Category: News

For over 50 years, Shocker Rowing has forged champions, built lifelong friendships and shaped the spirit of determination. Now, as it honor its legacy, Shocker rowing invite you to be part of the future. Learn what it means to be a Shocker rower.

The following faculty were approved for sabbaticals:

• Brian Amos, associate professor – political science
• Moriah Beck, professor – chemistry
• Darren Defrain, professor – English
• Atri Dutta, associate professor – aerospace engineering
• Usha Haley, professor – management
• Gregory Houseman, professor – biology
• Gisuk Hwang, associate professor – mechanical engineering
• Katherine Lanning, associate professor – English
• Yuan Liu, associate professor – mathematics, statistics and physics
• Michael McLeod, associate professor – management
• Mythili Menon, associate professor – English
• Alexandra Middlewood, associate professor – political science
• Lisa Parcell, associate professor – communication
• William Parcell, associate professor – geology
• Jian Wang, associate professor – chemistry

The Office of Academic Affairs has announced new emeriti members. Congratulations to the following emeriti:

• Jeffrey A. Hershfield, associate professor emeritus of philosophy
• Shirley A. Lefever, executive vice president/provost and professor emerita
• Keith H. Pickus, professor emeritus of history
• Kenneth H. Pitetti, professor emeritus of physical therapy

Emeritus status is an honorary designation conferred upon retirees in recognition of their contributions and accomplishments over their years of service to the university.

Visit the Emeriti Faculty website for a complete listing of emeritus and emerita faculty.

WSU faculty, staff and students who are Sedgwick County residents are invited to take part in the Sedgwick County Budget Simulator. The online tool offers an opportunity for residents to understand more about the county’s budget and operations while providing a platform for them to express their opinions.

Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs Regents Distinguished Professor of Public Finance, Dr. David Guo, contributed to developing the simulator, an interactive tool designed to enhance public engagement and transparency in the budgeting process.

The Sedgwick County Budget Simulator serves as an opportunity for citizens to dive deep into the intricacies of Sedgwick County’s finances. Users can explore the allocation of public funds and understand the nuanced trade-offs involved in making budget decisions. The last day to participate in the budget simulator is May 23.

Michelle Locke has been named the associate vice president of Financial Services. She was previously serving in the position on an interim basis.

Locke initially joined Wichita State as university controller in 2021. She earned a Master of Accountancy with a concentration in financial accounting and auditing from the University of Texas at El Paso in 2012

To reach Locke, email michelle.locke@wichita.edu or call 316-978-5103.

If you’ve received a capital equipment inventory list, the deadline to submit is soon approaching.

If you have any questions, WSU Property Control has been hosting brief Q&A sessions, where the team is available to answer any inquiries about how to complete your inventory lists and general inventory questions. There are two remaining afternoon sessions this week. Each session is come and go, so you can drop in and drop out at any time with your questions.

If interested, email WSU Property Control at wsupropertycontrol@wichita.edu indicating which of the two remaining sessions you would like to attend:

• Tuesday, May 20: 2-3 p.m.
• Thursday, May 22: 2-3 p.m.

Wichita State welcomes Samuel “Sam” Jones as the new director of Military and Veteran Services. Sam brings a strong background in military service, higher education administration and veteran support. His dedication to enhancing military-connected students’ experiences and fostering a supportive environment makes him an ideal fit for this role.

With experience leading veteran services at WSU and other institutions, Sam is passionate about building connections and empowering students through comprehensive support initiatives. His leadership will elevate the university’s commitment to serving the military and veteran community.

The Office of the Vice President, Dr. Marché Fleming-Randle, is excited to welcome Sam back and looks forward to his positive impact.

Meet Sam at the Military and Veteran Student Center in 318 Shocker Success Center to learn more about available resources and support and join in welcoming Sam to Shocker Nation.

The Kansas Small Business Development Center (KSBDC) at WSU is seeking talented speakers for this year’s Marketing Meetup. The event will be located on July 11 at the Hughes Metropolitan Complex.

You will have a chance to speak with small business leaders and entrepreneurs. The annual event is designed to empower them with the latest marketing trends, innovative insights and actionable strategies. The deadline to speak is June 1.

The honorees for the 2025 University Faculty Awards were recognized May 9 in Woolsey Hall. The university faculty awards recognizes excellence in teaching, research and creative activities.

The 2025 University Faculty Award honorees are:

• Excellence in Teaching: Brian Rawson
• Leadership in the Advancement: Jen-Chi Cheng
• Young Faculty Scholar: Reagan Murnan
• Academy for Effective Teaching: Mary Liz Jameson and John Watkins
• Excellence in Research: Shuang Gu and Xiaolong Li
• Excellence in Creative Activity: Robert Thomas
• Excellence Award for Community Research: Rachel Showstack
• Faculty Risk Taker: Angela Beeler
• Young Faculty Risk Taker: Davi Soares
• Excellence in Accessibility: Jason Li
• Excellence in Online Teaching: Kate Kung-McIntyre

The President’s Distinguished Service Awards recognize faculty and staff for exemplary, dedicated and caring service to Wichita. The reception to meet and greet the honorees and recognition ceremony were held May 9 in Woolsey Hall.

The 2025 President’s Distinguished Award honorees are:

Faculty Senate:

• Susan H. Castro, Department of Philosophy, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• BreAnn M. Gilkey, School of Social Work, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• John Hammond, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

University Staff Senate:

• Amber Anderson, Online Education, Division of Academic Affairs
• Susan McCoy, Department of Chemistry, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Sharmon Holcomb, Registrar’s Office, Division of Academic Affairs
• Stephanie Cockrell, Graduate Programs, W. Frank Barton School of Business

University Staff Senate – Wayne Carlisle Award:

• Christopher Leonard, Counseling and Psychological Services, Division of Student Affairs