Enrique Navarro, Fairmont College of Liberal Arts and Sciences associate professor of Spanish, has been named the new associate dean of the Graduate School, effective June 13.

Navarro holds a doctorate in Hispanic Literature, a master’s in Spanish, and has a law degree from Spain. He has served as the Latin American and Latinx Studies certificate coordinator for the LAS of Modern and Classical Languages and Literature. He has been with WSU since 2013.

The grand opening of Deloitte’s Smart Factory @ Wichita — right here on WSU’s Innovation Campus — got underway Tuesday, June 7, with a press conference and media tour of the facility.

The Smart Factory @ Wichita aims to advance the future of manufacturing and spur innovation through digital transformation.

Key takeaways about the experience center include:

  • The Smart Factory @ Wichita assembles a first-of-its-kind ecosystem of more than 20 world-renowned solution providers, technology innovators and futurists to help solve the toughest challenges in manufacturing.
  • Features a fully functioning manufacturing production line that combines cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, cloud and edge applications, robotics, vision solutions and more.
  • Supports STEM education: Plans to manufacture and donate Smart Rover STEM education kits that aim to impact 800,000 students over four years, with initial donations in Wichita, Metro Detroit and Philadelphia in 2022.
  • Completely sustainable, The Smart Factory is powered by renewable resources and is net-zero impact.
  • Is anticipated to draw more than 5,000 visitors to the local area over the next 12 months, including leaders from world-renowned companies.

Professor Dinorah Azpuru published an analysis article in the Washington Post about the Summit of the Americas and the opinion of citizens of the Western Hemisphere about the United States.

Speech-Language Pathologist works with a child and an Audiologist performs a hearing exam on a client.

The Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic at Wichita State is open all summer. The clinic provides services to people across the lifespan who have communication difficulties, including speaking, hearing, swallowing, and spoken and written language impairments.

The clinical staff includes highly trained faculty in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. The clinic is open to the public. Call 316-978-3289 to schedule an appointment. The Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic is located in the Hughes Metropolitan Complex at the intersection of 29th Street and Oliver. 

President Rick Muma’s “Forward Together” podcast is on hiatus for the summer, but that gives listeners an opportunity to catch up on previous episodes.

  • Episode one: Digital transformation — In this inaugural Forward Together podcast, we focus on digital transformation in the arts. We’re joined by Shocker alum Dean Hargrove — writer, director and producer, whose credits include “Columbo” and “Matlock — and Wichita State’s dean of the College of Fine Arts, Dr. Rodney Miller.
  • Episode two: University annual report — On this episode of the Forward Together podcast, WSU President Dr. Rick Muma and his guests reflect on and celebrate all that Wichita State University has accomplished in 2021. Special guests include James Chung, founder of Reach Advisors and author of the Chung Report; and Dr. Kaye Monk-Morgan, vice president of engagement and planning at Wichita State University.
  • Episode three: Providing access to higher education — On this episode of the Forward Together podcast, WSU President Dr. Rick Muma and his guests discuss WSU’s priority of making higher education accessible and how it helps build a stronger community and a stronger Kansas. Special guests include John Rolfe, president and CEO of the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce; and Isaac Brown, WSU men’s basketball head coach.
  • Episode four: Research at Wichita State — Learn about some of the cutting-edge research being done at Wichita State University in our March Forward Together podcast. To celebrate Women’s History Month, President Rick Muma speaks with Dr. Melinda Laubach-Hock, director of sustainment at WSU’s National Institute for Aviation Research; and Dr. Coleen Pugh, vice provost for research and dean of Wichita State’s Graduate School.
  • Episode five: Innovation at Wichita State — In this month’s episode of the Forward Together podcast, we talk about all things innovation. Hear about the accessible comic book app WSU’s Dr. Darren DeFrain developed, and learn more about next-generation networking technology with Shocker alum Khalid Raza.
  • Episode six: LatinX Food, Culture and Community in Wichita — Celebrate the food and culture of the LatinX community with WSU President Rick Muma in the latest episode of the “Forward Together” podcast. Dr. Muma speaks with WSU faculty members and LatinX cultural researchers Dr. Enrique Navarro and Dr. Rocío Del Águila.

Parking Lot 15, outside Grace Wilkie and the Heskett Center, will close beginning June 2. During this time, Facility Services will work on the parking lot lights in this area. The closure should be completed by June 3.

For more information, contact wsuparking@wichita.edu.

A dental prosthetic created in-house by the new milling machine at the WSU dental clinic.

WSU’s Delta Dental of Kansas dental clinic is moving to 3D dentistry with the capacity to create crowns and other dental prosthetics.

The process begins with a digital scan of the patient’s teeth to create a 3-D image. Based on the scan, a prosthetic (crown, bridge, or implant) is designed, and a small block of synthetic material is milled at high speed on a cutting disk to the shape of the dental restoration. The process produces dental products with very high precision, at a much faster rate, and at a fraction of the cost. The 3-D virtual models can be used during consultation with clients to illustrate treatment options.

WSU’s dental clinic has begun operation of the equipment and expects to see reduced patient wait times and fewer visits for completion of the dental procedures.   

The WSU dental clinic provides a full range of services including cleanings, whitening, fillings, and implants, along with in-house specialists for periodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, and prosthetics.  The clinic is open during the summer and is currently taking new patients. To schedule an appointment, call 316-978-8350 or visit wichita.edu/WSUdentalclinic

The Rhatigan Student Center and its departments will be closed May 29-30 for the Memorial Day holiday.

The Rhatigan Student Center (RSC) and its departments will be closed May 29-30 for the Memorial Day holiday. For more information, contact 316-979-4636.

Spring 2022 Student Perception of Teaching Effectiveness (SPTE) results were mailed to your department May 26.

For more information, contact Sandy Ranney, at 316-978-5984.

Wichita State faculty and staff free hearing evaluations 316-978-3289 wichita.edu/SLHclinic

The Evelyn Hendren Cassat Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic at Wichita State offers free hearing evaluations to faculty and staff.

Hearing loss is a common problem that can significantly affect a person’s ability to communicate.  During the evaluation, an audiologist will test the patient’s hearing to determine if there is hearing loss and the type and severity of the loss. If a patient does appear to have hearing loss, the appointment may last longer.

To schedule an appointment, call 316-978-3289. The clinic is located at the Hughes Metropolitan Complex at the intersection of 29th and Oliver streets.