President Rick Muma and Shirley Lefever, provost and executive vice president, are conducting a town hall for Barton School of Business faculty and staff at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28 via Zoom.

Dr. Rhonda K. Lewis

Dr. Rhonda Lewis is a professor of psychology at Wichita State University. She says her identity as a Black individual has influenced everything she does in her work as an instructor and researcher.

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.

A picture frame with a nature landscape and fruits and vegetables with the word "Health" at the top

HealthHum (Academic Center for Biomedical and Health Humanities) is meeting to discuss grant possibilities at 2 p.m. every Tuesday beginning Tuesday, Feb. 20 in 301 Lindquist Hall.

Anyone who’d like to find collaborators for health-related grant projects is welcome. Email susan.castro@wichita.edu with any questions.

James Schwartz Speaker Series Entrepreneurs-in-Residence Keynote Presentation, February 22, 2024 at 9:30 AM in Woolsey Hall. Gene Camarena and Yolanda Camarena, Barton School of Business

Yolanda and Gene Camarena — the dynamic Entrepreneurs-in-Residence duo at the Barton School of Business for the spring 2024 semester — will provide a keynote presentation as part of the James Schwartz Lecture Series, “Unlocking Success: Key Insights from Visionary Entrepreneurs on Building, Innovating, and Transforming Futures.”

Gene is the president and CEO of La Raza Pizza, Inc., and Yolanda is a dedicated leader in social justice and equity advocacy in education, bringing unparalleled expertise and insights to our academic and entrepreneurial community.

The keynote event is at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 22 in the Woolsey Hall Auditorium.

Doors open at 9 a.m. All are welcome and encouraged to attend this free event.

Implicit Bias Session speaker Crystal U. Davis. Feb 20 | Noon - 1:30 p.m. Feb 23 | 9 a.m. - noon. Rhatigan Student Center room 233, Santa Fe Trails Room

Faculty and staff are invited to attend an Implicit Bias Session with speaker Crystal U. Davis — a dancer, movement analyst and critical race theorist whose current research explores implicit bias in dance through a critical theory lens — at noon Tuesday, Feb. 20 in 233 Rhatigan Student Center, Santa Fe Trail Room.

The work of Davis, CLMA, has been renowned by a broad community of adjudicators and audiences from Donald McKayle to the royal family of Jodhpur, India.

Lunch will be provided for attendees. Be sure to register ahead of time as space is limited.

The session is coordinated by the Campus Climate Committee and sponsored by Academic Affairs, Student Affairs and the College of Fine Arts.

Collage of the fall 2024 Koch Scholars

Ten high school students from Kansas, Missouri and Texas have been awarded the Koch Scholarship at Wichita State University, starting in the fall 2024 semester.

Each scholar each will be awarded $30,000 to attend WSU over four years.

Fall 2024 Koch Scholarship:

  • Alexander Baird, Campus High School, electrical engineering (Haysville, Kansas)
  • Samir Barraza, Colby High School, computer science
  • Carson Brewer, Andover Central High School, computer science
  • Tyler Casely-Hayford, Stephen F. Austin High School (Richmond, Texas), mechanical engineering
  • Mayce Cashman, Andale High School, finance
  • Sophie Clarke, Eisenhower High School, computer science
  • Kayla Gann, Smithville High School (Smithville, Missouri), accounting
  • Jack Rue, Wichita Northwest High School, computer engineering
  • Israel Torres, Wichita Northeast Magnet High School, mechanical engineering
  • Erin Vance, Wichita Trinity Academy, mechanical engineering
Town hall

The spring 2024 virtual university town hall originally set for 2 to 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 has been changed to early April. More details on the April town hall will be published soon in WSU Today.

Nominations are now being accepted for two university-wide at-large seats for the Faculty Senate to serve a two-year term starting in the 2024-25 academic year. University-wide at-large senators represent the faculty of the entire university, not just a specific college or division. The Faculty Senate meets twice a month during the regular academic year from 3:30-5 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of the month.

All faculty are eligible for nominations, including current senators whose term expires this year. Submit your nominations to Lee Ann Birdwell at leeann.birdwell@wichita.edu before 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16. Self-nominations are strongly encouraged. Your participation is essential to a fair and inclusive process of shared governance

Workers make progress on the Shocker Success Center

From the center of campus to downtown Wichita, Wichita State University’s footprint continues to grow and offer new opportunities for students and our community. As the spring semester rolls on, you will notice ongoing and new construction across our 330 acres and beyond.

Projects currently under way:

  • Renderings released for Wichita Biomedical Campus
  • Shocker Success Center
  • Ablah Library
  • Wichita State Connect
  • Parking Services
  • Millie Marcus Annex
  • Intensive English Center + Annex
  • NIAR Hub for Advanced Manufacturing Research (HAMR)
  • University Stadium (formerly Cessna Stadium)
  • Wilkins Stadium
Lexi Jensen

Lexi Jensen enjoys the amenities available in Wichita and the campus environment and academic offerings at Wichita State University. In her first months on campus, she dove into activities such as rowing and the Immersive Leadership Institute.

Shockers come from all over, and students from selected major metropolitan areas in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas may be eligible to receive regular in-state tuition at Wichita State. Read what some out-of-state students have to say about why they chose WSU — and Wichita — as their new home.