Author: Caelin Bragg

The Kansas Hospital Association (KHA) has awarded Wichita State University President Rick Muma the 2024 Donald A. Wilson Visionary Award. The award, which was based on a nomination by leadership at Ascension Via Christi, recognizes Muma’s efforts in developing the Wichita Biomedical Campus, building partnerships and advancing Wichita’s health education infrastructure. 

KHA’s Visionary Award “recognizes hospital-related individuals who have made an outstanding, innovative contribution to health care delivery, health care financing or initiatives that improve the health and clinical outcomes of their community. The award recognizes a hospital-related individual who has been a change agent in the hospital industry,” according to its website.  

Muma has been a significant driver behind the vision and development of the Wichita Biomedical Campus, a collaboration with the University of Kansas and WSU Tech. Phase 1 of the biomedical campus broke ground in downtown Wichita in May, and the first building is expected to open in 2026.

The School of Performing Arts in the College of Fine Arts invites the Wichita community to its 2024-25 season of productions.

This year’s season is centered around “Building Community.”

Fall 2024:

• Express – Sept. 28 in the Welsbacher Black Box Theatre, Hughes Metropolitan Complex
• Mid-American Dance Theatre presents the Student Choreography Showcase – Oct. 24-26 in Litwin Theatre, Heskett Dance Studios (student-led production)
• Twelfth Night – Nov. 7-10 in the Wilner Auditorium
• Dance at Ulrich – Nov. 15 in the Ulrich Museum of Art
• Senior Capstone Celebration – Nov. 23 in Wilner Auditorium
• Dance Informal Showing – Dec. 5 in Wilner Auditorium

Spring 2025:

• Spring Awakening – Feb. 20-23 in Wilner Auditorium
• The Angel of Death reading by Bela Kiralyfalvi competition winner – March 6-8 in the Welsbacher Black Box Theatre, Hughes Metropolitan Complex
• Wichita State Musical Theatre Company production – April 10-12 in the Welsbacher Black Box Theatre, Hughes Metropolitan Complex (student-led production)
• Film double feature: Mostly Harmless (Mostly) and Dance Film – April 19 in the Welsbacher Black Box Theatre, Hughes Metropolitan Complex
• Spring Dance Concert – April 24-27 in Wilner Auditorium
• Empty Space Theatre production – May 1-3 in the Welsbacher Black Box Theatre, Hughes Metropolitan Complex (student-led production)
• Dance Informal Showing – May 8 in Wilner Auditorium

Tickets can be purchased online from the College of Fine Arts Box Office. Wichita State students can attend on-campus Wichita State Fine Arts events at no additional charge with their Shocker ID, thanks to the Student Government Association.

Learn more about this season’s productions on the School of Performing Arts website.

Join the Student Government Association (SGA) Student Senate for a meeting at 7:30 p.m. today in 233 Rhatigan Student Center, Santa Fe Trail Room. There will also be a livestream available on the SGA YouTube.

The Wichita State SGA is the governing entity for the student experience at the university. SGA is charged with promoting and stimulating student participation in the university’s activities and providing an official channel of communication between the students, faculty, staff and administration.

Important message: Due to rising costs of captioning services, effective Sept. 11, SGA will no longer be livestreaming regular meetings. SGA will only livestream select meetings such as Student Fees, and other meetings as determined by SGA Leadership. All meetings will be recorded and uploaded to the SGA YouTube by end of day Thursday. If you have feedback, email sga@wichita.edu.

Join the Shocker Career Accelerator for the Career Connection Root Beer Kegger from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28 on the lawn east of Hubbard Hall. Grab a hot dog, an ice-cold root beer (while supplies last) and chat with employers to learn about their organizations. Connecting with employers in this casual environment is a great way to make initial connections and learn more about their organizations.

Don’t forget to bring your Shocker ID for entry. You can leave the formal attire behind because the dress code for this event is casual. Register and view employer list, and let others know about the Root Beer Kegger.

For questions, contact the Shocker Career Accelerator at 316-978-3688 or SCA@wichita.edu; visit in-person in the Marcus Welcome Center, Suite 139; or learn more on the Shocker Career Accelerator website.

Wichita State University is progressing in the search for a senior executive vice president and provost. The university recently completed a successful search for its senior vice president for administration, finance and operations (appointed Dr. Aaron Mitchell on Aug. 19), with the assistance of the executive search firm Isaacson, Miller, which is now facilitating the SEVP and provost search.

Dr. Shirley Lefever, the current executive vice president and provost, announced her plans to retire at the end of the calendar year last semester. The search for her successor has been active throughout the summer and continues into the fall semester. Key upcoming milestones in the search process include:

• Early September: The search committee will select semi-finalists.
• Late September: The search committee will interview semi-finalists and select finalists.
• October: Finalists will visit campus with opportunities to meet with faculty, staff, students and additional university stakeholders.

WSU plans to announce the final selection of a candidate later in the fall. The start date is expected to be spring 2025.

Join an open house to celebrate Kevin Young, architect with Facilities Planning, who is retiring after 10 years of service to Wichita State, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5 at the Facilities Planning office in Gaddis Physical Plant.

Stop by for refreshments, shared memories and well-wishes to send Kevin off into retirement.

Since 2005, Wichita State’s Marcus Welcome Center has served as the gateway to campus, welcoming prospective students and their families. It showcases the university’s commitment to excellence and guides visitors through the application and admissions process.

Thanks to another generous gift from the Marcus family, the center now features a new addition that underscores Wichita State’s dedication to students’ applied learning and career development.

The Milly Marcus Annex is now the permanent home for the Shocker Career Accelerator, a multidimensional career-readiness experience that helps students build resumes and LinkedIn profiles, practice and prepare for interviews, meet with prospective employers, and find applied learning and post-graduation full-time employment opportunities.

Hello, Shockers.

I can’t wait to see all of you back on campus for the beginning of the 2024 academic year at Wichita State. We have a lot of exciting new buildings and areas on campus for you to explore, with some completed over the summer, including the Milly Marcus Annex at the Marcus Welcome Center — home of the Shocker Career Accelerator; the Shocker Success Center in the former Clinton Hall; the Digital Research and Transformation Hub on the Innovation Campus; and the new Adelante Juntos (Forward Together) mural at the Duerksen Amphitheater.

I encourage you to take the opportunities available to you at Wichita State to foster innovation, collaboration and personal growth.

Let’s make this a year of discovery, connection and achievement.

Go Shockers!

Hello, Shockers.

I can’t wait to see all of you back on campus for the beginning of the 2024 academic year at Wichita State. We have a lot of exciting new buildings and areas on campus for you to explore, with some completed over the summer, including the Milly Marcus Annex at the Marcus Welcome Center — home of the Shocker Career Accelerator; the Shocker Success Center in the former Clinton Hall; the Digital Research and Transformation Hub on the Innovation Campus; and the new Adelante Juntos (Forward Together) mural at the Duerksen Amphitheater.

I encourage our faculty and staff to take the opportunities available to you at Wichita State to foster innovation, collaboration and personal growth.

Let’s make this a year of discovery, connection and achievement.

Go Shockers!

The College of Innovation and Design is forming a team for the 2024-25 NASA SUITS Challenge. Students from all backgrounds and majors are welcome, especially those with AR/VR or Unreal Engine skills.

Students who want to learn more can attend a NASA Suits info session from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29 in 103/104 Devlin Hall, Open XR Lab.

Students who have questions or can’t make the info session can email Maggie Schoonover at maggie.schoonover@wichita.edu for more information.