February 2024

WSU hits all-time high in research rankings

Wichita State University is soaring to new heights in the research realm. In January, the university moved to No. 2 on the national list of industry-funded engineering research and development, according to the latest data compiled by the National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development Survey.

In fiscal year 2022, Wichita State reported $261 million in R&D expenditures, a significant increase from $192 million in 2021. Of this total, industry-funded R&D expenditures reached an impressive $116.3 million, reflecting a substantial rise from $86 million in the previous year. 

Wichita State has also climbed seven spots to No. 13 on the list of top universities in total engineering and research and development. Our engineering R&D expenditures for fiscal year 2022 totaled an impressive $226 million, showcasing our continued dedication to advancing knowledge and driving progress in the field.



These achievements are a testament to the dedicated students, faculty and staff who work doggedly in the labs, offices and classrooms across campus in the relentless pursuit of discovery.

February podcast: Women in STEM: Leanne Caret

Join Wichita State President Rick Muma when he talks with Leanne Caret, featured on Forbes Magazine’s Most Powerful Women list, about her career in the aerospace industry and women in STEM.

While recording the podcast, Caret discovered several Easter egg photos on set featuring President Muma. Vote for your favorite. The first 100 responses will be eligible for a vintage WuShock glass.

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

Wichita State Foundation and Alumni Engagement announces new president and CEO

Since its establishment in 1965, the Wichita State University Foundation and Alumni Engagement (WSUFAE) has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing the university’s priorities. In May 2023, Elizabeth King announced her plans to retire as the WSUFAE president and CEO after 33 years of leading these efforts. Telly McGaha will be assuming this top position, joining us from Georgia State University.

“We extend a warm welcome to Telly as the next leader of the WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement team,” President Rick Muma said.

WSU reveals renderings for downtown’s Wichita Biomedical Campus

Phase One of the Wichita Biomedical Campus, being built in the heart of downtown Wichita, now has its official look.

Renderings created by Helix Architecture + Design and CO Architects show the 8-story, 350,000-square-foot building that features a 3-story pavilion, classrooms, labs, student success center, lounges and study spaces, offices and meeting spaces.

This marks the first phase of the joint health sciences project between Wichita State University and the University of Kansas. Once built, the Wichita Biomedical Campus will combine WSU’s College of Health Professions and Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, WSU Tech’s health care program and Wichita campuses of KU School of Medicine and KU School of Pharmacy into one location.

Members of the Wichita community are invited to learn more and ask questions about the next Wichita State Master Plan at a virtual event from 6 to 7 p.m. March 4.

President Rick Muma and Shirley Lefever, provost and executive vice president — along with representatives from Gensler, a global architecture, design and planning firm that helped develop the plan — will discuss the future of WSU.

As a member of the Kansas Board of Regents, Wichita State is required to provide a master plan every 10 years to guide the vision of the future of the university.

Wichita State celebrates Elizabeth King's career at retirement party

A retirement reception celebrating Elizabeth King, who dedicated 33 years of service to Wichita State, was filled with words of gratitude and admiration from donors, friends, alumni and the campus community.

During her time leading the WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement, King has made a positive difference in the lives of many, creating a lasting legacy of excellence.

Attendees enjoyed sharing memories they've made throughout the years, and special remarks from President Rick Muma highlighted how meaningful King's work has been for all of Shocker Nation.

WSU Esports wraps up season with ECAC National Championship victory in virtual 'Valorant' showdown

Wichita State University Esports wrapped up its fall 2023 season on a high note by securing victory in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) National Championship in Valorant in a virtual showdown.

The playoff journey featured notable triumphs against the University of Albany, Cumberland University, Pace University and culminated in a final clash with Siena Heights University, securing the championship title. Key players instrumental in this achievement included Truman Nguyen, Tyson Nguyen, McKaleb Unruh, Caleb Allen and Kevin Nguyen, showcasing exceptional skill and teamwork throughout the competition.

Contested online in the game Valorant by Riot Games, the ECAC National Championship served as a rigorous test for WSU Esports. The ECAC, traditionally an NCAA conference, added an esports-specific branch a few years ago, encompassing conferences across multiple games.

Associate of Arts degrees awarded to eligible bachelor's degree-seeking students

Earlier this semester, Wichita State University awarded Associate of Arts degrees to eligible students at the university. These students, while working towards their bachelor’s degrees, have completed the necessary coursework to receive their associate degree from WSU.

The degrees were awarded to students in recognition of their achievements at WSU and for making it halfway to their bachelor’s degree. In total, 97 Associate of Arts degrees were awarded to students, and President Rick Muma and Shirley Lefever, provost and executive vice president, recognized students who received their associate degrees at an event Feb. 1.

While WSU has offered an Associate of Arts degree under the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for some time, this semester marks the first time eligible bachelor’s degree-seeking students have automatically been awarded the degree.

Shocker Athletics is in full swing for spring semester

• Baseball opened its season by winning two of three games at Little Rock and defeated Iowa 12-6 Sunday. The Shockers meet Oral Roberts on the road Feb. 28 and play its first home game of the season against Utah Tech March 1.
• Softball defeated No. 20 South Carolina 6-5 in Puerto Vallarta and closed the Razorback Invitational 4-1, bringing its overall record to 7-3. The Shockers face Nebraska and Missouri in the Big Red Invitational in Lincoln, Nebraska this weekend.
• Men’s basketball defeated Tulsa Feb. 21, continuing its 11-game winning streak against the team at home. The Shockers play UAB on the road and Rice at home this week.
• Women’s basketball will play SMU at home Feb. 28 in its annual Play4Kay Pink game, raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research.
• Track and field competed in the AAC Indoor Championships Feb. 23-24. Destiny Masters scored a meet-high 21 points to earn AAC Most Valuable Performer honors at the indoor championship. Masters won the high jump (6 foot, 11/4 inches) and placed second in the pentathlon with 4,140 points. She ranks No. 9 nationally in the pentathlon and No. 11 in the high jump, marks that are expected to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships on March 8-9 in Boston.

For updates on all Wichita State athletics, visit goshockers.com

Shocker Nation Scholarships

Wichita State University has selected the 2024 recipients of the Harry Gore Memorial Scholarships. Each student will receive a $64,000 scholarship to attend Wichita State University starting in August 2024.

The 2024 Gore Scholars are:

• Karinton Newton, Summit Christian Academy (Missouri)
• Karaline Scott, Goddard High School
• Chloe Strecker, Eureka High School (Missouri)

The students competed in the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational in November, with 544 other students also competing. To be invited to compete in the invitational, students had to have a 27 or higher ACT score, a 3.5 or higher GPA, or rank in the top 10% of their class. Once invited, students completed an application, including essays, and competed in an on-campus leadership competition. Thirteen finalists came back to campus Jan. 18 for final interviews.

As with Gore Scholars before them, the three recipients this year are involved in their schools and communities and plan to do the same at Wichita State University.

Ten high school students from Kansas, Missouri and Texas have been awarded the Koch Scholarship at Wichita State University, starting in the fall 2024 semester.

Each scholar each will be awarded $30,000 to attend WSU over four years.



Fall 2024 Koch Scholarship:

• Alexander Baird, Campus High School (Haysville, Kansas), electrical engineering
• Samir Barraza, Colby High School, computer science
• Carson Brewer, Andover Central High School, computer science
• Tyler Casely-Hayford, Stephen F. Austin High School (Richmond, Texas), mechanical engineering
• Mayce Cashman, Andale High School, finance
• Sophie Clarke, Eisenhower High School, computer science
• Kayla Gann, Smithville High School (Smithville, Missouri), accounting
• Jack Rue, Wichita Northwest High School, computer engineering
• Israel Torres, Wichita Northeast Magnet High School, mechanical engineering
• Erin Vance, Wichita Trinity Academy, mechanical engineering

The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University awarded Faith Swart, a Maize High School senior, the 2024 Clay Barton Scholarship. The $50,000 scholarship is one of the largest business scholarships in Kansas.



Barton School and Maize High School officials joined in surprising Swart with the ceremonial scholarship check during one of her classes Feb. 7.

“I was not expecting it at all,” Swart said. “Now that I’ve won it, I’m able to do so much more. This will open up opportunities like internships, a sorority and clubs that I wouldn’t have had time for."

Swart, who plans to major in marketing, was named the 2024 Barton Scholar after competing against numerous other high school seniors in a series of speeches, group exercises and other activities.

The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University has named its two recipients of the 2024 Professor Fran Jabara Scholarship in Entrepreneurship.

This year’s winners are:

• Annika Lindeman, Eisenhower High School (Goddard, Kansas)
• Abby Rexford, West Jessamine High School in (Wilmore, Kentucky)

They will each receive more than $32,700 spread over four years to attend WSU and major in entrepreneurship.

“The Barton School’s commitment to entrepreneurship goes beyond just lessons in the classroom,” said Dr. Larisa Genin, dean of the Barton School of Business. “These scholarships are a testament to remaining one of the premier institutions for entrepreneurship in the country. I’m excited to welcome Annika and Abby to the Barton family.”

Wichita State University’s College of Engineering has named the latest group of high school seniors to join the Wallace Scholar program.

• Elijah Allen, Wichita Collegiate High School in Wichita, Kansas
• Benjamin Aquino, Homeschool in Edmond, Oklahoma
• Nasya Choy, Arkansas School for Mathematics, Science, and the Arts
• Isabelle Christensen, Southeast of Saline High School in Salina, Kansas
• T Goode, Maize South High School in Maize, Kansas in Wichita
• Evelyn Hrencher, Edmond North High School in Edmond
• Cameron Klug, Gardner Edgerton High School in Gardner, Kansas
• TJ Morrison, Olathe Northwest High School in Olathe, Kansas
• Jocelynn Palacio, Andover High School in Andover, Kansas
• Karaline Scott, Goddard High School in Goddard, Kansas
• Angel Yanez, Wichita Heights High School in Wichita

The 10 Wallace Scholarship recipients will receive $30,500 each to attend Wichita State for four years. One student, who will receive the Gore Scholarship, will be an honorary Wallace Scholar.

Keep in touch.