Author: Abigail Klein

WERX at Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research has completed the first pre-modification baseline test flight for the Kansas Modification Center’s 777-300ERCF passenger-to-freighter conversion program. 

Today’s flight is the first in a series of flight tests scheduled to take place at Air Capital Flight Line over the next several weeks. 

The staff of Wichita State’s Conferences and Non-Credit Services received a visit and cookies as part of the Rick Rewards Presentation on Thursday, April 21.

Rick Rewards is a program by President Rick Muma that launched in December 2021. The program allows President Muma to show his appreciation for the efforts of a member, or members, of the campus community.

WSU’s Conferences and Non-Credit Services staff was recognized for their efforts to make events, especially commencement, both successful and impactful.

There’s a whole world living inside your food waste — billions and billions of microorganisms — just waiting to make your landscaping bloom brighter and your vegetables grow heartier. 

Now Wichita State University is a part of that agricultural miracle thanks to a collaboration among the university, Chartwells catering and Nudge Compost. 

FAA deputy administrator Bradley Mims visited the WERX MRO at Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) Tuesday alongside U.S. Senator Jerry Moran.

Mims, a 40-year aviation industry veteran, toured the NIAR WERX and met with students, administrators and program directors for Kansas Modification Center’s 777-300ERCF conversion and other conversion programs underway at WERX.

His first visit to Wichita in 25 years, one of Mims’ goals was to understand the technical education needs of the industry. He met with WSU senior vice president for Industry and Defense Programs and NIAR executive director John Tomblin and WSU Tech president Sheree Utash, who detailed how NIAR WERX and WSU Tech have collaborated to implement the Get to WERX program This program provides tuition reimbursement for students seeking a certificate in aviation maintenance technology, while simultaneously working in paid positions with NIAR WERX.

“I want to get a feel for what’s going on in the industry in terms of making sure the next generation – next two generations – of young people are getting a technical education to make sure this industry continues to prosper,” Mims said. “On something like this 777 here, moving forward, I want to make sure that our young people are educated and ready to meet the demands for the future – whatever vocation they choose.”

Mims and Moran also toured portions of the NIAR’s Advanced Technologies Lab for Aerospace Systems (ATLAS), next door to NIAR WERX at WSU’s South Oliver site. NIAR and global science company, Solvay, recently announced a partnership in which scientists and engineers at Solvay will be embedded at NIAR ATLAS, lending their expertise in material science while taking advantage of the unique state-of-the-art material development equipment at NIAR ATLAS.

“Mims already understands the importance of strong partnerships between industry, technical education and higher education,” said Tomblin. “Programs like those we have implemented at WSU, NIAR and WSU Tech can and should be duplicated across the nation in order to ensure the strength and power of the aviation industry in U.S.”

MagicHand, an anthropomorphic robotic hand designed by a Wichita State University engineering team, is participating in the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps program.

The MagicHand is designed to achieve various dexterous object manipulations, including object sorting, arranging and packaging. The MagicHand team began the seven-week path to commercialization in March.

The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University has surpassed seven figures in annual scholarships for its students, with funds being distributed throughout the 2021-2022 season.

It’s the first time the Barton School has reached this major milestone, which was made possible by a collection of substantial funds given to the Barton School by generous donors and supporters.

This achievement is another example of how Wichita State prioritizes the goal of providing an accessible, affordable and impactful higher education for all students.

Deborah J. (Davis) Bardo, former first lady of Wichita State University, died April 15, 2022.

Mrs. Bardo was married to WSU’s 13th president, Dr. John Bardo, for 44 years until his death on March 12, 2019. She is survived by their son, Christopher.

Mrs. Bardo served as Wichita State’s first lady from 2012 to 2019. In that role, she especially enjoyed being around students and supporting the many events that brought the community and university together.

Dear colleagues,  

Following our national search and extensive interviews with three finalist candidates for the position of Wichita State’s new executive vice president and provost, I’m very pleased to appoint Dr. Shirley Lefever to the permanent position, effective immediately.  

Dr. Lefever has served as our interim executive vice president and provost since fall 2020. Prior to that, she was dean of the College of Education, which in 2018 she transitioned to the College of Applied Studies. During her tenure as dean, enrollment in the college grew more than 60%, and several new programs were added, including the Teacher Apprentice Program, which remains one of the largest enrolled programs at the university.  

As interim EVP and provost, Dr. Lefever has continued to support our enrollment efforts, which have led to record growth while guiding the university through the immense challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her work is focused directly on Wichita State’s priorities of access to higher education, talent development and economic prosperity.   

As she moves forward in this role, some immediate priorities will include growing need-based aid; increasing student retention; implementing our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion plan; expanding the talent pipeline through applied learning; and growing faculty research.  

All of these goals are driven each day by our three priorities, which Dr. Lefever will uphold in her position as Wichita State’s academic leader:  

• Driving educational access and affordability  
• Meeting the talent pipeline for businesses  
• Increasing economic prosperity for our community  

Dr. Lefever will work to determine the long-term future of the leadership of the College of Applied Studies. Further communication will come when that is available. 

Thank you to those of you who took part in candidate forums and provided your thoughts through the online surveys.  

Finally, having worked closely with Dr. Lefever for 17 years, I can say firsthand how committed she is to our success as a university and the people who make up our Shocker community. I look forward to our continued work together. 

Go Shockers!  
President Rick Muma 

Daily walk-in COVID vaccination services are available for Innovation Campus partners, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at WSU’s Student Wellness Center, inside the Steve Clark YMCA.

For registration, eligibility and locations for vaccines, visit the  COVID-19 Vaccinations page.

Wichita State’s Staff Senate is hosting a historical walking tour of main campus beginning at 11:30 a.m. Friday, April 29 at the Millie the Millipede sculpture. The group will be led by Dr. Jay Price Department of History professor and chair, and Jessica Cerri, University Libraries Special Collections curator and university archivist. The tour will focus on notable changes to the campus that have enhanced accessibility to the institution over time. The tour will end at the the Food Truck Plaza.