Category: Kudos

Starting April 14 is Telecommunicators and Dispatch Week, and everyone is encouraged to celebrate telecommunicators and dispatchers for their work behind the scenes keeping campus informed and safe.

The campus community is invited to share their stories of how they’ve made a difference, or simply drop a note of appreciation, at police@wichita.edu.

Congratulations to Dr. Gregory Hand, dean of the College of Health Professions, and Dr. Voncella McCleary-Jones, associate dean of the College of Health Professions, for receiving Wichita Business Journal’s 2024 Healthcare Hero Awards. The awards were presented during a banquet on April 2 at the Wichita Marriott.

Health Care Heroes recognizes outstanding healthcare professionals for their contributions to improving health care in Wichita and the surrounding area.

Usha Haley, W. Frank Barton Distinguished Chair of International Business and director of the Center for International Business Advancement, had her NSF-funded research covered in oilprice.com as significant research on how Chinese investments can affect oil prices and technology development in U.S. shale gas.

The article, “Chinese Investments In U.S. Shale Gas Have Been Bad For The Sector,” can be accessed online.

With a focus on oil and gas, alternative energy and geopolitics, Oilprice.com says it “is the most popular energy news site in the world.”

Dr. Nick Solomey, professor in the Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics, provided insights on what has been described as the “Great American Eclipse” to KWCH on April 8.

He discussed the mechanics of a solar eclipse and what viewers should do to safely watch the eclipse.

Usha Haley, W. Frank Barton Distinguished Chair in International Business, wrote about the societal implications of her NSF funded research for The Hill in the article, “Chinese Investment in Shale-Gas Technology Is a Threat to US Innovation” April 1.

Besides being the second-most accessed political website after CNN, The Hill describes itself as “read by opinion leaders, including 100 percent of Congressional offices, the White House, political pundits, association executives, lobbyists and corporate leaders.”

Usha Haley, Barton Distinguished Chair in International Business, director of the Center for International Business Advancement and chair of the World Trade Council of Wichita, was quoted in the Wichita Business Journal on considerations regarding a successful acquisition of home-town company Spirit by Boeing in the article, “A Boeing Buyout of Spirit AeroSystems might not mean a ‘deluge of pink slips.’”

The Capitol Graduate Research Summit took place in Topeka March 21. Over 40 graduate students from six Kansas public universities presented their research and how it contributes to the economic development of the state.

Two Wichita State students were awarded at the summit, including Jade Driggs, human factors major, for her poster on the “reverse fundamental attribution error for automated systems: implications for Kansas agricultural operations,” and Jorge de la Hoz, Spanish major, for his poster on “Spanish heritage learners in Kansas: students neglected by the education system.”

Their advisors were Dr. Carryl Baldwin and Dr. Rocío del Águila respectively.

This year, Japanese-language students from Wichita State competed in the annual Heart of America Japan-America Society’s Japanese Contest held March 9 at Johnson County Community College.

The Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures (MCLL) and Japanese program congratulates the winners:

• Caleb Buhler won first prize for the speech competition and second for the JLPT N5 Grammar and Vocabulary Quiz
• Quyen Tran placed first and Sheridan Peterson came in second for their Japanese-language tanka poem
• Eve Moore placed second in the culture quiz
• Julia Gonzalez won first place for her 4-panel manga
• Ricardo Castillo took first place and Sean Hall third in the English-language tanka poetry competition

The MCLL department thanks all of the students who entered and the hard work they put into their entries.

Masud Chand, professor of management, was featured in an article from WalletHub on the best Visa credit cards, providing insights on reasons to get a Visa credit card.

Dr. Rocío Del Águila, chair and associate professor of Spanish in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures, received a prestigious award and recognition from the Consulate General of Peru in Dallas, in honor of International Women’s Day.

Her tireless efforts and invaluable contributions have not only improved the lives of the Peruvian community in Kansas but have also strengthened their presence in various facets of society. Her dedication to uplifting vulnerable communities exemplifies the spirit of Women’s Day, inspiring everyone to strive for positive change.