, rather than the newly independent nations they were supposedly honoring. By reframing spectacle from this vantage point, this project highlights how music can both support and undermine the crafting of national identity via ceremony.

Robert C. Manske, Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, has published three research articles to the Journal of Hip Preservation Surgery and the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy.

“Diagnostic Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in the Evaluation of the Rectus Abdominis” in the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy on Oct. 1, 2025.

Abstract: The rectus abdominis (RA) muscle is a key muscle in the anterior abdominal wall, contributing to motion of trunk flexion, assisting with stabilization of the pelvis, and maintaining intra-abdominal pressure. Its integrity is essential for posture, respiration, and functional movement, and it is frequently implicated in clinical conditions such as abdominal wall hernias, rectus diastasis, muscle strains, and postoperative complications. Accurate evaluation of the RA is therefore critical for both diagnostic and rehabilitative purposes. Musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSKUS) has emerged as a valuable imaging modality for assessing the structure and function of the RA muscle. Offering real-time, dynamic visualization without ionizing radiation, MSKUS enables clinicians and researchers to examine muscle morphology, thickness, echogenicity, and contractile behavior with high precision. Compared with other imaging modalities such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, MSKUS is more accessible, cost-effective, and well-suited for repeated assessments in both clinical and research settings. Recent advances in MSKUS have expanded its role in evaluating abdominal wall musculature, particularly in populations ranging from athletes and postoperative patients to postpartum women. By providing detailed, noninvasive insights into the RA muscle, MSKUS contributes to improved diagnosis, monitoring of rehabilitation progress, and the development of targeted interventions.

“The 2024 international society for hip preservation physiotherapy agreement on post-operative rehabilitation following hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome” in the Journal of Hip Preservation Surgery on Oct. 27, 2025.

Abstract: The 2024 International Society for Hip Preservation physiotherapy agreement presents expert-driven rehabilitation guidelines for use following hip arthroscopy (HA) for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS). The expert-panel consisted of 11 physiotherapists and eight surgeons representing five countries specializing in hip preservation. Despite the favorable outcomes of HA for FAIS demonstrated in the current literature, there is a paucity of research supporting a specific physiotherapy protocol. These guidelines were created utilizing a modified-Delphi technique where panelists utilized the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation scale to determine inclusion of treatment interventions within each phase. The panelists recommend six phases of rehabilitation with a time and milestone-based approach beginning in the immediate post-operative period and continuing the through the return to sport phase. These expert-driven guidelines will help reduce practice variation and standardize post-operative timelines.

“Diagnostic Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in the Evaluation of Adductor Longus Injuries: Implications for Rehabilitation Provider” in the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy on Nov. 1, 2025.

Abstract: Adductor longus injuries represent a significant clinical challenge in sports medicine and rehabilitation, given their impact on athletic performance and risk for recurrence. Diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSK-US) provides a dynamic, cost-effective, and radiation-free modality for evaluating adductor pathology, including tendinopathy, partial tears, and complete ruptures. This article reviews the role of MSK-US in the assessment of adductor longus injuries, emphasizing sonographic anatomy, diagnostic accuracy, and clinical utility. Special attention is given to the integration of ultrasound findings into rehabilitation decision-making, including early injury characterization, monitoring tissue healing, and guiding safe return-to-sport progression. For rehabilitation providers, proficiency in the use and interpretation of MSK-US enhances diagnostic precision and supports a more personalized, evidence-informed rehabilitation approach.

Imran Musaji, assistant professor, Ph.D., CCC-SLP in the Department Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD), presented “An Explainability Framework for CSD AI Applications” at The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) 2025 Convention (Centennial year) in Washington, DC Nov. 20, 2025.

Description: This session introduces CLEAR-AI (Clinician-led Evaluation and Assessment of Readiness of AI), a structured framework for evaluating AI applications in communication sciences and disorders (CSD). Key AI concepts—including interpretability, transparency, and bias—will be explained in clinician-friendly terms. Attendees will explore AI evaluation principles from healthcare frameworks, emphasizing fairness, accountability, and ethical AI use. CLEAR-AI provides a systematic approach to assess AI-driven tools based on data sources, training methods, clinical alignment, and oversight. Practical examples will illustrate how to apply the framework to AI tools in speech-language pathology and audiology. This session equips clinicians with strategies to critically appraise and safely implement AI in practice, continuing the discussion initiated in the 2024 ASHA Short Course.

GoCreate, a Koch Collaborative at Wichita State, was honored by the Kansas Department of Commerce with a Merit Award in the nonprofit category of the To The Stars: Kansas Business Awards.

Efrain Rueda, Police sergeant for the Wichita State University Police Department, was recognized with a Public Servant Hero Award from American Red Cross.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by your classes and need support? You can go to wsu.news/SuccessTip4 to set up an appointment with your success coach who can help you with tackling procrastination/motivation, developing study skills, keeping yourself accountable and more.

As a partner of Wichita State, Another Broken Egg, 4862 E. 35th St. N, is offering a 10% discount to faculty, staff and students. Just show them your Shocker ID at checkout.

Hours of operations are from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. during weekdays and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends. Take the opportunity to grab lunch during the day or grab breakfast on your way to campus.

Check out the menu ahead of time at anotherbrokenegg.com. Another Broken Egg Cafe is owned and operated by Wichita State graduates Jacob O’Conner and Jon Peterson.

Are you deep in study and don’t want to interrupt your groove? Download the Starship app at wsu.news/starship, select Wichita State and get food delivered anywhere on campus from participating restaurants, including Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Panda Express, Fuzzy’s and more.

The University Police Department wants to remind students, faculty and staff about the appropriate channels for reaching emergency services while they’re on campus.

If you are on campus with a phone:

Calling UPD directly at 316-978-3450 is ideal for getting immediate assistance. Calling 911 will connect you with Sedgwick County and could result in longer wait times for responders.

If you are on campus without access to a phone:

Use one of the many emergency telephones across campus, which are identifiable by the blue light located atop them. These phones connect straight to UPD, and even if you are unable to talk to the dispatcher, an officer will be sent to the location. You can view the locations of all emergency phones on campus through the campus map (wichita.edu/map) under “Campus Safety.”

Other resources:

• Dial 988 or text 741-741 to be connected to the suicide and crisis lifeline.
• Submit a CARE Team report for potentially concerning, but non-emergency, behaviors.
• Counseling and Psychological Services provides mental health treatment to students. Learn more about Counseling Services.

John Tomblin, executive vice president for Research and Industry and Defense Programs and executive director of the National Institute for Aviation Research, was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Military Additive Manufacturing Summit & Technology Showcase.