Category: Featured Stories

This month’s issue of Forward Together starts off with a message from President Rick Muma about how Wichita State fits into the New University model. Additional items include the following:

• The importance of faculty and staff to support students’ success
• The transformation of Clinton Hall into the Shocker Success Center
• The groundbreaking for the Millie Marcus Annex at the Marcus Welcome Center

The Wichita State University Board of Trustees approved funding for the first two phases of the renovation of Cessna Stadium last week. The timing of the demolition and renovation will be scheduled to avoid interruption of high school and Wichita State track and field meets.

When completed, the new university stadium will accommodate more than 10,000 spectators and include an 8-lane track and space for a soccer field.The stadium opened in 1946 as Veterans Stadium and was expanded and renamed Cessna Stadium in 1969.

Basil Hourani, co-founder and former CEO of Pulse Systems Inc. and co-founder and executive partner of Capital7, has been named as the Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University for the fall 2022 semester.

The Entrepreneur-in-Residence program was established in 2021 to provide essential collaboration and outside industry knowledge to Barton School students, faculty and the Wichita community.

Brian Umbenhauer and Geoff Tuff, principals at Deloitte, are joining forces to become the joint Executives-in-Residence at the W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University for the fall 2022 semester.  

The Executive-in-Residence program was established last year to provide Barton School students, faculty and the Wichita community with vital perspectives and knowledge from industry leaders.

The Tallgrass Film Festival has become a staple in Wichita’s arts community during the past 20 years, engaging audiences with world-class programming in a celebration of cinematic arts. The festival is known for connecting film-savvy audiences with cutting-edge filmmakers from all over the world, providing a unique experience throughout the four-day festival. This year, Wichita State student Corri Newman will be added to the list of distinguished filmmakers who have contributed to the festival’s legacy.

Corri’s short documentary, “Kansas Honor Flight,” was selected to be screened at the 2022 festival, and the news came as a pleasant surprise to Corri.

Alexander Sterzing is a member of Wichita State’s rowing team and involved in other activities such as the International Buddy Program and Christian Challenge. Alexander, from the Houston area, majors in aerospace engineering and works in the NASA Jump Start Program.

Shockers come from all over, and students from selected major metropolitan areas in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas may be eligible to receive regular in-state tuition at Wichita State. Read what some out-of-state students have to say about why they chose WSU — and Wichita — as their new home.

Brianna Smith, a computer engineering junior, is from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and is applying her student skills as a research analyst at FirePoint. While there, Brianna has led development of STEM education programs where she can use her coding and leadership experience.

Shockers come from all over, and students from selected major metropolitan areas in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas may be eligible to receive regular in-state tuition at Wichita State. 

Learn more about Kevin Dao’s study abroad experience in France during summer 2022. Kevin shares how his program will prepare him for the future and how valuable his study abroad experience is for his future career in business.

Learn more about Alia Michaelis’ study abroad experience in Argentina during summer 2022. Alia shares why she chose to study abroad for Spanish and in the health care field for her classes.

Wichita State senior Sydney McKinney is a student-athlete made for the era of name, image and likeness opportunties.

McKinney is a softball All-American, artist, entrepreneur, and diligent brand manager for herself. When NCAA and college administrators conceived of NIL benefits – compensating student-athletes for their talent and time – McKinney is the perfect example of the intended outcome.