Category: News

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.

Since its opening in 2020, Woolsey Hall has welcomed tens of thousands of visitors — from students and faculty to architectural, artistic and recreational enthusiasts. As the proud home of the Barton School of Business, it continues to captivate individuals from around the globe. Over the weekend of May 31, that number grew significantly, as more than 5,000 guests toured the grounds to experience the Kay Woolsey Gardens, one of six featured locations in the annual Garden Tour sponsored by the Sedgwick County Extension Office’s Master Gardener Program.

“We were honored and excited to be selected for this year’s garden tour,” said Dr. Larisa Genin, dean of the Barton School. “At the Barton School, we believe in blooming — in our students, our community and the vibrant plant life that surrounds Woolsey Hall and the Promise Bridge. The gardens reflect both the natural beauty within us all and the resilience it takes to grow in any environment.”

The Barton School of Business is proud to foster accessibility and creativity through its ongoing collaboration with the Envision Arts Program — an initiative by Envision, a nonprofit committed to creating opportunities and transforming lives for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. In an effort to foster creativity and celebrate diverse artistic perspectives, Woolsey Hall featured two visually impaired artists in installations spanning the 2024-25 academic year, highlighting the transformative power of touchable and interactive art.

For fall 2024, the Barton School showcased Tomiyo Tajiri’s “Negotiation Like a Forest” — an exhibition that pays homage to Japanese traditions through four large-scale, textured panels representing the four seasons. For spring 2025, the school welcomes Erica Johnson’s collection of ceramic works, which capture movement, memory and personal resilience through sculpted form.

“By championing innovative art and supporting artists like Tomiyo and Erica, we aim to develop an appreciation for creative thinking among our students,” said Dr. Larisa Genin, dean of the Barton School. “Such initiatives equip future business leaders with the tools to approach challenges with inspired, out-of-the-box solutions.”

Fiscal year 2026 has commenced. The Financial Services department would like to thank everyone for their assistance in ensuring a smooth closure for Fiscal Year 2025.

Review the updates below that will impact Fiscal Year 2026:

Journal Voucher approvals – new requirement

Journal Voucher approvals will now require a second approval. All entries will continue to route to the appropriate approval queue. Once the initiator has submitted the entry, a second person in the queue must approve; however, initiators can still reject/disapprove their entries if corrections are needed before the second approval is processed.

Requisitions in Wu-Buy

Requisition functionality in Banner has officially retired. Moving forward, all requisitions must be submitted through Wu-Buy. If you have questions, please refer to the following resources:

• Access the Wu-Buy Buyers Guide or video to learn how to submit and track your requisitions.
  • Note: You can find all Wu-Buy job aids and resources through Purchasing’s website.
• Sign up for Wu-Buy training sessions in myTraining via myWSU.
  • Note: Sessions are offered monthly. If you need immediate assistance, access your job aids and resources.
• Reach out to purchasing.office@wichita.edu with questions.

Cash Carryforward Budgets

Cash Carryforward Budgets for Fiscal Year 2026 were not loaded, except for funds that aren’t budgeted in TM1. If you have questions, refer to the Budgets Transfers and Adjustments section on the Budget Maintenance Post Adoption website page or Budget Office.