Interstellar Seminar is fortunate to host Kansas native Todd Barber, a JPL engineer that drives spacecraft, at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday Jan. 24 remotely in 104 Jabara Hall and on Zoom. He will talk about his experiences driving Voyager, the only interstellar spacecraft.
Barber has worked with Galileo at Jupiter, Cassini at Saturn, Deep Impact, Dawn and the Mars missions that landed Opportunity, Curiosity and Perseverance.
Congratulations to the 13 high school seniors who have been chosen as finalists for Wichita State’s 2024 Distinguished Scholarship Invitational. Ultimately, three of them will win the $64,000 Harry Gore Memorial Scholarship, which are among the largest undergraduate awards in the Midwest, and all will receive scholarship offers to attend WSU.
Kim Moore, executive director of Workforce, Professional and Community Education, is one of four newly elected members to 1EdTech’s board of directors. Her four-year term started Jan. 1, and she will work to further the mission and goals of the organization.
Moore is an innovative and entrepreneurial leader, focused on establishing collaborative business and industry partnerships, which lead to the development of skill-based learning and training initiatives that support employers and job seekers and stimulate the state and local economies.
1EdTech aims to achieve an open, trusted and innovative ecosystem to help learners, serves as a voice for those improving education and represents over 900 organizations in education, corporate learning and edtech suppliers.
The Tech Transfer and Commercialization department is seeking participants for its survey on the shopping habits of those who purchase Shocker gear and apparel. The survey closes Jan. 31.
Information gathered in the survey will be anonymous and will be provided to the department’s retail partners to help them meet shoppers’ needs and requests.
CLC, who is hosting the survey, will randomly select three respondents to win a $100 gift card.
Phase One of the Wichita Biomedical Campus, being built in the heart of downtown Wichita, now has its official look.
Renderings created by Helix Architecture + Design and CO Architects show the 8-story, 350,000-square-foot building that features a 3-story pavilion, classrooms, labs, student success center, lounges and study spaces, offices and meeting spaces.
Dr. Pamela O’Neal, associate director of student engagement in the Office of Online and Adult Learning, has received the first Adult Learner Advocate Certification from the Urban Adult Learner Institute (UALI).
She completed the four required components from UALI to receive the certification, which enabled her to hone and sharpen her skillset for serving adult learners at WSU.
“As an adult learner myself, I understand firsthand the struggles and advantages of obtaining a degree later in life” O’Neal said. “Earning the certificate is a testament of the dedication I employ in being an advocate for our adult learners at Wichita State.”
O’Neal also cohosts the Shockers Learning Out Loud podcast with Dr. Amber Anderson, associate director of enrollment and retention, discussing adult learning topics and the challenges faced by adult learners. Two seasons are available for streaming now.
Any faculty or staff would like to earn their Adult Learner Advocate Certification can contact O’Neal at pamela.oneal@wichita.edu or 316-978-8315 for more information.
The second annual Healthcare Research Roundtable will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 22. This year it’s reaching out to the University of Kansas and WSU Tech as well as the community and industry partners, and it’s extending its scope to include clinical work, the arts, humanities, applied studies and all the health-related work done.
This is a great opportunity for discovery, coalition-building and strategic planning. RSVP to help event organizers prepare and to volunteer to give a flash presentation (roughly five minutes) about your work. Spread the word and share the link.
Sponsored by the President’s Innovation Advisory Council (PIAC) and the Academic Center for Biomedical and Health Humanities (HealthHum). Support provided by the WSU Office of the President.
The second annual Healthcare Research Roundtable will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 22. This year it’s reaching out to the University of Kansas and WSU Tech as well as the community and industry partners, and it’s extending its scope to include clinical work, the arts, humanities, applied studies and all the health-related work done.
This is a great opportunity for discovery, coalition-building and strategic planning. RSVP to help event organizers prepare and to volunteer to give a flash presentation (roughly five minutes) about your work. Spread the word and share the link.
Sponsored by the President’s Innovation Advisory Council (PIAC) and the Academic Center for Biomedical and Health Humanities (HealthHum). Support provided by the WSU Office of the President.
After an extensive national search, the WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement is welcoming Telly McGaha as the next president and CEO of the organization. McGaha is joining Wichita State from Georgia State University and is expected to start on Feb. 12.
Welcome back for the spring semester, Shockers! I hope your break was restorative and that you’re ready to start the new year off strong. There are amazing things happening here in Shocker Nation, and each of you are what make Wichita State so great.
As a way to celebrate you and kick off the semester with a bit of fun, I’d like to invite you to the second annual Winter Welcome, from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 at the President’s Residence, behind Wilner Auditorium. Enjoy ice skating, an inflatable snow globe, a life-size Lite Brite, free snacks and drinks — and a chance to spend time with your friends and colleagues.
Wishing you a successful and fulfilling semester, and I look forward to seeing you all on campus later this week.
Dr. Shirley Lefever, provost and executive vice president
