Author: Carmen Hytche

The honorees for the 2026 University Faculty Awards will be recognized on Friday, May 8 in 141 Woolsey Hall, Fidelity Bank Ballroom. The reception to meet and greet the honorees will be held at 2:30 p.m. The recognition ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. 

2026 University Faculty Award honorees:

• Excellence in Teaching: Fred Eilts, Department of Finance, Real Estate and Decision Sciences, W. Frank Barton School of Business
• Leadership in the Advancement of Teaching: Daniel Bergman, School of Teaching and Learning, College of Education
• Young Faculty Scholar: Akmal Mirsadikov, Department of Finance, Real Estate and Decision Sciences, W. Frank Barton School of Business
• Academy for Effective Teaching: Robin Folkerts, Department of Teaching and Learning, College of Education
• Excellence in Research: Moriah Beck, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Excellence in Creative Activity: Sam Taylor, Department of English, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Excellence Award for Community Research: Suzanne Hawley, Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Health Professions
• Faculty Risk Taker: Abu Asaduzzaman, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
• Young Faculty Risk Taker: Chris Proppe, Department of Human Performance Studies, College of Education
• Excellence in Accessibility: Raina Rutti, Department of Management, W. Frank Barton School of Business
• Excellence in Online Teaching: Ryan Terry, Department of Management, W. Frank Barton School of Business

The President’s Distinguished Service Awards will recognize faculty and staff for exemplary, dedicated and caring service to the Wichita State community on Friday, May 8.

The reception to meet and greet the honorees is at 9 a.m. The recognition ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. in 141 Woolsey Hall, Fidelity Bank Ballroom.

Honorees were selected by their peers from the university’s Staff Senate and Faculty Senate.

The 2026 President’s Distinguished Award honorees are:

Faculty Senate:

• Robin Henry, Department of History, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Alexander Ziegler, Department of Marketing, W. Frank Barton School of Business

University Staff Senate:

• Mandy Harmon, Undergraduate Admissions, Strategic Enrollment Management
• Scott Jensen, Housing and Residence Life, Student Affairs
• Jacob Mendez, Dean’s Office, College of Engineering
• Naquela Pack, Wichita State Connect, PreK-12 Engagement

University Staff Senate – Wayne Carlisle Award:

• Debra Franklin, Strategic Initiatives, Industry and Defense Programs

You are cordially invited to join the National Employee Appreciation Day celebration with President Rick Muma and his executive team from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, March 6 at Woolsey Hall.

Confirm attendance by RSVPing online by Monday, March 2 to meet the executive team, have a hamburger and enjoy yard games.

Thank you to the groups that have shown interest in WSU Day at Wichita Riverfest’s FutureFest. Let’s build a high-energy Shocker Zone designed to spark curiosity, celebrate innovation and connect thousands of visitors with the incredible people and programs across WSU at this year’s FutureFest on June 6. All colleges, departments and divisions are invited to host an engagement footprint in the Shocker Zone.

Confirm your interest by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17 by filling out the WSU Day at the Wichita Riverfest form.

The following departments/colleges are ready to show their Shocker spirit on June 6:

• AI Club
• Barton School of Business
• College of Applied Studies
• College of Engineering
• Ennovar
• Facilities Services
• Housing & Residence Life
• Industry and Defense Programs
• Innovation Campus partners
• National Institute for Aviation Research
• Office of Tech Transfer & Commercialization
• School of Criminal Justice
• Shocker Athletics
• Shocker Rowing
• The Midwest Criminal Justice Institute
• Workforce, Professional & Community Education
• WSU Community Engagement Institute
• WSU Old Town/Haysville/West satellite campuses
• WSU Tech

President Rick Muma and First Gentleman Rick Case cordially invite you to the Wichita State Holiday Party from 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 3 in 305/306 Rhatigan Student Center, Shirley Beggs Ballroom. The President’s Executive Team will greet faculty and staff, and attendees will receive a complimentary holiday glass while supplies last (one per person). The holiday party is a come-and-go event.

A general arrival time is appreciated to assist our catering staff in preparations. Kindly RSVP for one of three time slots to let catering know when you are planning to attend by Friday, Nov. 21.

The President’s Distinguished Service Awards recognize faculty and staff for exemplary, dedicated and caring service to Wichita. The reception to meet and greet the honorees and recognition ceremony were held May 9 in Woolsey Hall.

The 2025 President’s Distinguished Award honorees are:

Faculty Senate:

• Susan H. Castro, Department of Philosophy, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• BreAnn M. Gilkey, School of Social Work, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• John Hammond, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

University Staff Senate:

• Amber Anderson, Online Education, Division of Academic Affairs
• Susan McCoy, Department of Chemistry, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Sharmon Holcomb, Registrar’s Office, Division of Academic Affairs
• Stephanie Cockrell, Graduate Programs, W. Frank Barton School of Business

University Staff Senate – Wayne Carlisle Award:

• Christopher Leonard, Counseling and Psychological Services, Division of Student Affairs

The honorees for the 2025 University Faculty Awards were recognized May 9 in Woolsey Hall. The university faculty awards recognizes excellence in teaching, research and creative activities.

The 2025 University Faculty Award honorees are:

• Excellence in Teaching: Brian Rawson
• Leadership in the Advancement: Jen-Chi Cheng
• Young Faculty Scholar: Reagan Murnan
• Academy for Effective Teaching: Mary Liz Jameson and John Watkins
• Excellence in Research: Shuang Gu and Xiaolong Li
• Excellence in Creative Activity: Robert Thomas
• Excellence Award for Community Research: Rachel Showstack
• Faculty Risk Taker: Angela Beeler
• Young Faculty Risk Taker: Davi Soares
• Excellence in Accessibility: Jason Li
• Excellence in Online Teaching: Kate Kung-McIntyre

The honorees for the 2025 University Faculty Awards will be recognized at 3 p.m. May 9 in 141 Woolsey Hall, Fidelity Bank Ballroom. The reception to meet and greet the honorees will be held at 2:30 p.m.

The university faculty awards recognizes excellence in teaching, research and creative activities.

2025 University Faculty Award honorees:

• Excellence in Teaching: Brian Rawson
• Leadership in the Advancement: Jen-Chi Cheng
• Young Faculty Scholar: Reagan Murnan
• Academy for Effective Teaching: Mary Liz Jameson and John Watkins
• Excellence in Research: Shuang Gu and Xiaolong Li
• Excellence in Creative Activity: Robert Thomas
• Excellence Award for Community Research: Rachel Showstack
• Faculty Risk Taker: Angela Beeler
• Young Faculty Risk Taker: Davi Soares
• Excellence in Accessibility: Jason Li
• Excellence in Online Teaching: Kate Kung-McIntyre

The President’s Distinguished Service Awards will recognize faculty and staff for exemplary, dedicated and caring service to the Wichita State community at a ceremony at 9:30 a.m. May 9 in 141 Woolsey Hall, Fidelity Bank Ballroom.

A reception to meet and greet the honorees will be at 9 a.m. the same day.

Honorees were selected by their peers from the university’s Staff Senate and Faculty Senate.

The 2025 President’s Distinguished Award honorees are:

Faculty Senate:

• Susan H. Castro, Department of Philosophy, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• BreAnn M. Gilkey, School of Social Work, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• John Hammond, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

University Staff Senate:

• Amber Anderson, Online Education, Division of Academic Affairs
• Susan McCoy, Department of Chemistry, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Sharmon Holcomb, Registrar’s Office, Division of Academic Affairs
• Stephanie Cockrell, Graduate Programs, W. Frank Barton School of Business

University Staff Senate – Wayne Carlisle Award:

Christopher Leonard, Counseling and Psychological Services, Division of Student Affairs

The Craig W. Barton Speaker Series is an annual event established to expose students and the community to differing points of view and encourage critical thinking and conversation.

The 2025 event did not take place as planned, but to help shape future Barton Speaker Series events, take a moment to complete this brief survey. The survey closes at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, April 23.