Learn about first-gen experiences Aug. 15

The Graduate School will host a round table discussion featuring first-generation students and faculty at 3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15 at the 266 Rhatigan Student Center. During the event, first-gen students will share their experiences attending graduate school.

The round table will include first-generation faculty, members of Wichita State’s First-Generation Coordinating Council, First Generation Student Organization, Graduate Student Council and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Sign up for Clash of the Colleges Esports tournament

Wichita State Esports is collaborating with the Office of First-Year Programs to a host Super Smash Bros. Ultimate event as part of the annual Clash of the Colleges event. To join the Esports portion, students can sign up at the Clash of the Colleges Super Smash Bros Ultimate website. Applications will be accepted until midnight Aug. 24.

Clash of the Colleges Virtual Games are also back through Aug. 25. This will include minute-to-win-it home games, talent showcase, e-gaming, scavenger hunts and virtual escape rooms.

For the virtual events, students will receive virtual points for their college, in addition to points won at the in-person event. The final winner of Clash of the Colleges will be announced Aug. 26.

Wichita State University Diversity Lecture Series | Notes from a Young Black Chef: Ingredients for an Inclusive Workplace featuring Kwame Onwuachi, a young black chef & author | 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8 | Doors open @ 6 p.m. | CAC Theater | Register for this event at wichita.edu/diversitylectureseries

Save the date for Diversity Lecture Series

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion is proud to present the Diversity Lecture Series, a series that features distinguished leaders and experts to inspire campus dialogue, community engagement, and learning about the national narrative on diversity and inclusion. An upcoming lecture will take place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8 at CAC Theater.

This lecture will feature keynote speaker Kwame Onwuachi, author of “Notes from a Young Black Chef,” and the topic will be Ingredients for an Inclusive Workplace. Audiences will learn how to shine a light on the challenges their own organizations face, with memorable stories from Kwame’s journey to illustrate the ingredients for success.

The Diversity Lecture Series is free and open to the public. Registration is required to attend.

Join the discussion: ‘Notes from a Young Black Chef’

Join librarians from University Libraries at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11 in the Ablah Library Leisure Reading Room for a discussion about the WSU Common Read selection for the current school year. “Notes From a Young Black Chef” is a memoir about a young man from the Bronx projects and his path to opening an elite restaurant in Washington, D.C.

This path is fraught with painful lessons we can all learn from. Learn more about the book and locate the title in the WSU collections at the Wichita State Common Read 2022: “Notes From a Young Black Chef” web guide found at the link below.

During the discussion event, light refreshments will be available. The discussion is open to the WSU community. Registration is not required, but registered attendees will receive an email reminder.

USDA SBIR webinar and one-on-one meetings

Discover SBIR and STTR grant opportunities available through the Department of Agriculture during a webinar at 10 a.m. on Aug. 25.

This webinar is designed to introduce participants to the opportunities with the USDA SBIR program and meet one-on-one with program manager Melinda Coffman.

Join us to gain a better understanding of the program and the resources available to assist you in proposal development.

This event is free to attend, but registration is required.

Math lecture features speaker from Maynooth University

Please join us for a public lecture by Dr. Mark Walsh titled “The Space of Positive Scalar Curvature Metrics on a Manifold with Singularities,” at 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26 in 372 Jabara Hall. Refreshments will be available at 2:30 p.m. in 353 Jabara Hall.

Engage ICT focuses on teacher shortage

The school year is starting back up, and among the challenges brought on by the pandemic is the nationwide teacher shortage.

We’ll speak with educators and administrators about this historic problem, and how parents can help prepare their kids for success despite these hardships. Our panelists are Katie Harmon, peer consultant at USD 259, and Suzanne Perez, KMUW’s education reporter.

Stream the live conversation starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9 at EngageICT.org or on KMUW’s Facebook page.

Graduate Student Welcome Week August 11-19 Tips to thrive as a graduate student, GTA training, campus tours and more.

Attend Grad Student Welcome Week events

Are you looking for tips to thrive as a grad student, required GTA training, and other orientation activities? Are you an undergrad considering grad education? Check out the Graduate School’s Welcome Week Aug. 11-19.

College Supply List: pens, pencils, highlighters, notebooks, paper, folders, sticky notes, flash drives, note cards, planners and calculators. Back to School Drive, Drop off items by Aug 19 at the student engagement, advocacy & leadership office located in RSC 216 from 9-11 A.M. Monday - Friday.

Shocker Support Locker hosting back-to-school supply drive

The Shocker Support Locker is hosting a back-to-school supply drive 9-11 a.m. until Aug. 19 at the the Office of Student Engagement, Advocacy & Leadership front desk located at 216 Rhatigan Student Center.

Recommended supplies include:

  • Pens
  • Pencils
  • Highlighters
  • Notebooks
  • Paper
  • Folders
  • Sticky Notes
  • Flash Drives
  • Note Cards
  • Planners
  • Calculators

Please ensure that all donations are new items.

For more information, contact Caitlin Nolen at 316-978-3022 or caitlin.nolen@wichita.edu.

Alumni honor WSU professor’s lifelong impact

Dr. Amy Drassen Ham, clinical professor in Wichita State’s College of Health Professions, has been the faculty advisor for the HEALTH Student Association since its inception in 2005. It’s been a longtime dream of hers to create a scholarship supporting students in the organization.

This year, the student association and a group of former students helped her make that dream come true and created the endowed Dr. Amy Drassen Ham HEALTH Scholarship.

“I’m not moved to tears by many things in life, but my face was a waterfall,” said Drassen Ham.