Category: News

After receiving more than 50 job rejections, Wichita State University mechanical engineering student Isiah Tiongson knew he needed a different approach. With support from the Shocker Career Accelerator — and a meaningful connection made at the Engineering & IT Career Fair — he secured a summer 2025 internship with Viega that developed into a part-time role during the school year.

Isiah, who is set to graduate in December 2026, first turned to the Shocker Career Accelerator for help with his job search. He met three times with Career Coaches Aaron Evans and Sara Leftwich, who helped him rebuild his resume, strengthen his networking skills, explore different job-search platforms and regain the confidence to keep trying.

“I continue to be grateful for the effort and support they gave me,” Isiah said.

The School of Social Work invites you to join its 2027 POWER Conference Feb. 25-26, 2027. The 24th annual conference theme is “Humanity in Transition: Building Community and Strength for a Hopeful Future.”

The conference brings together 300+ social workers, allied professionals, students, advocates, sponsors and community stakeholders. Society — and therefore social work practice itself — is experiencing substantial shifts requiring interdisciplinary approaches, creative solutions and sustained commitment.

Social work is looking for compelling presentations, keynote, workshops, panels and research that may explore areas such as these:

• Mental health and community well-being
• Men, boys and pathways across the lifespan
• Cultural knowledge and responsive practice
• Organizational capacity, leadership and ethics
• Hope, resilience and practice across settings

The submission deadline is Sept. 14.

The School of Social Work requests that you share the opportunity with your professional networks who may be interested in being a part of this event. For questions, contact Shaunna Millar at shaunna.millar@wichita.edu.

Various campus streets and parking lots will have limited access starting at 6:50 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26 for the Barton School of Business Centennial Bash 5K Run/Walk.

Lots 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 14, 16, 19, 28, 29, 37 and 44, as well as Perimeter Road, Memorial Drive, Yale Avenue, Alumni Drive, Mike Oatman Drive, Innovation Boulevard and 19th Street will be partially or completely blocked off for the duration of the 5K.

Join the Office of Research in recognizing the retirement of Brenda Achey, whose final day at Wichita State University will be Friday, Aug. 28, by sending well wishes for Brenda to Campus Box 007.

During her 42 years at Wichita State University, Brenda supported students, faculty and staff across several areas of the university. Her career included service in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, the Controller’s Office, the College of Fine Arts and most recently the Office of Research.

When asked about her retirement plans, Brenda said that the first thing she intends to do is take a trip with her sister to see one of their favorite Christian music artists in concert.

As she begins this exciting new chapter, Brenda leaves the WSU community with these words of wisdom:

“Enjoy life and don’t take it for granted. Each day is a gift, so do what you enjoy. Working at WSU has been great. I have met so many wonderful people, learned about different cultures and had so many educational opportunities.”

Brenda’s dedication, kindness and years of service have made a lasting impact on Wichita State University. She will be greatly missed, and the Office of Research wishes her all the best in retirement.

Microsoft is changing the way that multi-factor authentication (MFA) works to improve the security of their customers, including WSU. Students who use phone calls or text messages for MFA will soon be prompted to set up a more secure authentication method. Make sure you’re aware of the security enhancements coming to students by reviewing the following information.

What’s changing? Beginning Sept. 1, students who use text messages or phone calls to authenticate when signing in to WSU systems will be prompted to set up a safer verification method. By Feb. 1, 2027, students who use only text or phone call authentication will be required to set up an alternative method to continue using university systems.

Why is this happening? Microsoft is moving away from text message and phone call verification because those methods are the most vulnerable and provide significantly weaker protection against cyberattacks. Moving to phishing-resistant verification methods keeps WSU data secure.

What does this mean for students?

• Students who already use a passkey or another phishing-resistant method may not notice a change.
• If a student uses text messages or phone calls for verification, they will be asked to set up a passkey after signing in.
• Students may be able to postpone setup at first but completing it early will help prevent sign-in problems later.
• Instructions for setting up MFA and passkeys can be found on the Microsoft Multi-Factor Authentication for Students webpage.

To continue signing in to WSU systems after Feb. 1, 2027, make sure your students have a phishing-resistant authentication method set up.

Need assistance? Contact the Help Desk at 316-978-4357, option one, or helpdesk@wichita.edu.

Microsoft is changing the way that multi-factor authentication (MFA) works to improve the security of their customers, including WSU. Students who use phone calls or text messages for MFA will soon be prompted to set up a more secure authentication method. Make sure you’re aware of the security enhancements coming to students by reviewing the following information.

What’s changing? Beginning Sept. 1, students who use text messages or phone calls to authenticate when signing in to WSU systems will be prompted to set up a safer verification method. By Feb. 1, 2027, students who use only text or phone call authentication will be required to set up an alternative method to continue using university systems.

Why is this happening? Microsoft is moving away from text message and phone call verification because those methods are the most vulnerable and provide significantly weaker protection against cyberattacks. Moving to phishing-resistant verification methods keeps WSU data secure.

What does this mean for you?

• If you already use a passkey or another phishing-resistant method, you may not notice a change.
• If you use text messages or phone calls for verification, you will be asked to set up a passkey after signing in.
• You may be able to postpone setup at first but completing it early will help prevent sign-in problems later.
• Instructions for setting up MFA and passkeys can be found on the Microsoft Multi-Factor Authentication for Students webpage.

To continue signing in to WSU systems after Feb. 1, 2027, make sure you have a phishing-resistant authentication method set up.

Need assistance? Contact the Help Desk at 316-978-4357, option 1, or helpdesk@wichita.edu.

Wichita State’s College of Education will induct six new members into its Hall of Fame this fall. The inductees are being recognized for their contributions to the college, their professions and the communities they serve. A celebratory banquet will take place Sept. 25 at Wichita State.

• Brad Pittman – Community Engagement Award
• Debbie Smith – Service Award
• Marc Farha – Service Award
• Dr. Maurine Fry – Leadership Award
• Nathan Whitman – Alumni Award
• Dr. Rae Niles – Distinguished Career Award

The Wichita Eagle has released its 2026 Best of Wichita nominations, and Wichita State has been nominated in several categories. The community can vote once a day for their choices in each category through the voting period until 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4.

• Eat & drink – Lunch Spot: Wichita State Food Truck Plaza
• Eat & drink – Sports Bar: Shocker Sports Grill and Lanes
• Education – Childcare: WSU Child Development Center
• Education – College/University: Wichita State University
• Health & beauty – Audiologist/Hearing Center: Evelyn Hendren Cassat Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic
• Health & beauty – Speech Therapy: Wichita State University (Evelyn Hendren Cassat Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic)
• Things to do – Art Gallery: WSU Shift Space, Ulrich Museum of Art, Clayton Staples Gallery
• Things to do – Bowling: Shocker Sports Grill and Lanes
• Things to do – Live Theatre: Wilner Auditorium
• Things to do – Museum: Ulrich Museum of Art, Lowell Holmes Museum of Anthropology

Membership in the Spark Society, a social and philanthropic group, is open to all WSU employees, WSU affiliated and auxiliary corporation employees, and their spouses.

Annual dues are $12 and membership runs the fiscal year of July-June. Social events are typically monthly and may be held as a lunch activity or in the evenings.

Spark Members may join or start a new interest group. Current interest groups are Book Club (meets at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday each month), Friends & Food (meets for Sunday evening dinners once per month), Lunch Bunch (meets on fourth Monday each month) and New Members (evening and weekend events).

Find your new friends at the Membership Drive and Vendor Fair from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15 in 141 Woolsey Hall, Fidelity Bank Ballroom.

Contact the Spark Society at spark@wichita.edu with questions. Membership may be retained after retirement or leaving WSU employment.

For the 15th consecutive year, more community college students chose Wichita State University to complete their academic goals than any other university in Kansas.

According to the Kansas Board of Regents, 1,475 students transferred to Wichita State from Kansas community colleges, technical colleges and other four-year institutions in 2025, continuing a streak that began in 2011.

“Being Kansas’ top transfer destination for 15 consecutive years is an honor we don’t take for granted. Transfer students come to our campus with a clear sense of purpose and a strong commitment to completing their degree and advancing their careers,” said Bobby Gandu, associate vice provost for strategic enrollment initiatives and director of undergraduate admissions.