February 2026

2026 Barton series speaker will continue WSU’s history of free expression

On a campus shaped by a multitude of perspectives and big questions, Wichita State University’s Barton Speaker Series reminds us why thoughtful dialogue is essential to a vibrant democracy.

The Barton Speaker Series aims to “expose students and the community to differing points of view and encourage critical thinking and conversation.”

These kinds of events are springboards for conversations and potential opportunities for civil discourse among people with varied perspectives. At their very core, they are the epitome of the free expression that keeps a democratic society vibrant. That matters, especially on college campuses, where young thinkers are learning how to engage with the world beyond them.

The Barton Speaker Series carries on the university’s history of supporting free expression from different voices, including the prestigious Forum Board Lecture Series (1937-2002) — which brought thought leaders like First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (1957); future presidents Gerald Ford (1970), Joe Biden (1978) and Ronald Reagan (1980); feminist icon Gloria Steinem (1972 and 1985); author and activist Maya Angelou (1974 and 1982), and longtime Kansas politician Bob Dole (1975) — to name a few of the more than 500 nationally and internationally known personalities.

Episode 40: Coaches Kristi Bredbenner and Brian Green

Wichita State President Rick Muma sits down with softball coach Kristi Bredbenner and baseball coach Brian Green for a candid conversation about their seasons, their student‑athletes and what it truly means to compete as part of Shocker Athletics.

Episode 41: Carl Bowden, WSU alum, on leadership

Join Wichita State University President Rick Muma as he visits with Carl Bowden about how his Master of Business Administration from Wichita State helped him pivot from a career in wildlife conservation to a career focused on strategy, leadership and influence.

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.

Wichita State leads NSF rankings in engineering and aerospace research

Fueled by a boost in contracts from federal agencies and various military branches, Wichita State University continues to hold strong in its standings in the National Science Foundation (NSF) Higher Education Research and Development Survey, reporting $392 million in research expenditures in the latest survey. This marks a 7% increase over the previous year’s $366 million, reinforcing WSU’s position as a leading research institution.

Specifically, Wichita State ranks No. 1 in aerospace engineering research and development (R&D) from all funding services with a total of $350 million, No. 2 in engineering R&D funded by industry and defense with $283 million, and No. 9 in engineering R&D from all funding sources with $360 million.

“The dedication and expertise of our researchers make these rankings possible,” President Rick Muma said. “Our consistent performance in research rankings continues to attract top talent and strategic partnerships to our university and state, continuing to position Wichita State as an economic driver for the state.”

Exterior work on Biomedical Campus signals finishing touches in progress

The prominence of the Wichita Biomedical Campus on the downtown skyline will grow in the coming weeks as workers install the exterior’s finished look.

Terracotta cladding, metal panels and ultra-high performance concrete panels will soon cover the orange backup wall panels now visible on much of the nine-story building’s exterior. With the building around 85% enclosed, interior work is beginning with drywall, painting and tile.

“They’re working hard right now to get the building enclosed, especially because it’s winter,” said Stacy Christie, director of special projects and facilities planning for the Wichita Biomedical Campus. “They’re doing a great job.”

Wichita State names Dr. Ali P. Gordon as dean of College of Engineering

Dr. Ali P. Gordon has been named as the next dean of the Wichita State University College of Engineering, effective June 7.

Gordon currently serves as a professor and the associate dean of graduate affairs at the University of Central Florida’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, a role he took as interim in 2018 before being appointed in 2019. During his tenure, Gordon has overseen over 30 graduate programs and 2,500 graduate students, and he architected the college’s strategic internationalization plan.

“Wichita State University is already a recognized powerhouse for engineering, computing, applied learning and research,” Gordon said. “As we strive for R1 status, the College of Engineering will be a key contributor to the transformation. With our talented students, distinguished faculty, dedicated staff and fully engaged industry partners already in place, achieving a bold new vision for this college is well within our reach. It is a privilege to lead the College of Engineering, and together we will author its next great chapter.”

Wichita State receives $1 million gift for need-based scholarships

Wichita State University is proud to announce a transformative $1 million gift from an anonymous 1958 graduate of the University of Wichita to support need-based scholarships in the W. Frank Barton School of Business.

This gift will directly benefit students who face financial challenges — particularly first-generation students — who make up nearly half of Wichita State’s enrollment. On average, first-generation students receive less financial support from their families and are more likely to rely on private loans to fund their education. Currently, 46% of Wichita State’s undergraduate student population are first-generation college students, highlighting the importance of private financial support.

“Ensuring access and affordability is a promise to our students,” said WSU President Rick Muma. “This gift, alongside the generosity of countless alumni and donors, is a profound reminder that our students’ success goes further with the support of Shocker Nation behind them.”

Shocker Nation scholarships

WSU receives $2.5 million to launch paid humanities internship program

Wichita State University has been awarded a $2.5 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to create the Wichita HIREs program: Humanities Internships Reward Employers, an initiative designed to expand applied learning opportunities for students pursuing humanities degrees. This transformative grant includes a $1 million matching funds requirement to build a long-term endowment to sustain the program beyond the five-year grant period.

Beginning in the 2026 spring semester, Wichita HIREs will leverage WSU’s established leadership in applied learning to create increased opportunities for humanities students. While Wichita State students collectively work in more than 12,000 paid positions per academic year, humanities majors account for only 0.5% of those opportunities. This program will directly address this gap by creating paid internships for approximately 300 humanities students over the life of the grant.

“We are proud to receive this grant from the Mellon Foundation to expand paid applied learning in ways that advance WSU’s mission and directly benefit our community,” said Wichita State President Rick Muma. “This program will showcase to employers across Kansas the tremendous value humanities students can offer.”

From Wichita to Amazon Robotics: A mechanical engineering journey

Meet Vivian Salazar, a mechanical engineering student who turned her passion for problem-solving into a meaningful internship at Amazon Robotics. In this student spotlight, Vivian discusses her work with Amazon’s fulfillment systems, her role at The Smart Factory by Deloitte and how hands-on experiences like GoBabyGo shaped her engineering career.

Explore how Wichita State’s applied learning approach helps students bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world innovation in manufacturing, robotics and sustainability.

Wichita State launches forensic graduate programs to meet demand for evidence experts

Wichita State University will launch two graduate programs in forensic firearms and forensic biology in fall 2026, expanding the pipeline of trained specialists prepared for careers in federal, state and local crime laboratories.

The programs were developed in collaboration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and regional partners at the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and they were created to meet a growing national need for examiners who can step into a lab and get to work.

“We asked, ‘What would a well-qualified entry-level applicant look like?’ That helped us identify the applied learning and the acquired skills that these programs would need to deliver,” said Dr. Delores Craig-Moreland, associate professor and chair of Wichita State’s Criminal Justice Department.

Shockers post big wins and record breakers entering March, honor Mike Kennedy

The Shockers are entering March on a high note with many stand out results, from dominant men’s basketball wins and a record-breaking women’s basketball performance to women’s bowling beating out No. 1 Jacksonville State to win the Big Red Invite and women’s tennis stacking eight straight wins.

• Men’s basketball is currently tied for second place in the American Conference men’s basketball race after a win against Memphis Feb. 26. The final home game is at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 7 against Florida Atlantic. Additionally, the Shockers defeated Temple 69-57 in front of a season-high crowd of 8,094.
• Mike Kennedy, voice of the Shockers on radio since 1980, was honored at halftime against Temple and a banner recognizing his place in Shocker history dropped from the rafters. Kennedy will retire at the end of baseball season. Wichita State also honored members of three Missouri Valley Conference title teams: 1976, 2006 and 2016.
• Jaila Harding set the WSU women’s basketball season mark for three-pointers in a 62-61 win over UTSA. Harding, from Wichita, scored 19 points and made four three-pointers to push her season total to 75. Courtney Sims set the previous mark at 73 during the 1999-2000 season. The Shockers wrap up their regular season with a game against North Texas at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 3.
• Women’s tennis is No. 24 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings. The Shockers have won eight straight matches, including wins over No. 23 SMU and No. 37 Iowa, in addition to Kansas, Kansas State, Nebraska and Iowa State.
• Women’s bowling, ranked No. 4 nationally, won the Big Red Invite in Lincoln, Nebraska by defeating No. 6 Nebraska and No. 1 Jacksonville State.
• Baseball is 7-2 after splitting a four-game series at Hawaii and opened a weekend series with a win against Omaha. The series continues at 3:05 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27 at Eck Stadium. Nebraska visits Eck Stadium March 17-18.
• Softball went 5-0 at the Boerner Invitational in Texas, highlighted by Jade Sanders throwing a no-hitter in an 8-0 win over Creighton. It is the 22nd no-hitter in program history. Kinzey Woody completed a sweep of the Bluejays by hitting a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning for an 8-4 win. The Shockers are at the Missouri Invitational this week before opening their home schedule against Kansas at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 4.
• The American Conference Indoor Championships are this weekend in Birmingham, Alabama. Two Shockers to watch are twin brothers Jason and Josh Parrish. They were the top collegiate finishers in the 200 meters in the Steve Miller Invitational in Manhattan, with both breaking the school record. Jason Parrish placed second with a time of 21.01 seconds with his brother third at 21.07. Shannon Armstrong (21.19) set the previous mark in 2003.

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

New faces come to Wichita State's Braeburn Square

If you haven't visited campus since winter break, you may be surprised to see two brand new faces at Braeburn Square on Wichita State University's Innovation Campus: Rajadhani Indian Cuisine and Pizza Shuttle.

Rajadhani joined Wichita State's campus over WSU's winter break in December and has already received rave reviews from the community. The restaurant is open for both the lunch and dinner hours.

Pizza Shuttle, a staple of college life for students in Manhattan, Lawrence and Topeka, has expanded its student servings to Wichita State, offering affordable and fast pizza, even during late study nights.

New investment moves former Cessna Stadium renovation forward

The renovation of Wichita State’s Cessna Stadium into University Stadium took a big step forward Jan. 8 when the WSU Board of Trustees voted unanimously to invest $38 million into Phase 2 of the project.

Phase 2 will begin after the KSHSAA State Track and Field Championships May 29-30, 2026 with demolition of the west grandstand in June.

"We would like to thank the Board of Trustees for their investment in making University Stadium a state-of-the-art venue for Shocker track and field and the KSHSAA State Track and Field Championships,” said Kevin Saal, Wichita State director of athletics. “University Stadium is a tremendous asset to Wichita State University, the community of Wichita and the state of Kansas as we improve the university’s ability to host Kansas’ top high school athletes. This renovation also enhances Wichita State’s potential to recruit a wide range of championship and external events – including but not limited to national track and field competition - to Wichita.”

FEATURED SOCIAL MEDIA POST

Follow President Muma

Keep in touch.