Category: News

The Advising Network (TAN) is accepting nominations for the best academic advisors and will recognize the winners on campus during an awards ceremony in May. Nominations can be made from now until March 20.

Make your nominations for the The Advising Network (TAN) Awards that will recognize the best advisor, advising team and non-advisor that has Academic Advising in mind.

Winners will be celebrated during an awards ceremony in May. Nominations can be made by faculty, staff or students and will be open from now until March 20.

The Barton School of Business proudly announces a Centennial Signature Initiative: the appointment of Eyal Redler and Omer Nagar as Venture Capitalists in Residence in March 2026, marking 100 years of educating business leaders while launching Barton’s next era of global innovation and entrepreneurship.

As part of their residency, Redler and Nagar will deliver an insightful keynote fireside chat titled “What Venture Capitalists Are Betting on Now: AI, Fintech, and the Future of Scalable Innovation” from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. March 12. The event will take place at the Boettger Auditorium at Woolsey Hall, with doors opening at 9:15 a.m. The keynote is expected to draw students, faculty, staff, alumni, board members and industry leaders for a timely discussion on emerging investment trends and scalable innovation.

To help parents sign their children up for summer camps, the Office of Strategic Communications is compiling Wichita State camp info on the 2026 Summer Camps website.

Applications are now being accepted for undergraduate research support during the summer semester from the Kansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (K-INBRE) program. Students in this program are supported with an hourly wage and mentors are allocated funds for lab supplies.

To be eligible, students must identify a mentor and a research lab in which to work. For full announcement and eligibility requirements, email Meris Carte, research laboratory manager for biological sciences, at meris.carte@wichita.edu. Applications are due at end of day March 12.

The Adelante Juntos Faculty & Staff Association at WSU is proud to honor and celebrate the achievements of students, faculty, and staff at the third Annual Spanish-Speaking Graduation Ceremony.

We are excited to recognize outstanding Shockers through the following awards:

• The Elisa Chacon Award – This recognition is named after Elisa Chacon, WSU’s first Latine student graduate (1932). The award will be given to an undergraduate student who has excelled in the areas of scholarship, community, leadership and advocacy
  • Previous recipients: Guadalupe Torres-Arreola (2024), Valeria Paunetto (2025)
• The Hector Franco Award – This recognition is named after Hector Franco, WSU’s earliest graduate level degree recipient (1950). The award will be given to a graduate student who has excelled in the areas of scholarship, community, leadership and advocacy
  • Previous recipients: Abel Barraza (2024), Griselda Gomez (2025)
• The Joseph “Jose” Angulo Award – This recognition is named after Joseph “Jose” Angulo, WSU’s longtime professor who taught at WSU for 37 years (1930s-1960s). This award will be given to a faculty member who has excelled in advocating, promoting, mentoring and engaging the WSU community.
  • Previous recipients: Marco Hernandez Guillen (2024), Dr. Edil Torres Rivera (2025)
• The Marcelino “Chelo” Huerta Award – This recognition is named after Marcelino “Chelo” Huerta, WSU’s head football coach (1962-1964) who was inducted in to the College Football Hall of Fame (2002). This award will be given to a staff member who has excelled in advocating, promoting, mentoring and engaging the WSU community.
  • Previous recipients: Dr. Sara Mata (2024), Dr. Isabel Medina Keiser (2025)
• The Camarena Community Award – This recognition is named after Gene and Yolanda Camarena, founders of the Shocker Adelante Scholars (2020). Awarded to a student, faculty or staff member who embodies the highest ideals of character, leadership and service and whose commitment has made a significant impact to the WSU community
  • Previous recipients: Sofia Polanco Botteselle (2024), Dr. Teri Hall (2025)

Nominations will be accepted until March 13. Each candidate will be carefully assessed by the awards subcommittee of the Adelante Juntos Faculty and Staff Association.

Award winners will be revealed at WSU’s third annual Spanish Speaking Graduation Ceremony hosted April 30.

The Regional Institute on Aging (RIA) is pleased to announce a new funding opportunity for graduate student or faculty projects and research that addresses issues related to facilitating well-being in older adults. This funding opportunity is supported by a gift from the estate of Evelyn Cassat.

Funding will be provided for projects and research at WSU that contribute to knowledge and practice related to well-being in older adults. Projects of all types will be considered. However, particular attention will be given to proposals aimed at improving the health, economic security and quality of life for older adults.

Anticipated funding rates will range between $10,000 to $20,000, with a maximum funding amount of $25,000 for a 12-month period. Proposals may be either for creative works, evaluation efforts or research (both foundational and applied). Projects that actively involve undergraduate and graduate students at WSU are expected. However, all proposals that have the potential to improve our understanding of age-related issues and/or that improve the quality of life for older adults in Wichita and the surrounding area will be considered. Research and creative activity projects must also include a plan for obtaining future funding from external sources to continue the research or expand the creative project.

Applications are due April 1.

The Barton School of Business has officially merged its Departments of Marketing and Economics into a single, unified academic unit: the Department of Marketing and Economics. This strategic alignment, approved by the Kansas Board of Regents, is effective immediately and reflects the Barton School’s commitment to interdisciplinary innovation, academic collaboration and operational efficiency.

Dr. Seth Cockrell, who has served as chair of the marketing department since 2022, has been appointed chair of the newly merged department. With unanimous support from faculty across both disciplines, Cockrell assumes this role bringing a strong blend of industry experience, academic leadership and forward-looking vision.

“This merger represents an exciting and strategic step forward for the Barton School,” said Larisa Genin, dean of the Barton School of Business. “By uniting two disciplines that are deeply interconnected in both theory and practice, we are creating new opportunities for collaboration, innovation in teaching and research, and thoughtful resource optimization. I can’t think of a better leader to guide this transition than Dr. Cockrell.”

The Barton School of Business has received a $300,000 gift from Dr. Silver Kung — a globally recognized investment leader, member of the Dean’s Advisory Board, Wichita State alumnus and founder of Siegfried Capital Group — and his wife, Doriya Li. Their contribution establishes the Dr. Silver Kung and Doriya Li Student Experience and Success Fund, a forward‑looking initiative designed to expand real‑world learning, professional development, and entrepreneurial opportunities for Barton School students.

As part of Wichita State’s strategic plan, every degree‑seeking student is guaranteed an applied learning or research experience before graduation — a commitment that has positioned WSU as a national model for career preparation and industry collaboration. To accelerate this work, the new fund will support a set of projects, including immersive experiential learning opportunities. These experiences will expose students to leading innovation ecosystems such as San Francisco and Silicon Valley, where they can engage directly with venture capital firms, startups and industry leaders.

“Dr. Kung represents the kind of curiosity, global awareness, and innovative mindset we work to cultivate in our students, and we’re grateful for the example he sets.” said Dr. Larisa Genin, dean of the Barton School of Business. “This gift from Dr. Kung and Ms. Li will open doors for our students — helping them gain internships, launch new ventures, and apply what they learn in the classroom to real opportunities in a fast-changing global economy.”

The Barton School of Business has received a $300,000 transformational gift from Dr. Silver Kung, a globally recognized investment leader, distinguished member of the Dean’s Advisory Board, Wichita State alumnus and founder of Siegfried Capital Group, and his wife, Doriya Li. The gift establishes the Dr. Silver Kung and Doriya Li Student Experience and Success Fund, a forward-looking initiative designed to significantly expand real-world learning, professional development and entrepreneurial opportunities for Barton School students.

As part of Wichita State’s strategic plan, every degree-seeking student at WSU is guaranteed an applied learning or research experience before graduation. That commitment has established WSU as a national model for career preparation and collaboration. To accelerate this work, the fund will support a set of high-impact priorities, which includes immersive experiential learning opportunities, including exposure to leading innovation ecosystems such as San Francisco and Silicon Valley, where students engage directly with venture capital firms, startups and industry leaders.

“As a proud Wichita State alumnus and internationally respected leader, Dr. Kung embodies the global mindset, intellectual curiosity, and entrepreneurial spirit we strive to instill in our students,” said Dr. Larisa Genin, dean of the Barton School of Business. “This generous investment by Dr. Kung and Ms. Li will meaningfully elevate the student experience — preparing our students to secure outstanding internships and full-time roles, and to launch bold, high-impact entrepreneurial ventures, while connecting classroom learning with real-world application in a rapidly evolving global economy.”