Author: Sara Ornelas

President Rick Muma sends a thank you to the faculty and staff who’ve worked so hard this year.

President Rick Muma congratulates all Shocker students for their accomplishments this year.

More than 3,500 Shockers are eligible for graduation in spring 2021. While each of their journeys is unique, they all share a common connection to Shocker Nation. Here’s what some of our graduates have to say about their time at Wichita State and the future.  

A live YouTube virtual faculty and staff town hall will be held from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 13. This is an opportunity to hear and interact with President Rick Muma and Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Shirley Lefever. The event will be moderated by the presidents of the Faculty, UP and USS senates.

Faculty and staff who want to participate are encouraged to do so during the live YouTube stream. If you don’t currently have a YouTube account, click here for more information on how to create one. Creating an account will help facilitate questions in the live chat section of the Virtual Town Hall. 

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I am humbled and appreciative of the confidence that the Kansas Board of Regents and the presidential search committee have shown in appointing me as the 15th president of this great institution. It is truly an honor.

But I didn’t come to this presidency overnight or alone. It’s only through the support of my family and the Wichita State community that I’ve grown into this job, and it’s with that same support and spirit that, together, we are primed to move the university forward together to become the premier urban-based public research university — not only in Kansas, but also the nation.

Through the individual talents of each of you and our collective determination, we can achieve our goals of making education accessible and affordable; supporting Kansas businesses with a talent pipeline that meets employers’ needs; and increasing the economic prosperity with higher education that benefits the Kansas economy. 

Our potential and growth as an institution is fueled by our audacity and ambition, and it is through our tenacity and persistence that we will succeed in accomplishing our vision to be one of the nation’s most innovative research universities, known for providing impactful student experiences and driving prosperity for the people and communities we serve.

I look forward to the many conversations that I’ll have with each of you and all of Shocker Nation during the coming weeks and months. Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities to share your ideas. Your support and insight mean everything to me and to the future of Wichita State University.

Go Shockers!

Paul Leeker, from Colwich, enjoyed his professors in the Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs and their assistance in preparing him for a career as a public administrator. Paul is one of more than 3,500 students eligible for spring 2021 graduation. Learn more about his time at Wichita State and what is next for the grad.

The Kansas Board of Regents has announced a meeting of the board at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 6, in the Rhatigan Student Center’s Shirley Beggs Ballroom (third floor).

The board plans to hold a public vote to name the next president of Wichita State University. Media are invited to attend the meeting, where the president-elect will make an acceptance speech before moving to RSC Room 319 (McKay Room) to take questions from the media.

The announcement will also be streamed live at wsu.news/president-elect.

As of today, Strategic Communications has switched to the updated format of Campus Connection. You might not notice much difference, but read below to learn more about some upgraded features.

• Those who submit items to the newsletters will now have more control over the content-creation process, including being able to add links, bullet points and notes to the Strategic Communications staff.
• Each submission to the newsletter will now live on its own web page, so you can share a submission with whomever you want.

Twelve years following receiving her Master’s in Business Administration, Janet Federico decided to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Wichita State after rediscovering herself as an author, speaker and illustrator later her career.

Janet also holds an associate’s degree in general studies and a bachelor’s degree in applied management and business. She will graduate with her Master’s of Fine Arts in creative writing in May 2022.

“I fell in love with writing when I started writing down the stories I was telling my daughter,” Federico said. “I started drawing pictures with the stories and creating books for her.”

The Student Government Association is excited to announce that we will designate Sept.13-17 as SGA Diversity Week. There will be student and department led programming, events and discussions highlighting the diverse student experience on our campus.

Calling any departments, student organizations, or individuals who would like to host an event during Diversity Week. Fill out this application to be considered.

Any and all experiences are welcomed. For more information, please contact sga.pubrelations@wichita.edu.