Category: Featured Stories

Wichita State junior Sejun Moon is exploring how teams of autonomous robots work together in extreme environments like Mars using a multi-agent reinforcement learning approach. Under the guidance of Dr. Fujian Yan, Moon is developing a scalable, hierarchical system that enables robot collaboration with minimal human input — a concept with promising applications for both space exploration and disaster response here on Earth.

Wichita State University’s research emphasis includes opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty and staff, and extends across campus from aerospace to ancient civilizations and business administration to biochemistry.

Daniel Reichart uses advanced simulations to study how a CubeSat detector can identify space particles like electrons, protons and alpha particles. His work, guided by physics professor Dr. Nick Solomey and supported by NASA’s Jumpstart Program, contributes to understanding radiation hazards in space and showcases how undergraduates can play a vital role in space research.

Wichita State University’s research emphasis includes opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty and staff, and extends across campus from aerospace to ancient civilizations and business administration to biochemistry.

Lille Nightingale combined her lifelong fascination with animals and her passion for dance to create a capstone project researching the emotional and physical challenges of wildebeest migration. Guided by a team of dedicated faculty mentors, she translated her research into a compelling group performance that reflects the patterns, struggles and shared emotional experiences of both humans and animals.

Wichita State University’s research emphasis includes opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty and staff, and extends across campus from aerospace to ancient civilizations and business administration to biochemistry.

Five undergraduate students from Wichita State were among the 26 students recognized at the 23rd annual Kansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (K-INBRE) Symposium in Kansas City, Missouri.

The WSU students who received an Award of Excellence:

• Yara Abdine, junior in biomedical engineering, gave the poster presentation, “Glycosylation unveiled: Exploring the structure and function of FSH hormone glycoforms”
• Mark White, senior in biochemistry, gave the poster presentation, “Using FRET to Assess Conjugate Binding of Anthrax Toxin’s PA and Antigen Spy0469”

The WSU students who received an Honorable Mention:

• Lauren Hughes, junior in biomedical engineering, gave the poster presentation, “What’s Linker Have to Do With It? Examining the Structure and Stability of Palladin’s Ig3-4 Linker Region”
• Breanna Leach, sophomore in biomedical engineering, gave the poster presentation, “Patterns of brain Ferritin expression in the Drosophila divalent cation transporter mutant Malvolio”
• Julie Tran, senior in chemistry, gave the poster presentation, “Structural Elucidation of the Ig3 Domain of Myopalladin by NMR”

The remaining WSU students who presented at the K-INBRE Symposium:

• Emma Simmons, junior, gave the oral presentation, “Developing A Wearable Fetal Heart Monitor: A Practical Evaluation of Fetal Electrocardiogram Extraction Algorithms”
• John Bourget, senior; Ahmed Alsoudi, senior; Zoie Liska, senior; and Anna Brake, senior; gave the poster presentation, “Structure Guided Design of Broad-Spectrum Inhibitors of Coronavirus 3CL Proteases”
• Karen Abril Bustamante-Fuchs, senior, gave the poster presentation, “The functional regulation of protein-based nanofiber bioscaffolds on human astrocyte for neural regeneration”

Anna Brake, a junior in Wichita State’s Honors Baccalaureate program, got involved in research her freshman year after reading about a project to develop a wearable fetal heart monitor. Now, she’s helping improve access to prenatal care in rural and underserved communities.

Wichita State University’s research emphasis includes opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty and staff, and extends across campus from aerospace to ancient civilizations and business administration to biochemistry.

Working a paid internship in Shocker Athletics means working nights and weekends. The deadlines are constant – before a game, during a game and after a game. 

WSU students are learning the importance of teamwork and communication in order to handle the pace and conditions as part of the athletic department’s creative team.  

Knowing they are serving as a conduit from all 16 Shockers sports to their fans makes it a job they enjoy. 

“There is always something happening with each sports team,” said sophomore Bryan Chavez, a journalism and media production major from Dallas. “We’re providing for fans, and they’re relying on us. That’s what makes it a fun job.” 

The eighth cohort of Rudd Scholars includes 14 Kansas high school seniors who have chosen to attend Wichita State.

• Ke’Ahjahnae Rice – Highland Park High School
• Juan Flores-Hernandez – Wichita North High School
• Nayeli Andrade – Wichita South High School
• Conner Huddleston – Goddard High School
• Jailyn Millar – Little River High School
• Kailee Mendoza – Winfield High School
• Lily DiNuzzo – Saint John High School
• Jeena Moore-Kirby – Wichita Heights High School
• Jordan Prue – Saint Thomas Aquinas High School
• Cristofer Correa-Sandoval – Wichita Northwest High School
• Arizvel Tavarez – Wichita East High School
• Erica Thompson – Shawnee Mission Northwest High School
• Lillian Delgado – Valley Center High School
• Brody Anderson – Burlington High School

Each Rudd Scholar will receive a full-ride scholarship, which includes tuition, fees, on-campus housing and considerable networking and coaching support along the way.

Shocker rowing will celebrate its 50th anniversary April 26-27 with activities honoring the history of the program at Wichita State.

Founded in 1975, Shocker Rowing has competed at home on the Arkansas River and across the nation in the sport’s most prestigious events. The celebration of five decades of excellence will include opportunities for alumni, current Shockers and the community to recognize the many achievements of crew at Wichita State.

The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University visited Valley Center High School to award senior Luke Hoy the 2025 Clay Barton Scholarship Feb. 26. The surprise included an announcement and presentation of a ceremonial check of $50,000, which is one of the largest business scholarships in Kansas.

“I was not expecting this, not at all,” Hoy said. “It’s not an everyday occurrence for people to come into your classroom and give you $50,000.”

As you return to campus after spring break, you will notice ongoing and new construction across Wichita State’s 330 acres and beyond.

Main campus:

Corbin Education Center
Corbin Education Center remains closed with repair work underway this spring to replace equipment in mechanical room damaged by a chilled water line break in 2024. The College of Applied Studies will move back into Corbin at the end of the spring 2025 semester.

University Stadium Phase 1A
Construction is underway on Phase 1A on the east side of University Stadium (formerly Cessna Stadium). The first phase of construction includes bleacher seating, a pavilion building that will house ticketing, restrooms, and concessions as well as a plaza and parking lot between the stadium and Devlin Hall.

Phase 1A completion is scheduled for May 2025 before KSHSAA Track and Field State Championship on May 30-31. Phase 1B will begin in June 2025 after KSHSAA Track and Field State Championship. Phase 1B will consist of widening the field and installing a nine-lane track.

Wilkins Stadium
Construction on the softball indoor practice facility next to Wilkins Stadium is underway. The facility is scheduled to be complete in April 2025.

Pickleball courts
Construction is underway for three pickleball courts on the lawn area between Heskett Center, Hubbard Hall and Lindquist Hall. It is anticipated that the pickleball courts will be ready for use in late April.

McKnight Art Center
Construction is underway for ventilation upgrades on the second floor of McKnight North. Work is scheduled to finish by the fall of 2025.

Duerksen Fine Arts Center
Construction is complete on adding a single occupancy restroom and lounge area in the B wing.

Brennan I, II and III demolition
Demolition of the three buildings is planned for summer 2025. Office relocations for staff are scheduled for late May/early June.

Innovation Campus:

NIAR Hub for Advanced Manufacturing Research
Construction on the NIAR HAMR building continues to progress. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2025.

The 170,000-square-foot building is partly funded by an EDA grant and will house advanced manufacturing research labs and associated offices. The building will be located on Innovation Boulevard between the Partnership Building 1 and The Suites. The first floor is primarily labs with offices on the second floor.

Partnership Building 3B
P3B, located between Partnership Building 3 and The Smart Factory @Wichita, is under construction. It will house the Forensic Crime Gun Intelligence Laboratory for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).