Category: Featured Stories

U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development (EDA) Alejandra Y. Castillo visited Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research Wednesday to learn more about university and community efforts to transform the regional economy.

Castillo, along with a delegation from the EDA and Small Business Administration, including regional administrator Vercie Lark, toured NIAR’s Advanced Technologies Laboratory for Aerospace Systems (ATLAS) alongside WSU President Rick Muma, WSU senior vice president for Industry and Defense Programs John Tomblin and WSU associate vice president of strategic initiatives Debra Franklin.

The delegation learned how ATLAS uses transformative technology such as automation and machine learning to change the way manufacturers develop and produce advanced materials.

Following the tour, the group took part in a ‘Coalition Conversation’ with city, county, state and industry representatives. The South Kansas coalition is a finalist for EDA’s $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge. The conversation was a learning opportunity for EDA to understand how the finalists built their coalition and created a collective vision for their region.

The vison of South Kansas’ proposal, Driving Adoption: Smart Manufacturing Technologies, is to empower the equitable adoption of productivity-enhancing emerging technologies for sustainable, precision manufacturing competiveness and profitability.

The conversation centered on equipping and enabling the people of the region with adequate training to meet the demand of the skilled workforce of the future through strategic partnership at all levels.

 “We are proud that the American Rescue Plan’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge is helping to drive place-based, cluster-oriented, transformational economic development here in the Wichita region and across the nation,” said Castillo.

“I’m so excited about this moment in time for our country because when we talk about economic development – pushing the country forward – everyone’s in agreement.”

The South Kansas Coalition is comprised of a regional consortium of industry, government and economic development leaders representing 27 counties in South Kansas and led by WSU-NIAR.

Additional members of the roundtable discussion included Sedgwick County Commissioners David Dennis and Pete Meitzner; John Rolfe, president and CEO of the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce; Jeff Fluhr, president of the Greater Wichita Partnership; Keith Lawing, president and CEO of the Workforce Alliance of South-Central Kansas and Debra Franklin, WSU vice president of Strategic Initiatives. 

Former Wichita State University students might remember Clinton Hall as a dark and cold building, but starting in September, it will begin its metamorphosis into the bright and welcoming Shocker Success Center.

This project will completely transform Clinton Hall into a holistic resource for student services, said Elizabeth King, president and CEO of the WSU Foundation. Centralizing access to these services will help students stay on course to graduate.

While the renovations will bring about remarkable opportunities for students, the construction will cause some temporary disruptions and closures of the sidewalks and parking areas adjacent to Clinton Hall. We’ll be making every effort to minimize the inconvenience for our students, faculty, and staff.

The Dean’s Advisory Council for the College of Health Professions (CHP) met April 29 to discuss the significant impact of simulation and robotics on the training of healthcare professionals.  A major limitation to training in most health professions programs has been the ability to identify and recruit hospitals and health clinics to provide practical experience working with patients in a clinical setting.

Recently, the availability of high-fidelity manikins and robotics has allowed programs to provide practical experience to students through simulated situations in a safe environment for learning.  Simulation training has been shown to better prepare trainees for interacting with human patients and result in better health outcomes.

The CHP has invested over $1 million in new simulation facilities and equipment that will allow the College to provide cutting-edge training to students from undergraduate through doctoral programs.

“High-fidelity robotic simulation will continue to be an important and growing part of training in the health professions,” said Dr. Gregory Hand, dean of CHP. “Our goal is for the college to be second-to-none in providing health science simulation across our programs.”

More than 2,400 Shockers are eligible for graduation in spring 2022. 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.  

Six Wichita State University women were honored with the Women for Women Innovation Award for spring 2022. The Women for Women’s Innovation Fund is awarded to Wichita State University female students to support innovative ideas that show promise of commercialization.

The Women for Women fund was established in 2020 with contributions to the Wichita State University Foundation to support women leaders and entrepreneurs in moving their ideas forward by providing recipients a boost to “Shock the World.” 

The steel columns and beams rising on the east edge of the Innovation Campus will soon provide a physical centerpiece for the ongoing work of digital transformation at Wichita State University.

The National Institute for Research and Digital Transformation (NIRDT) will occupy the building at 18th Street and Oliver by spring 2023. Construction on the 37,000-square-foot building began in January.

Pamela Clancy Ammar and Alex Ammar were named recipients of the 2022 Fairmount Founders’ Award at the annual Fairmount Society dinner held on May 5 at Mark Arts. The WSU Foundation gives the award out annually to recognize those who provide outstanding service and generosity to Wichita State University.

“I have a soft place in my heart for Wichita State,” said Pam. “It’s near and dear to me and I want to see it thrive and continue to flourish.”

Continuing the Shocker Career Accelerator’s Thursdays with 3S series, Jordan Glover recounts his experience moving to Wichita from Kansas City, his internship with 3S, and the lessons he shares with his engineering mentees.

Credit Union of America was recognized today as a 2022 Champion for Wichita State’s College of Applied Studies, honoring its ongoing engagement and financial support of the future educators of Kansas. CUA has pledged an additional $250,000 to the college to continue funding the Corbin Connect program, ongoing technology needs, scholarships, and programming for CAS students.

The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University is helping Butler Community College students interested in furthering their business education with $40,000 in scholarships. These scholarships will help amplify and activate the coordinated “2+2” program between the two schools where Butler students can receive their associates degree and pursue a business degree at WSU.