Category: News

The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University is set to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026. In honor of this momentous occasion, a dedicated committee of industry leaders, alumni, faculty and staff has been formed to commemorate the school’s rich legacy through a series of events and special recognitions. Esteemed alumni Rachel Douglass, senior manager of communications and external affairs at Textron eAviation, is serving as the committee chair, and Ashtyn Rottinghaus-Schrag, senior consultant at Deloitte, is fulfilling the role of committee vice chair.

“I am deeply honored to collaborate with an outstanding group of industry leaders, alumni, faculty and staff to transform this monumental milestone into a series of impactful, celebratory engagements that will cultivate a profound sense of pride and belonging for all those connected to the Barton School.” shared Douglass. “I’m confident that the milestone will celebrate 100 years of profound impact, but also illuminate a future of possibilities and promise for the next century.”

“This is more than a celebration of our proud history; it marks an energizing new chapter that unites the people who have shaped the Barton School’s story and reaffirms our role as a leader in business education. Together, we’re building upon a legacy that will inspire and empower future generations.” added Rottinghaus-Schrag.

As part of the fiscal year-end process improvements, Cash Carryforward Budgets were not loaded for Fiscal Year 2026, except for funds that are not a part of the TM1 budgeting process (SRO and Safekeeping funds). This change was made to streamline budgeting practices and encourage timely budget entry by departments.

What this means: Some financial reports that departments commonly use rely on the cash carryforward budget to reflect beginning cash balances. As a result, these reports may currently display inaccurate information.

What you should do:

• Your cash as of June 30 is still available as of July 1.
• As long as departments have budgets in place, they will be able to continue spending.
• If you receive an NSF (Non-Sufficient Funds) error, work with your budget analyst to process a budget adjustment.
• In the meantime, use the FOBT00088 – Organization Financial Report for RU Funds for accurate beginning cash balances.

For more details, visit the Budget Transfers and Adjustments section on the Budget Maintenance Post Adoption website or contact the Budget Office directly.

Dr. Stephen Lewia, assistant professor and director of Clinical Education for the Physician Associate (PA) program, has been appointed as the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) liaison to the American Medical Association (AMA), one of the largest organizations representing physicians in the United States. In this role, he will advocate for PAs and their patients while working to strengthen relationships with physician colleagues. Having PAs represented within the AMA helps ensure that policies and discussions reflect the realities of team-based care and the essential role PAs play in meeting patient needs.

Dr. Lewia brings years of national leadership experience, having served as director at Large on the AAPA Board of Directors and as chair of AAPA’s Government Relations and Practice Advancement Commission. Drawing on this experience and his strong commitment to advancing the PA profession, Dr. Lewia aims to foster understanding, build collaborative partnerships, and help shape the profession’s future. This appointment is for a two-year term, with the possibility of extension to four years.

The Barton School of Business is thrilled to announce Maggie Topping as its fall 2025 Executive-in-Residence. Topping, senior vice president, Human Resources & Communications at Textron Aviation, will bring her extensive expertise to enrich the school’s academic and professional environment.

As Executive-in-Residence, Topping will participate in mentoring sessions, deliver guest lectures and collaborate with Barton School leadership on program and curriculum innovations. She will also lead a keynote fireside chat titled “Driving Innovation Forward: Textron Aviation’s Balanced Approach to AI, Talent, and the Transformation of Work” alongside Luke Pankey, chief information officer at Textron Aviation. The keynote will take place at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 7 in 110 Woolsey Hall, Boettger Auditorium. RSVP at wichita.edu/executive-in-residence-keynote. The event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 9 a.m.

Wichita State’s new Athletic Training Simulation Lab is now fully operational, giving athletic training students a dedicated space to enhance their clinical knowledge and skills. Located within the larger Athletic Training Lab, the space replicates real-world clinical scenarios in a safe, hands-on learning environment.

Students work with trained simulated patients to practice assessments, communication and decision-making before starting clinical rotations. Faculty can observe and guide scenarios remotely, offering targeted feedback to strengthen clinical reasoning and interpersonal skills. The lab also emphasizes teamwork, adaptability and patient interaction — key components of professional readiness.

Congratulations to the five graduates of Wichita State’s Advanced Education in General Dentistry program; Drs. Nick Desch, Claire Freeman, Elizabeth Kiefner, Emma King and Brad Miller. These residents successfully completed the one-year postdoctoral program, which provides dentists with advanced training and hands-on experience in comprehensive clinical care. 

A virtual graduation ceremony was held July 10, which can be viewed at wichita.edu/aegdgraduation. 

The Barton School of Business is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Chris Broberg as interim director of the Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE). Broberg currently serves as associate professor of entrepreneurship and associate dean for faculty and research within the Barton School. The Barton School extends its sincere gratitude to Nancy Kersenbrock for her service as interim director. She will return to her longstanding role as associate director of the Center, a position she has held since 2015.

Founded in 1977 by Fran Jabara — professor, former dean of the Barton School, and inaugural member of the Barton School’s “Beyond” 2024 Hall of Fame — the Center for Entrepreneurship has been internationally recognized as one of the finest and most comprehensive programs in the nation. The Center for Entrepreneurship was one of the first of its kind on a college campus, launching with a workshop titled “Entrepreneurship: Your Future in Business,” developed by Jabara.

Wichita State has been hosting 16 undergraduate students from Mexico and Colombia on campus this summer. These bright students are doing research through the Delfin Program with WSU faculty mentors from seven departments in three colleges; 10 additional students are participating virtually with three additional faculty mentors. Come help send off the undergraduate researchers as they complete their seven-week research experience here at Wichita State

The Delfin Program poster session will be held from 1:30-3:30 p.m., Friday, July 18 on the second floor of Rhatigan Student Center, rooms 265 – Lucas Room and 266 – Pike Room. Attend to view the outcome of a wide variety of research conducted, and to show your enthusiasm for hosting the students at WSU.

Deltha Colvin, associate vice president of college readiness/retention programs at TRIO Student Support Services, has announced her retirement, effective Aug. 2, after 55 years of service to the university.

During her tenure at Wichita State, Colvin has been a staunch advocate for students through her work with TRIO — including Upward Bound, Student Support Services, Veterans Upward Bound, the McNair Scholars programs and more — and the statewide and local GEAR UP programs.

Colvin was among the first graduates of TRIO Upward Bound, which launched in 1965. Since then, she has served as a leader for the program and students at WSU.

“Deltha Colvin’s legacy at Wichita State is unmatched,” said Dr. Monica Lounsbery, senior executive vice president and provost. “She has been a fierce advocate for first-generation students, a pillar of access and equity, and a guiding light for generations of Shockers. We are deeply grateful for her 55 years of extraordinary service.”

Colvin served as the eighth president of the Mid-America Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (MAEOPP), the largest of the TRIO regional associations that represents 10 states in the Midwest. She was also the president of the Missouri-Kansas-Nebraska chapter of MAEOPP.

In April 2025, Colvin was recognized by Gov. Laura Kelly for her service and for the contributions she has made to the state of Kansas during her over 50 years of service. Earlier that year, Art That Touches Your Heart inducted her into the 2025 Black Educators Hall of Fame.

A paver was donated in honor of Colvin to the Plaza of Heroines by the then African/African American Faculty/Staff Association in 1998. The Plaza of Heroines, located in front of Ablah Library and next to the Shocker Success Center, was dedicated in 1998 as a permanent record of women recognized as heroines. Colvin’s paver can be found in section A02 of the Plaza of Heroines.

In collaboration and out of respect to Colvin’s wishes, the campus will determine the best way to celebrate her career at a time of her choosing.

The College of Health Professions is proud to welcome Carly Havner as the new chair of the Department of Dental Hygiene, effective July 7. Havner comes to Wichita State from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry, where she served as manager of faculty development. She brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously worked as a practicing dental hygienist and held multiple faculty positions in dental hygiene education.

Havner succeeds Lisa Belt, who has chaired the department for the past seven years. Belt, who began her tenure at WSU in 2004, has also served as a clinical adjunct faculty, teaching professor and director of the degree completion program. Belt will return to her role as a faculty member, and the college extends its sincere gratitude for her dedicated service and leadership.