Category: Foundation and Alumni Engagement

After an extensive national search, the WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement is welcoming Telly McGaha as the next president and CEO of the organization. McGaha is joining Wichita State from Georgia State University and is expected to start on Feb. 12.

Mark, 1976, and Laurie, 1975, Finucane believe that traveling is crucial to a complete liberal arts education, and they recently established a scholarship to help students do exactly that. The Mark and Laurie Finucane Travel Seminar Scholarship helps fund students as they attend conferences and participate in abridged study-abroad programs throughout the semester.

“If you’re going to have a liberal arts education, a logical extension of that education is to experience other cultures and nations and parts of the world,” Mark said. “It teaches you something that you can’t read.”

The WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement remind employees about year-end deadlines:

• Foundation accounts payable: No special dates and times. Business will continue as usual.
• Foundation Year-End Gift Receipt Information for 2023 Tax Credit: Checks without a postmarked envelope will need to be delivered to the Foundation Finance Team Office by 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29. Checks with an envelope postmarked by Dec. 31 need to be at the office by end of business Monday, Jan. 8.
• Information for credit or debit cards to be processed in the office will need to be submitted by 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29.
• Online bank drafts and online credit cards will be able to be processed until midnight Sunday, Dec. 31.

The WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement team is excited to invite the community to the inaugural Heritage Gala, a combination of the past Alumni Awards and President’s Club events, at 6:45 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Wichita Marriott, 9100 E. Corporate Hills Dr.

WSUFAE will recognized its 2023 alumni award winners Roy Moye III, 2015, who will receive the Young Alumni Award; Jessica Provines, 2001/04/06, who is receiving the Social Impact Award; and Alicia Thompson, 2015, receiving the Alumni Achievement Award.

Join WSUFAE for an evening of celebration as it honors the changemakers who inspire past, present and future generations of Shockers.

Thank you to all who supported Wichita State on Founders’ Day of Giving. With your help, WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement raised more than $125,000 from 300+ donors to support the programs, departments, activities and organizations that make a difference in the lives of Shockers year after year.

Your commitment to the university helps ensure the student experience at WSU goes beyond the classroom, helping Shockers succeed through applied learning activities and extracurricular support.

WSUFAE thanks everyone for helping advance Shocker Nation.

WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement’s annual day of giving is nearly here. Thursday, Sept. 14, join thousands of Shocker alumni, students, employees, parents and friends to celebrate our history and invest in our future.

It’s all possible at Wichita State; but it’s only possible through your support. Join WSUFAE this Founders’ Day to support what you love at WSU.

Join WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement Thursday, Sept. 14 to celebrate Founders’ Day of Giving and help make the university all that it can be.

It’s a day for all of Shocker Nation to come together to lift Shockers up by supporting the program, team or department that means the most to you.

Help spread the word to make this Founders’ Day of Giving the best yet.

Jessie Rainey and Ted Kimble have been named as new associate vice presidents for development at the Wichita State University Foundation and Alumni Engagement (WSUFAE).

Jessie Rainey, who led development efforts for the Barton School over the last five years, stepped into her new role on Aug. 7. In her new position, she will supervise fundraising efforts for the Barton School, Fairmount College, the Honors College, the College of Applied Studies and the College of Innovation and Design. The WSUFAE will soon begin the search to fill Rainey’s former role of senior director of development for the Barton School.

The other role will be filled by WSU alum Ted Kimble, joining the WSUFAE team on Sept. 1 from the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center. Kimble will oversee development efforts for the College of Fine Arts, the College of Health Professions, University Libraries, the Graduate School and the College of Engineering.

“We recently evaluated the structure of our development team to better support the university’s fundraising priorities,” said Darin Kater, senior vice president for development at the WSUFAE. “As a result, we determined having two AVPs that will help lead our team, build strong relationships and support major gift fundraising efforts was the right path forward.”

Friday, July 28 is the final day to register qn organization to fundraise on Founders’ Day of Giving. Ambassadors will be able to continue signing up to support any registered organization throughout the month of August.

For questions, reach out to aaryn.bennett@wichita.edu.

The Board of Directors of the WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement welcomed back Mike James ’71, to the board for another term beginning July 1.

The board is chaired by Lynn Nichols, retired chairman and CEO of Yingling Aircraft Inc. Dan Peare, ’82/85, serves as immediate past chair; Shawn Penner, ’92, is board treasurer; Sheryl Wohlford,’82, serves as secretary; and Jay Smith, ’79, is board chair elect. Other returning board members include Pamela Ammar, ’80; Susayn Brandes, ’81; Wayne Chambers, ’72, ’79; Jeff DeGraffenreid, ’88; Junetta Everett, ’79; Kelly Harrison, ’94; Shadi Marcos, ’96; Marilyn Pauly, ’72; and Elizabeth King. President Rick Muma is an ex-officio member.

Jane McHugh, ’80, will exit the board at the end of June at the completion of her term.