Office of Diversity and Inclusion 16th annual MLK commemoration. Keynote speaker: Kyle Ellison, founding director of Khan Lab School Wichita

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) invites you to join its annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. commemoration at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31 at the Cadman Art Gallery in the Rhatigan Student Center, where it will honor the highlights and memorialize the work, accomplishments and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with keynote speaker Kyle Ellison and announce the Drum Major Award recipients.

Ellison is the founding director of Khan Lab School Wichita. He was born and raised in Wichita, graduated from Northeast Magnet High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in general studies with an emphasis in communications here at Wichita State. He believes learning goes beyond traditional academic subjects by encouraging students to explore their imagination, express themselves and develop skills essential for success in various aspects of life. For his pioneering work, he’s received recognition from the Wichita Business Journal 40 Under 40, Wichita Urban Professionals Professional of the Year, Wichita State University Alumni Association Young Alumni Award and the Kansas Nonprofit Chamber 2019 Emerge and Lead Class. Most recently, Kyle was the 2023 H.N. Sims Excellence in Education awardee given by the Wichita NAACP.

Learn more about ODI on its website and follow ODI on Instagram, Facebook and X, or contact ODI at 316-978-3034 or diversity@wichita.edu.

University Libraries encourages faculty and staff to invite students to the library tour at noon Friday, Jan. 26 and at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30.

Discover the Digital Scholars Commons, a hub for cutting-edge digital resources, the 24-Hour Study Room for anytime productivity and the captivating VR Zone transforming the learning experience. And attend an insightful session on navigating the library homepage to access online articles, research sources, streaming content and interlibrary loan services.

Spread the word to your students about this fantastic opportunity to explore the library.

A copy of "The Other Eden" by Paul Harding with the text Literary Feast Wednesday, Jan. 31 and the KMUW logo

KMUW’s monthly book club, Literary Feast, features selections made by its staff. For January, KMUW is reading “This Other Eden” by Paul Harding.

Participants will meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31 at KMUW for a group discussion over dinner. Dinner is provided by Public, and guests are invited to bring a beverage to share with the group.

Incoming graduate teaching assistants chat during GTA training.

Training for GTAs is set from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10 in 305/306 Rhatigan Student Center, Beggs Ballroom. Faculty and staff are asked to encourage students who are new GTAs to attend. GTA training also has an online component that students must complete in Blackboard.

Incoming Graduate Research Assistants are invited to attend the same training from 10:20 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A split session will cover the rights and duties of GRAs.

Check-in starts at 8:30 a.m.

All Innovation Campus partners are invited to a lunchtime panel discussion, “The Impact of Generative AI on Business and Work” from noon to 12:50 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10 on the first floor NetApp building, Defiance Room, and via Teams.

The expert panel will include speakers from around the Innovation Campus as well as USD 259 and Wichita State. Speakers will include Neal Tilley, CISCO; Jeff Bartel, AirBus; Mark Padding, Rewards Network; Chuck Passannante, Textron; Dyane Smokorowski, USD 259; and Tonya Witherspoon, Wichita State. This panel discussion is part of the Academic Resources Conference (ARC), a free, mostly-online conference hosted by WSU three times a year. Check out the ARC schedule page to see if any other sessions catch your eye.

Strategic Communications staff pose for a photo. Strategic Communications Seminar. January 25, 2024 | RSC Ballroom. RSVP Today

Join us for the eighth annual Strategic Communications marketing and communications seminar for WSU faculty and staff from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Jan. 25.

The opening session and all breakout sessions will be held on the third floor of the Rhatigan Student Center. Gain additional insights, tools and tips to help you improve your marketing and communication efforts. Attendees may choose to attend two of five sessions.

Join Zach Gearhart, chief of staff and executive director of government relations, for updates on the Kansas legislature relevant to Wichita State. The next meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12 in 101 Morrison Hall.

The meeting is open to all faculty, staff and students and is held every other Friday following each legislative session.

Graphic with yellow background and centered text that reads The Toast A Graduation Celebration

Are you an online learner or not able to make it to The Toast? Tune in online at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15 to watch The Toast: A Graduation Celebration featuring remarks from President Rick Muma, Teri Hall, vice president of Student Affairs, and Stacie Williamson, vice president of alumni engagement.

Congratulations to the upcoming graduates and enjoy celebrating with family, near and far.

Stylized cartoon in yellow, blue, and black showing people discussing around a round table, one wearing a stethoscope

The second annual Healthcare Research Roundtable will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 22. This year it’s reaching out to the University of Kansas and WSU Tech as well as the community and industry partners, and it’s extending its scope to include clinical work, the arts, humanities, applied studies and all the health-related work done.

This is a great opportunity for discovery, coalition-building and strategic planning. RSVP to help event organizers prepare and to volunteer to give a flash presentation (roughly five minutes) about your work. Spread the word and share the link.

Sponsored by the President’s Innovation Advisory Council (PIAC) and the Academic Center for Biomedical and Health Humanities (HealthHum). Support provided by the WSU Office of the President.

As part of their sergeant promotion process, the Wichita State University Police Department (WSUPD) will do presentations for the community starting at 8 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 14 in 261 Rhatigan Student Center, Olive Room. Community members will be asked for their feedback for the applicants as a part of the selection process.