December 2025

2025 Shocker year in review

Every year when December rolls around, I find it hard to believe how quickly the year has passed. Looking back at 2025, Shocker Nation has accomplished so much, and I am incredibly proud to be part of a community that envisions the future so clearly and knows how to turn bold ideas into progress. This year brought new partnerships, new opportunities for our students, and new momentum for Wichita and the region — all fueled by people who show up ready to build what comes next.

• We welcomed two new university leaders in 2025: Dr. Monica Lounsbery, senior executive president and provost, came to us from California State University, Long Beach and Dr. Sarah Beth Estes from University of Arkansas at Little Rock was appointed as the dean of the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. We are thrilled to have their energy and leadership at Wichita State, helping to fuel the university’s growth and potential.
• In January, tragedy struck when a plane traveling from Wichita crashed in Washington, D.C. Several of those who died in the crash had close connections to Wichita State, including 2017 alumna Kiah Duggins, who worked as a civil rights attorney in D.C. To honor Kiah’s memory and her passion for social justice, the Shocker Support Locker — which Duggins cofounded when she was a student — was renamed the Kiah Duggins Shocker Support Locker.
• The Corbin Education Center has been on a rollercoaster ride since it flooded in early 2024, forcing the building to close for more than a year. The building was finally able to reopen in September, allowing staff and faculty to move back into their offices. Then in October we received word that thanks to the dedicated efforts of many in our Shocker community, the 50-year-old Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It’s the only building at WSU to be listed on this registry.

Episode 39: WSU executives discuss 'Student Centered, Innovation Driven'

Wichita State University has grown leaps and bounds in the past 10 years, thanks in no small part to its forward-thinking leadership, strategic partnerships and initiatives that prioritize student success. Join President Rick Muma as he talks about his new book, "Student Centered, Innovation Driven" with members of his executive team: Dr. Monica Lounsbery, senior executive vice president and provost; Dr. Shelly Coleman-Martins, vice president of Strategic Communications and Marketing; and Andy Schlapp, vice president of strategy and government relations.

Click the photo above to watch the video of the podcast. The podcast is also available on Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts or Apple Podcasts.

Save the date for the Barton Speaker Series with Lieutenant General (Ret.) H.R. McMaster

The Wichita State University Craig W. Barton Speaker Series cordially invites you to save the date for an evening with Lieutenant General (Ret.) H.R. McMaster, 25th U.S. national security advisor, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at Miller Concert Hall in Duerksen Fine Arts Center.

Ticket reservations will be available on March 4, 2026.

The Craig W. Barton Speaker Series is an annual event established to expose students and the community to differing points of view and encourage critical thinking and conversation.

WSU celebrates graduates at fall 2025 commencement ceremonies

Wichita State University celebrated the more than 1,200 students who were eligible to graduate in fall 2025 at the 128th fall commencement ceremonies Sunday, Dec. 14 in Charles Koch Arena.

Two ceremonies were held, one for graduate students and one for undergraduate students, where all graduates were individually recognized and doctoral candidates were hooded.

Grammy award-winning mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, a 1992 Shocker graduate, was the virtual guest speaker for the undergraduate ceremony, where she also received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Meet some of WSU’s fall 2025 graduating class of Shockers

More than 1,200 Shockers were eligible for graduation in fall 2025. As they graduate from Wichita State University, they will share the story of Shocker Nation through their work.

Learn more about some of the graduates and their time at Wichita State and what they are looking forward to in their futures.

Wichita Biomedical Campus sees complete transformation during 2025

What started as a flat patch of soil in January has transformed into the eight-story Wichita Biomedical Campus in the heart of Wichita. Ground first broke in May 2024 and is now in the closing stretch of construction with the anticipated opening being in spring 2027.

And you can follow along with the construction by watching the continuous livestream of the construction site online.

Phase 1 of the location is a $222 million, 350,000-square-foot joint health sciences center, in downtown Wichita. Once complete, the Wichita Biomedical Campus will combine WSU’s College of Health Professions programs, WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology’s (WSU Tech) health care program, and the Wichita campuses of KU School of Medicine and KU School of Pharmacy.

Shocker Athletics gears up for spring season with basketball kicking off conference play later this month

Men’s basketball opens American Conference play with two road trips: Dec. 31 at UAB and Jan. 3 at Charlotte. The Shockers open home conference play against Rice on Jan. 7 in Charles Koch Arena.

Women's basketball starts American play at Tulsa on Dec. 30. WSU will meet Tulane to kick off conference play at home on Jan. 3 at Charles Koch Arena.

Later this spring:

• Women’s bowling is ranked No. 6 in the National Tenpin Coaches Association Coaches Poll and return to action at the Northeast Classic Jan. 16-18 in New Castle, Delaware. The Shockers have wins over No. 1 Jacksonville State, No. 3 Arkansas State, No. 4 Nebraska and No. 5 Louisiana Tech.
• The women’s tennis doubles team of Xin Tong Wang and Giorgia Roselli finished the fall ranked No. 24 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. They went 10-5 in the fall and won the American Conference doubles title. The Shockers open the spring season against Oklahoma State on Jan. 23 in the ITA Kickoff Weekend in Lubbock, Texas.
• Track and field is underway for the 2025-26 season. Indoor competition resumes at the Thane Baker Invitational at Kansas State on Jan. 16. WSU hosts the Herm Wilson Invitational starting Jan. 29 at the Heskett Center.
• Baseball opens the season with a series versus Northern Colorado starting Feb. 13 at Eck Stadium, Home of Tyler Field at Gene Stephenson Park.
• Softball plays in the Getterman Classic starting on Feb. 6 in Waco, Texas, to open the season, starting with Mississippi State and Baylor.

For updates on athletics at Wichita State and to buy tickets, visit goshockers.com.

Shocker Success Center’s convenience makes life as a student easier

Many statistics exist to demonstrate the impact of the Shocker Success Center in its first year. For sophomore Shamarie Hanna, the importance of the building is also about its welcoming spaces and helpful atmosphere.

“So many resources and so many ways to get work done,” said Hanna, who is majoring in biological sciences with a biomedical emphasis with a minor in chemistry. “This space is amazing. There are so many ways of socializing or connecting with different people.”

The Shocker Success Center, formerly Clinton Hall, opened in fall 2024. It brought 18 campus resources, previously housed in 12 buildings, into one building, located in the heart of campus and linked by sidewalk to the Rhatigan Student Center and Ablah Library.

And you can hear more directly from Hanna about the impact the Shocker Success Center has had on the students at WSU as he walks through the numbers.

Premier tennis facility project under way in northeast Wichita

Wichita State University is honored to be an invited partner to expand entertainment and tourism in Wichita in the development of a premier championship-level tennis facility located within the 35-acre “Ignite at K-96” major multi-sport athletic complex, on the southeast side of the K-96 and Greenwich corridor.

The six-acre tennis complex will be built to NCAA national championship specifications. The facility will feature 12 outdoor and six indoor courts, first-class team accommodations and a spectator capacity of 1,500.

“This is an important step for Wichita State University tennis, and the university is deeply appreciative of the efforts of Marty Cornejo and the FDD team to bring a project opportunity that the university will not have to utilize public funding to develop,” Wichita State President Rick Muma said. “This facility, once again, demonstrates our commitment to strong NCAA Division I athletics and shows the support we enjoy from our community. This elevates our university, athletic department, the student-athletes and coaches, and tennis in Wichita.”

Partnership between WSU and Somewhere Works creates big opportunities for Wichita’s music scene

Wichita State University’s College of Fine Arts is partnering with Movement Musick to offer programing at the Somewhere Works music facility in downtown Wichita. Wichita State University and Somewhere Works will collaborate to open opportunities for innovation, applied learning, new classes and community engagement.

“This pilot partnership allows for enhanced creative collisions,” said Justin Rorabaugh, director of WSU’s School of Digital Arts, as well as WSU’s Shocker Studios. “This opens the door to the sound design world. The collaboration between music and the digital arts can bring sound design to Wichita in a way that’s never happened before.”

Community invited to Wichita State’s spring 2026 performing arts events

The School of Performing Arts in the College of Fine Arts at Wichita State University invites Shocker Nation to its upcoming spring 2026 productions, including:

• Youth Dance Wichita – 2 p.m. Feb. 1 in Wilner Auditorium
• Jo Zakas Musical Theatre Incubator showing – 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12-14 in the Hughes Metropolitan Complex, Welsbacher Theatre
• SPARK Spring Dance Concert – 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26-28 and 2 p.m. March 1 in Wilner Auditorium
• "Time Stands Still" – 7:30 p.m. April 22-26 and 2 p.m. April 25-26 in the Hughes Metropolitan Complex, Welsbacher Theatre

Wichita State Cricket Club makes history with back-to-back championships

Wichita State’s cricket team capped a milestone year by winning both the 35-over and T20 titles in the Two-State Cricket League — a rare back-to-back sweep in the league’s decades-long history.

“This year has been historic for us,” said Sai Karthik Garnepudi, president and captain of the WSU Cricket Club and a Ph.D. candidate in electrical and computer engineering. “In more than 20 years of this league, only a few teams have ever achieved this.” 

Wichita State hosts annual service recognition, Bender of Twigs ceremonies

Earlier this semester, Wichita State recognized faculty and staff who have reached milestones of service to the university.

Employees who celebrated five, 10, 15 and 20 years of service were recognized Nov. 12; and on Nov. 13, employees celebrating 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 years of service to the State of Kansas, Bender of Twigs recipients, and retirees were honored.

Wichita State thanks all the honorees for their service to the university. This year, over 350 individuals were recognized for their milestones.

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