Category: News

With summer travel approaching, employees — including those faculty on 9-month appointments — are reminded that university policy requires prior approval for international remote work. International remote work — which means working outside the United States for a period of 22 consecutive days or more — includes a wide range of activities, from performing your usual university responsibilities to simply accessing university systems (e.g., email, Banner, Blackboard, etc.) and servers intermittently.

Due to heightened security risks and the complexity of foreign labor and immigration laws, these arrangements are only approved in extraordinary circumstances. Requests must be reviewed not only by your supervisor but also by additional university stakeholders. All requests for international remote work must be submitted using the university’s Remote Work Request Form. For more information, please review the University’s Remote Work Guidance webpage or contact your division’s HR Business Partner.

WSU Property Control invites you to a brief Q&A session where the team will be available to answer any questions you have about how to complete your inventory lists or general inventory inquiries. Each session is come and go, so you can drop in and drop out at any time with your questions.

Email WSU Property Control at wsupropertycontrol@wichita.edu indicating which of the four sessions you would like to attend:

• Tuesday, May 13: 10-11 a.m.
• Thursday, May 15: 10-11 a.m.
• Tuesday, May 20: 2-3 p.m.
• Thursday, May 22: 2-3 p.m.

This week, read about Ronald Quintana’s time as a Shocker and his favorite part of studying at WSU. Learn more from our short-term international students and their experiences at WSU on the Study Abroad website.

The Common Read Committee is excited to announce that Wichita State’s Common Read for the 2025-26 academic year is “Eat Like a Fish: My Adventures Farming the Ocean to Fight Climate Change” by Bren Smith.

Common Read is integrated into all First-Year Seminar courses and will be accompanied by a series of interdisciplinary programs and events throughout the year, including panel discussions, workshops and additional engagement opportunities.

The memoir chronicles Smith’s journey from commercial fishing to pioneering sustainable ocean farming, offering insights into environmental resilience, food justice and innovative approaches to climate solutions.

For any questions related to the Common Read, contact the committee at commonread@wichita.edu.

Effective July 1, 2025, Richard Dinkel, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Koch, Inc., will assume the role of chair of the Dean’s Advisory Board for the Barton School of Business. Dinkel has served as chair-elect since August 2024 and member at-large since 2022.

He will succeed Margaret Dechant, CEO and partner at 6 Meridian, who is completing a successful three-year term as chair. Dechant will continue her involvement as an active member of the board.

“I would first like to thank Margaret for her leadership and guidance to me and the rest of the board,” said Dinkel. “I hope to continue her work as we look to position the Barton School as one of the top business schools in the nation.”

Free 2024-25 Wichita State visitor guides are available upon request. They are particularly helpful if you’d like a stack of guides to share with students, visitors to campus or to Wichita, or with prospective students. These guides are updated once a year and include information on nearly every aspect of Wichita State.

These guides can be delivered via campus mail or be delivered to your office.

Reach out to Garrett Rupp in the Office of Admissions to request how many guides you need and a campus box number or office number for delivery. Contact Garrett at garrett.rupp@wichita.edu or call 316-978-6293.

Have leftover Dining Dollars? Get the most out of your meal plan and spend before the end. Get your Dining Dollar balance under $1 before May 14 and fill out this form from Shocker Dining for a chance to win a bonus $50 Shocker Dollars for next fall.

Have a lot to spend? You can spend those Dining Dollars on Starbucks cups or bulk items at Groundhouse.

The Barton School of Business has named Tina Khan as the new executive director of the college’s Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD). Khan most recently served as a faculty member at the Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) and is also the founder and CEO of Launch, LLC.

“Creating spaces where young adults are seen and belong are core values connected to my purpose,” said Khan. “There’s a great opportunity to influence and partner with college students in their lives beyond the degree. Working alongside students as they think about their careers and next steps is what drew me to this position.”

At KLC, Khan was a member of both the core pathway and field teams, delivering leadership development programs across three communities. Through Launch, she leads strategic initiatives for organizations, including multiple county nonprofits involved in rural food systems.

This week, hear from Jisu Bae’s about her time as a Shocker and what her favorite experience has been at Wichita State.

Read more about WSU’s exchange students and their experiences here at Wichita State, including Jisu’s, on the Study Abroad website.

The College of Health Professions is pleased to announce Jason Ladner as the new chair of the Dean’s Advisory Council, effective April 25. The college extends its heartfelt gratitude to Pamela Clancy Ammar for her leadership as chair over the past four years. Her vision, dedication and unwavering support have made a lasting impact on the college, and her service is deeply appreciated.

Ladner is a Wichita State and College of Health Professions alumnus, graduating in 2001 with his degree in healthcare services and organizations and policies. He has worked in several high-profile roles and businesses throughout his career, including medical sales for Covidien, Johnson & Johnson and other top medical device companies. He later joined IMA Wealth as vice president of customer relationships. His work in business development, strategy and relationship building brought him to his current role as a business development executive at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas.

A proud Shocker, Ladner has remained actively involved with his alma mater. He continues to advocate for Wichita State and the College of Health Professions through ongoing projects focused on philanthropy, workforce development and strategic partnerships.