Author: Caelin Bragg

Dr. Valerie J. Thompson is an assistant professor Wichita State’s College of Applied Studies. Her experiences as a practitioner in higher education — and her lens as a Black woman scholar — help inform how she sees the world.

Black History Month provides an opportunity for contemplation, learning and raising awareness about the extensive and varied history of the Black community. Wichita State is embracing the rich tapestry of history and heritage by highlighting some of the amazing Black educators who make a difference in students’ lives every day.

Robert E. Weems Jr. is a faculty member in WSU’s History Department and is the Willard W. Garvey Distinguished Professor of Business History. Weems says African American history is troubling but also demonstrates the resilience of Black Americans.

“As someone who came of age during the late 1960s, over the years as a history professor, I have sought to contribute to the knowledge base associated with the African American experience” Weems said.

Black History Month provides an opportunity for contemplation, learning and raising awareness about the extensive and varied history of the Black community. Wichita State is embracing the rich tapestry of history and heritage by highlighting some of the amazing Black educators who make a difference in students’ lives every day.

Building Bridges: Spanish Language, Culture, & Creating Welcoming Spaces in an Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution is a free workshop offered to faculty and staff in four Thursday sessions (March 28, April 4, April 11 and April 18 from 3:30 to 5 p.m.) or four Friday sessions (March 29, April 5, April 12 and April 19 from 1:30-3 p.m.) at Wichita State Connect.

Faculty from the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures are teaming with Hispanic Serving Institution Leadership to provide experiences to gain a foundational understanding of Spanish language and culture. There will be opportunities to sample foods from Latin America. Participants completing all four workshop sessions will receive a free book and earn a professional development certificate.

Note: The certificate does not bear academic credit nor would it qualify for inclusion on an academic transcript

Join the College of Health Professions and Delta Gamma for a lecture from Amy Young, founder of Love Like Remi, on removing the stigma of mental illness in athletics and academia at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 4 in the CAC Theater. Doors open at 6 p.m. with light refreshments.

Young is first and foremost Remington Young’s mother, who was lost to suicide on May 22, 2022. In order to create some good from this terrible tragedy, Young led the effort to create a foundation to help others fighting mental health and depression. Love Like Remi exists to remove the stigma associated with youth asking for help so that these challenges are not faced alone.

Community members are invited to learn more and ask questions about the next Wichita State master plan from 6 to 7 p.m. March 4 virtually via YouTube livestream. President Rick Muma and Shirley Lefever, provost and executive vice president — along with representatives from Gensler, a global architecture, design and planning firm that helped develop the plan — will discuss the future of WSU.

As a member of the Kansas Board of Regents, Wichita State is required to provide a master plan every 10 years to guide the vision of the future of the university, and the session is a chance for members of the community to learn more from university leadership on what the next 10 years of Wichita State will look like.

For more information or questions, contact Emily Patterson, executive director of Facilities Planning, at 316-978-5829.

Join Zach Gearhart, chief of staff and executive director of government relations, for updates on the Kansas legislature relevant to Wichita State. The next meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26 in 101 Morrison Hall.

The meeting is open to all faculty, staff and students and is held every other week in Morrison Hall following each legislative session.

To conclude National Engineers Week, the College of Engineering is hosting a public 5k run/walk that is open to students, staff, faculty and community members from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 24. Due to the 5k route, some parking lot and road closures are expected Saturday between about 8:30 and 10:30 a.m.

The WSU Faculty Ombuds program offers assistance and informal dispute settlement processes to all faculty members. Ombuds are members of the International Ombuds Association and receive professional training on coaching and conflict resolution.

Ombuds serve four-year, staggered terms. It currently has a vacancy and are looking for people interested in receiving training and serving in the Ombuds capacity. WSU tries to provide Ombuds with a variety of backgrounds to respond to the diverse faculty needs. Contact Dr. Carolyn Shaw, Ombuds coordinator, at Carolyn.shaw@wichita.edu if you are interested or would like more information.

Proposals are due to the Office of Research for University Research/Creative Award (URCA) projects no later than 5 p.m. Friday, April 5. The URCA opportunity provides funding of up to $4,500 for faculty to retool or reestablish productive research/creative projects or as seed money to develop pilot data where external funding is available.

Proposers must work with a grant specialist in the Office of Research prior to submission and all complete applications require an endorsement from the chair and dean. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed or considered.

Contact proposals@wichita.edu to get started or visit the website for additional information.

Celebrate National Margarita Day with at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop in Braeburn Square. Choose a chill with frozen or on the rocks $5 House Margs all day Thursday, Feb. 22.

Must be 21+ to order alcohol. Price and participation may vary. Offers only available as dine-in only and are not available through third-party delivery partners.