Author: Caelin Bragg

Wichita State is more than a campus where students learn and study. It’s a place to solve problems, to do research, to forge a pathway to a better tomorrow. It is a community where the dreamers, doers and Shockers of the future are encouraged to push boundaries, think critically and pursue their passions.

President Rick Muma and the President’s Executive Team observed National Employee Appreciation day March 7. The WSU Employee Appreciation Day was filled with conversations, games and food. Special guest, WuShock, wandered around the room greeting and taking photos with attendees.

The event was part of President Muma’s Rick Rewards, a recognition to different departments every month to highlight the work of the Shocker community that betters everyone in Shocker Nation.

David Miller has been named as senior vice president for Administration, Finance and Operations at Wichita State.

Miller has been in the interim role since November. In the role, which is part of the President’s Executive Team, Miller will provide leadership and support to the university community with oversight of the Budget Office, Facilities Planning, Facilities Services, Police, Financial Services, Human Resources, Information Technology Services and Information Security.  

Lynn and Sherry Nichols have given a lead gift of $1 million to Wichita State University to kick off the fundraising campaign for the new, state-of-the-art Shocker Fly Lab, an enclosed flight space to research, design and test unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that will position the university at the forefront of unmanned aerial system (UAS) education and development.

“This project is something Sherry and I were interested in supporting from the moment we heard about it,” said Lynn Nichols, retired chairman and CEO of Yingling Aviation, a full-service aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul company based in Wichita. “We have watched first-hand as the aerospace industry has grown and shifted with new technologies, and this project will ensure Wichita State students are receiving a future-focused aerospace education.”

During the past decade, Wichita State University has been a recognized leader in the development and implementation of microcredentials. Now, the university’s work has taken a significant step forward with its launch of the first 1EdTech TrustEd Microcredential. 

“We are at the forefront of innovation as it relates to microcredentials,” said Kim Moore, executive director of Workforce, Professional and Community Education at Wichita State. “I’m always looking for opportunities where we can lead.”

As part of the construction on Wilkins Stadium, there will be a scheduled power outage from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 8 in the following buildings:

• Jabara Hall
• Lindquist Hall
• Heskett Center
• Grace Wilkie Hall
• Grace Wilkie Annex

Heskett Center will be closed the entire day.

Students with their Shocker IDs can get free access to the Gridiron sketch comedy show at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 12 at Roxy’s Downtown, 412 E. Douglas Ave.

The show consists of multiple satirical acts that look at current events. The theme this year is “Wickedly Funny,” which is a spinoff of the new movie “Wicked.”

Annually, the Gridiron show is created by local journalists. They write the scripts and perform on stage to raise funds for journalism scholarships distributed by the Society of Professional Journalists, Kansas Pro Chapter. 

For more information, visit the Gridiron website or contact info@wichitagridiron.com.

The Office of Human Resources would like to welcome Triniece Robertson to Wichita State as its new director of HR operations and Total Rewards. Triniece started in her role in February.

With her 10 years of experience in human resources, including most recently as the director of human resources from the city of Newton, Triniece will provide leadership and oversight on compensation, benefits, leave/ADA, HRMS and the HR Service Center teams as a member of WSU’s HR office.

She graduated from WSU with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and from the University of Phoenix with a master’s degree in human resource management. She is also a SHRM-CP and is president-elect for the Kansas PSHRA (Public Sector HR Association).

The College of Engineering has named the latest group of high school seniors to join the Wallace Scholar program.

• Emilia Bustamante – Lincoln Northeast High School in Nebraska; mechanical engineering
• Tyllor Childers – Wichita Northwest High School; aerospace engineering
• Hudson Coffman – Blanchard High School in Oklahoma; aerospace engineering
• Lexi Grimm – Kapaun Mount Carmel Catholic High School in Wichita; aerospace engineering
• Connor Maul – J.J. Pearce High School in Dallas; aerospace engineering
• Sean McDermott – Eisenhower High School in Goddard, Kansas; cybersecurity
• Luke Osburn – Andover High School in Kansas; aerospace engineering
• Molly Patterson – Miami Yoder Preparatory Academy in Peyton, Colorado; aerospace engineering
• Madison Sohm – Russell Junior-Senior High School in Russell, Kansas; industrial engineering
• John Vonder Bruegge – Kirkwood High School in Missouri; mechanical engineering

Each of the 10 Wallace Scholarship recipients will receive $30,500 to attend WSU for four years.

Wallace Scholars comprise a community of more than 45 College of Engineering students, representing every class and almost every major in the college. Wallace Scholars are involved in the College of Engineering, across the WSU campus and throughout the greater Wichita community.

Wichita State is expanding its impact on community mental wellness through a new partnership with OneRise, a leading advocate for behavioral health innovation. This collaboration will enhance the reach of the Suspenders4Hope program, providing critical mental health education and resources to communities across Kansas, particularly in underserved areas and among priority groups such as veterans, medical professionals, construction workers and hospitality industry employees. 

“Wichita State University has been a pioneer in community mental health through initiatives like the Suspenders4Hope program. Now, with the partnership between WSU and OneRise, we’re poised to expand this movement across Kansas and beyond,” said Dr. Jessica Provines, wellness AVP and co-founder of Suspenders4Hope. “Our mission is to bring hope to people in moments of despair by uniting all sectors–education, business, healthcare and others in this effort. This collaboration will enhance mental health services for everyone while driving innovation in how our communities address mental health challenges.”

The Suspenders4Hope program, developed at WSU, is a movement built on research and created in partnership with mental health professionals. The program offers free online training, workplace wellness resources and a community-driven approach to preventing suicide and overdose. In joining forces with OneRise, WSU aims to strengthen Kansas’ behavioral health network by training more advocates, equipping workplaces and breaking down barriers to care.

“We believe that mental well-being is crucial for a thriving community,” said OneRise president Matthew Tannehill “We are proud to partner with Wichita State University to support the Suspenders4Hope program and contribute to the positive mental health of our friends and neighbors in the region. Suspenders4Hope empowers individuals with a simple but powerful method to support mental wellness: Share, Ask, Support. It’s like the ’stop, drop and roll’ training we all learned as kids, but a lot more likely to be a skill we need to draw on at different points in our life.”

These steps foster hope, connection and action — creating a stronger, healthier Kansas one conversation at a time. Suspenders4Hope offers free online mental health training for individuals and workplaces. Whether you’re an employer looking to improve workplace culture or simply someone who wants to help a friend in need, this training provides practical skills to recognize and respond to mental health concerns in your own life and the lives of others.

Be a mental health advocate with the Share, Ask, Support method.

• Share your own experiences to normalize conversations about mental health and express concern when you notice someone struggling.
• Ask for the help you need and check in on others — talking directly about suicide can save lives.
• Support without judgement, connect to resources and stay in touch.

Visit Suspenders4Hope.com to:

• Take free online training.
• View real stories of hope.
• Explore free wellness resources including instructions on how to build your own Hope Kit.