Author: Caelin Bragg

President Rick Muma stopped by the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders to recognize the team as the next recipient of Rick Rewards. The team members were celebrated for the recent successful reaccreditation of the Master of Arts in communication sciences and disorders and Doctor of Audiology programs.

Rick Rewards is awarded each month by President Muma to show his appreciation for the efforts of the campus community.

Samara Langley, a Colegio del Sol (Asunción, Paraguay) graduate, is the winner of the 2026 Lenora N. McGregor Endowed Scholarship at Wichita State.

The McGregor Scholarship awards up to $26,000 over four years to an incoming freshman student who has demonstrated academic excellence, has an academic vision for the future and who expresses an interest in advancing knowledge through individual learning. The McGregor Scholar agrees to maintain active membership in WSU’s Dorothy and Bill Cohen Honors College.

Samara has one younger brother, Ian, and is the daughter of Bettina Idoyaga and Matthew Langley (deceased). Ten years ago, Samara moved from Wichita to Asunción with her mom and brother. Samara sees the return to Wichita as a transformative experience.

“I expect to be challenged not just academically, but personally — by new ways of thinking, diverse perspectives and experiences that push me out of my comfort zone,” said Samara.

Quick reminder: SEAS is still open for submitting feedback on student progress on attendance, participation, assignments and quizzes/exams.

Next week will be the last week to use the “No Academic Activity” flag for students who haven’t engaged at all. Student Success will follow up with those flagged.

If no students are at risk, check the “no students at-risk” box. If a flagged student improves, remove the alert to help Student Success track progress accurately.

Access SEAS via myWSU > Home or Teach/Advise tab > SEAS link

For more information about SEAS, visit the SEAS website.

Wichita State is a member of the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), and that means faculty, staff and students have access to a number of perks that are only available to members:

• Find a list of upcoming events designed for those in academia, including conferences, webinars and workshops. Check out all AAC&U events at aacu.org/events.
• Check out the latest news from AAC&U and about higher education at aacu.org/newsroom and get news and event details delivered straight to your email inbox.
• Read the latest publications from AAC&U, designed for students and employees alike to stay up on the latest trends and developments at aacu.org/publications.
• Find even more benefits at the Membership Marketplace, including discounted rates for a number of higher education services and products.

Get started by making your account with AAC&U and put Wichita State University as your affiliated institution, and encourage your students to take advantage of their benefits as members of an AAC&U institution.

Join mathematics for a public lecture by Dr. Sorin Dragomir from Università degli Studi della Basilicata. The lecture, titled “Kähler geometry of smoothly bounded strictly pseudoconvex domains versus contact geometry of their boundaries,” will take place at 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20 in 372 Jabara Hall. Refreshments will be available at 2:30 p.m. in 371 Jabara Hall.

The Wichita State University Police Department urges all Shockers to be proactive in protecting their property and valuables.

Keep valuables with you at all times, and if you need to leave something in your car, make sure the items are not visible from the windows, the car is locked and you have your keys with you.

Additionally, if you are storing a bike on campus, use a strong, u-bolt style lock when parked at a bike rack or elsewhere on campus. A bike should never be left unlocked while in a public area.

If you experience any issues while on campus, call WSUPD at 316-978-3450 or use one of the emergency phones located across campus.

It’s never too late to try new tactics in the classroom and at home to improve learning. Students can quiz themselves or other classmates on class concepts, create questions from assigned readings to ask during class or join a study group with other motivated students to improve academic performance.

Another Broken Egg Cafe is a partner of Wichita State, and that means students like yourself can get a 10% discount while using your Shocker ID. Conveniently located just two miles north of campus, its hours are 7 a.m.-2 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m.-3 p.m. on weekends. You can check out the menu ahead of time at anotherbrokenegg.com and then stop by at 4862 E. 35th St.

Another Broken Egg Cafe is owned and operated by Wichita State graduates Jacob O’Conner and Jon Peterson.

Amy DeVault, senior educator of journalism and media production in the Elliott School of Communication, was recognized as a 2026 Faculty Champion from the Center for Community News at the University of Vermont.

Alan Held, Ann and Dennis Ross Faculty of Distinction in Opera in the School of Music, was recognized with the 2026 Kansas Governor’s Arts Award from the Kansas Arts Commission.

This honor recognizes Held’s profound impact on the state’s cultural vitality. After a storied career performing over 80 major roles at the world’s premier venues — including the Metropolitan Opera and the Vienna State Opera — Held returned to his alma mater to cultivate the next generation of vocal artists.