March 2024

WSU unveils visionary 2024 master plan

As a community, Shocker Nation is a formidable force. Time and time again, we’ve demonstrated that we can make big things happen. Take for instance the Innovation Campus. Less than 10 years ago, it was a golf course. Now, it stands as a burgeoning hub of innovation, offering abundant career and research prospects not just for our students and state but also on a global scale.

Now it’s time to plan for Wichita State University’s footprint over the next decade — and beyond! The Kansas Board of Regents requires its institutions to create a master plan every 10 years to guide the vision of the future of the university, and it’s a valuable exercise that gives us a birds-eye view of how we can better serve our students and community.

The master planning process began last year with Gensler, a global architecture, design and planning firm — the same firm that designed Wayne and Kay Woolsey Hall. Gensler representatives visited the campus six times, surveyed about 1,000 people and interviewed hundreds of students, faculty, staff and community for feedback and insights into the best way forward for Wichita State.

March podcast: Bobby Berry

Join President Rick Muma when he talks to Dr. Bobby Berry, assistant dean and assistant professor for the College of Applied Studies, about serving students and his research and work with first-generation students.

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 Connect created to build relationships with preK-12 students and parents

A new space is now open on the Wichita State campus called Wichita State Connect. Dr. Alicia Thompson, former superintendent of USD 259, will lead Wichita State Connect.

Wichita State Connect is in the former Wonder School, next to the National Institute for Aviation Research. It will serve as a hub for preK-12 field trips, mixers and professional development opportunities for educators and to provide WSU academic colleges and programs chances to engage with schools, industry and community partners.

Wichita State students recognized for outstanding biomedical research

Four undergraduate students from Wichita State University were among the 18 students recognized at the 22nd annual Kansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (K-INBRE) Symposium in Manhattan, Kansas.

The WSU students who were recognized:

• Yousaf Khan, senior in chemistry, gave the poster presentation, “A new vaccine platform based on the selective targeting of dendritic cells by the binding component of the anthrax toxin, protective antigen.”
• Alia Michaelis, senior in biochemistry, gave the oral presentation, “Characterization cardiomyopathic point mutations of the Ig3 domain of myopalladin.”
• Bao Nhu To, junior in biology and health science, gave the poster presentation, “Microbial Survival and Partitioning in Layered Ices Relevant to Mars.”
• Julie Tran, junior in chemistry, gave the poster presentation, “Characterization of Cardiomyopathic Point Mutations in the Ig3 Domain of Myopalladin.”

Wichita State University is not just reshaping downtown Wichita with the Wichita Biomedical Campus; it’s redefining health care education by harnessing the dynamic interplay between health care and the humanities.

WSU’s new Academic Center for Biomedical and Health Humanities, or HealthHum as it’s been monikered, aims to increase the visibility of a wide range of research and teaching in areas related to health care and humanities beyond the traditional health professions.

Wichita State announces affiliation with Excelencia in Education

Wichita State and President Rick Muma has recently become a member of the Excelencia in Education’s Presidents for Latino Student Success (P4LSS). P4LSS is a group of college and university presidents dedicated to making their institutions an environment Latine students can thrive.

WSU joins the P4LSS and 175 higher education leaders from 29 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico committed to the collective goal of ensuring America’s future, working in common cause with Excelencia in Education to make the country stronger with the talents, skills and contributions of Latine college graduates.

Softball and baseball start strong, basketball seasons end

See the latest highlights from our Shocker Athletics teams:

• Track and field - Destiny Masters, a junior from El Dorado, earned two All-American honors in Boston at the NCAA Indoor Championships in early March. In the pentathlon, she placed sixth with 4,338 points to become the first Shocker to earn first-team All-American honors in the pentathlon. She placed 12th in the high jump with a height of 6 feet, 3/4 inches to earn second-team All-American status.
• Men’s basketball - The Shockers highlighted their first season under coach Paul Mills with wins over Rice (88-81) and Memphis (71-65) in the AAC Championship in Fort Worth. A 72-60 loss to eventual champion UAB ended WSU’s season.
• Women’s basketball - Sophomore Daniela Abies earned third-team All-American Conference honors in coach Terry Nooner’s first season. She averaged 12.9 points and 9.2 rebounds. WSU wrapped up the season with a 64-50 win over Florida Atlantic and a 69-62 loss to USF in the AAC Championship in Fort Worth.
• Softball - WSU enters late March with a top-30 power ranking after playing nine non-conference games against ranked opponents. The Shockers continue AAC play at Charlotte beginning March 28. WSU’s return home to play Tulsa in a series that begins April 5.
• Baseball - The Shockers host their first AAC home game of the season starting March 28 with a series against Rice, which follows a series win against UAB that kicked off conference play. The Owls last visited Eck Stadium in 1996 when WSU defeated them 16-6 in the Midwest Regional title game.
• Men’s golf - Blake Lorenz earned AAC golfer of the week after finishing third in the Twin Oaks Intercollegiate in Springfield, Missouri. Lorenz shot a 6-under 207 to help the Shockers finish second.
• Women’s tennis - The Shockers entered the ITA rankings at No. 55, the team’s first appearance since 2019. Wins over No. 66 Liberty and No. 47 Denver boosted the Shockers into the ranking. WSU is one of seven AAC schools in the top 75.

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

Wichita East High student wins 2024 Lenora N. McGregor Scholarship

Ava Wilkie, senior at Wichita East High School, is the winner of the 2024 Lenora N. McGregor Endowed Scholarship at Wichita State University.

The Lenora N. McGregor Endowed Scholarship awards up to $26,000 over four years to an incoming freshman student who has demonstrated academic excellence, has an academic vision for the future and who expresses an interest in advancing knowledge through individual learning. The McGregor Scholar agrees to maintain active membership in WSU’s Dorothy and Bill Cohen Honors College.

Wichita State hosts Norah O'Donnell for 2024 Craig W. Barton Speaker Series

Norah O'Donnell, anchor for the CBS Evening News and "60 Minutes" contributor, headlined Wichita State's 2024 Craig W. Barton Speaker Series March 21.

O'Donnell spoke to attendees at Miller Concert Hall in Duerksen Fine Arts Center and answered questions from the audience. Earlier in the day, she met with students in the Rhatigan Student Center during her visit to WSU.

The Craig W. Barton Speaker Series is an annual Wichita State event established to expose students and the community to differing points of view and encourage critical thinking and conversation. Previous speakers include Robert Gates, 22nd United States secretary of defense (2006-2011), and Cody Keenan, former White House director of speechwriting for President Barack Obama.

Details for the 2025 Craig W. Barton Speaker Series event will be announced at a later date.

Wichita State hosting Open Streets ICT in April

For a second year, Wichita State University will show off its unique cultural and educational assets while welcoming the community to campus during Open Streets ICT - WSU and Shocker Neighborhood on April 14.

Open Streets ICT is a community-building event on a closed street, intended to promote healthy active living and social engagement. The event is free and open to the public.

From noon-4 p.m. April 14, Open Streets ICT will take place on 17th Street from Oliver to Volutsia. The almost two-mile stretch is open for biking, walking and running. 17th Street will be closed from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

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