Category: News

The Physician Associate Program is pleased to announce the appointment of Julie Slade, MS, PA-C, as its new associate program director.

Slade has been a faculty member in the PA Program for the past four years, where she has served as assistant clinical professor and director of clinical development and operations. An alumna of the WSU PA Program, she brings over 30 years of clinical experience, specializing in gastroenterology and hepatology. Her background also includes mentoring students as a preceptor and cultivating strong partnerships with clinical affiliation sites and preceptors.

In her new role, Slade will continue to advance the program’s mission through her leadership and commitment to clinical excellence, supporting the development and success of future physician associates.

The Kansas Board of Regents voted to name three faculty and one staff member from Wichita State as some of the Faculty and Staff of the Year for 2025. The program recognizes the outstanding contributions of faculty and staff at state universities to teaching, student success, research, institutional excellence and Kansas communities.

Faculty of the Year:

Dr. Lisa Parcell, director, Elliott School of Communication
Dr. Lisa Parcell serves as the communication graduate coordinator, the director of the Public Speaking Foundational Course and co-director of The Research Partnership (TRP). Parcell teaches a variety of courses at the undergraduate and graduate level, most of which have a strong emphasis in applied learning. Her applied marketing research with TRP brings in around $200,000 per year through contracts with businesses, non-profits and government agencies. She also publishes in two of the leading media history journals, Journalism History and American Journalism, where she focuses on advertising and public relations of branded food products in the first half of the twentieth century.

Dr. Erin O’Bryan, assistant professor, Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders
Dr. Erin O’Bryan is the director of the Wichita Adult Language Lab, a member of the Institute for Rehabilitation Medicine and Assistive Technology (IRMAT) and a research speech-language pathologist at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center. O’Bryan’s clinical research advances the use of music and person-centered storytelling in speech therapy for people with aphasia, a loss of language and communication abilities that frequently results from a stroke. In her lab, 24 stroke survivors have received aphasia therapy through research refining evidence-based methods, and 43 WSU students have worked with these participants, gaining valuable clinical experience. O’Bryan has published seven peer-reviewed journal articles and secured $44,664 in funding for her research and scholarly work. Her research has been featured in the nationally known “Aphasia Access Conversations” podcast series and in the evidence-based periodical The Informed SLP. O’Bryan serves on state, national and international conference planning committees, an editorial board and the CHP Faculty/Staff Affairs Committee.

Marco Hernandez, assistant teaching professor of print media and associate director, School of Art, Design and Creative Industries
Marco Hernandez is a Mexican educator and artist serving as foundations coordinator at WSU. His artwork has been exhibited nationally and internationally, with shows in Mexico, Canada, Colombia, Poland and Croatia. He has received multiple recognitions for his creative work, including juried awards, fellowships, grants and solo exhibition invitations. At Wichita State, Hernandez has also been honored for his teaching, receiving awards such as the Faculty of Excellence in Special Fine Arts Endeavor, Faculty of Excellence in Creative/Scholarly Activity and the Outstanding Hispanic Faculty Member Award. Beyond the classroom, Hernandez actively contributes to university committees, student organizations and community art initiatives. Committed to elevating the arts and inspiring others, his work is deeply influenced by his cultural background and reflects his dedication to a lifelong career as both an artist and educator.

Staff of the Year:

Dr. Christopher Leonard, director of Counseling and Psychological Services
Dr. Christopher Leonard has revolutionized campus mental health care through innovative, data-driven leadership. He created a responsive model that adapts to student needs, expanded access and services, and seamlessly transitioned CAPS to virtual care during the pandemic. He fosters cross-campus collaboration and empowers his team to lead and innovate. Leonard is an active member of the WSU Staff Senate, the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board for psychologists and the National Advisory Committee for College Counseling Mental Health. He is organizing an inaugural statewide conference for higher education mental health professionals on the WSU campus. Through these roles, he contributes his expertise to advance mental health workforce development and advocate for systemic improvements in mental health care.

The Barton School of Business has taken a bold step to amplify the student voice by merging its Undergraduate and Graduate Student Advisory Boards into a single, unified body. Representing more than 2,500 business students, the newly established Barton School Dean’s Student Advisory Board will serve as a catalyst for strategic guidance, enhanced programming and an enriched student experience — all contributing to the Barton School’s advancement and its positioning among the top business schools in the nation.

Leading the board is Maley Hansen, a Wichita native and accomplished junior double-majoring in economics and data-driven marketing & intelligence, with minors in business analytics and political science. A recipient of the prestigious Harry Gore Memorial Scholarship, Hansen has distinguished herself through academic excellence, campus leadership and a dedication to student success.

“I am deeply honored to serve as president of this transformative new board,” Hansen said. “By bringing together both undergraduate and graduate perspectives, we can unify our voices, champion meaningful change, and ensure that every student feels empowered to shape their Barton School experience.”

Do you know a student who would make a great leader and role model for their peers? Nominations are now open for the 2026 Transition Mentor team. Transition mentors play a vital role in supporting new Shockers during their first year at Wichita State.

Faculty, staff and community partners are invited to submit nominations now through midnight Sept. 30. Nominated students will receive an invitation to apply in October.

Submit your nomination at wichita.edu/tm or scan the QR code in the graphic. Email Kaelyn Hannah at kaelyn.hannah@wichita.edu for any questions or concerns.

The Wichita State physician associate program is proud to announce that the class of 2025 has achieved a 100% PANCE (Physician Associate National Certifying Examination) pass rate. This is well above the current national pass rate for first time takers of 93%.

Congratulations to the class of 2025, and the program would like to thank its preceptors, guest speakers, Dean Gregory Hand and President Rick Muma for their outstanding support of the students.

After a successful inaugural year, Wichita State’s Spero program is entering its second year. Spero — Latin for “hope” — helps individuals achieve lasting independence through skill-building and access to meaningful employment. Participants complete employer- and market-oriented training that leads to micro-credentials, making Spero the first micro-credential program in WSU’s history and the first 1EdTech TrustEd Micro-credential program in the world.

In its first year, 82 percent of participants graduated across both tracks. Within the Career Readiness cohort, 20 students completed the program, and 15 secured employment. In the Entrepreneurship track, 18 students graduated, with 7 advancing to the Venture Advancement Program (VAP) — a follow-on initiative designed to grow participants’ ventures through consulting, mentorship and hands-on operational support with a commitment to strengthen operational profit (EBITDA).

Building on these outcomes, interest in Spero has continued to rise. To meet the expanded demand, the program now operates three sections, including a new morning track for Career Readiness. The new class was officially welcomed on Aug. 29 during a kickoff event in Woolsey Hall that brought together students, faculty, business leaders and community members.

The Office of Student Engagement & Belonging is seeking full-time faculty and staff members interested in serving as advisors for Registered Student Organizations (RSOs). Advisors play an important role in supporting student success by providing guidance, mentorship and institutional knowledge. With more than 200 RSOs on campus, there are opportunities to connect with student groups that align with your professional expertise, personal interests or passions.

Serving as an advisor is a rewarding way to contribute to the WSU community, foster leadership development and build stronger connections with students outside the classroom or office. Faculty and staff who wish to learn more or be matched with an organization can email Caitlin Nolen at catilin.nolen@wichita.edu.

The Department of Public Health Sciences is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Amy Chesser as the new director of graduate programs. Chesser has been a faculty member at Wichita State for 11 years and brings extensive experience in public health education, research and leadership. Her teaching and research passions include health communication, health literacy, public health, older adults and health disparities.

In her new role, Chesser will lead the Master of Health Administration and aging studies programs, with a vision to foster their continued growth and success. She is committed to preparing students for impactful careers in healthcare and supporting the faculty who teach in the graduate programs. The Department of Public Health Sciences looks forward to her leadership in advancing the graduate programs and supporting student success.

Graduate students who plan to complete all degree requirements this semester must file an application for degree and pay the $25 filing fee. This needs to be done no later than Monday, Sept. 15. Submit your application for degree even if you have a plan of study pending to be approved or have not submitted a plan of study.

To submit your application for degree, log into the myWSU portal and click on the myClasses tab. On the right hand side, you will find a section called “Graduation Links,” with the appropriate links to proceed. The $25 fee must be paid using a credit or debit card.

For questions, email the Graduate School at wsugradschool@wichita.edu.

Are you interested in getting involved with voting and civic engagement? Join the Shockers Vote Campus Coalition for monthly meetings to learn more about voting and ways you can get involved. Meetings will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. Sept. 12, Oct. 10 and Nov. 7 via Microsoft Teams. For questions and meeting information, email CivicEngagement@wichita.edu