Wichita State University

November 2024

Remembering Dr. Jim Rhatigan: A champion for students, a legacy for Wichita State

Wichita State University mourns the loss of an extraordinary leader, mentor and friend, Dr. Jim Rhatigan, who died in October.


For nearly six decades, Jim — the namesake of the Rhatigan Student Center — was the heart and soul of our university, championing students with a steadfast commitment to their well-being and success.


Jim joined the Wichita State family in 1965 as the university’s first, and one of the nation’s youngest, deans of students. He was a beloved and larger-than-life figure whose influence spanned generations. His unwavering belief in the potential of every student and his tireless advocacy for their needs cemented his legacy as one of the strongest supporters of students.


Jim often reminded us that students aren’t just customers or consumers. They are the very essence of what Wichita State is all about. That belief and his legacy continue to guide our mission and priorities, shaping the university's student-centered approach. 

Read more of Dr. Muma's message

Forward Together Podcast

November's 'Forward Together' podcast features representatives from WSU Greek Life

There are many Student Life and extracurricular activities at Wichita State. Join President Rick Muma when he sits down with the council presidents who represent 26 Greek-letter organizations at WSU. Tune in for an inside look at how Greek Life shapes our campus community and student experiences.


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).

Watch, listen and subscribe to the podcast
In the News at Wichita State

Wichita State breaks the top 10 in NSF’s engineering R&D rankings; No. 1 for aerospace R&D expenditures

For the first time ever, Wichita State University has entered the top 10 in the country in engineering research and development (R&D) expenditures, according to data announced this week by the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Higher Education Research and Development Survey. Wichita State is also ranked No. 1 for aerospace engineering R&D expenditures for the first time in its history.


NSF’s latest data ranks U.S. universities in various categories, including R&D spending broken down by subfield and funding source.


For fiscal year 2023, Wichita State reported R&D expenditures totaling $366 million, up from $261 million in 2022.


  • Engineering R&D expenditures totaled $336 million for 2023.
  • Aerospace R&D topped $327 million for 2023.
  • Industry-funded R&D expenditures were $171 for 2023.
  • Department of Defense-funded R&D expenditures were $112 million for 2023.


Stay tuned for a more detailed breakdown in the December edition of Forward Together.

Dr. Monica Lounsbery named new senior executive vice president and provost of Wichita State

Wichita State University has named Dr. Monica Lounsbery as its next senior executive vice president and provost, effective Jan. 5, 2025.


Lounsbery is currently dean of the College of Health and Human Services at California State University, Long Beach. Prior to her current appointment, she held various administrative positions at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, including department chair, associate vice provost, vice provost and associate dean for faculty affairs in the School of Medicine.  



“I am truly privileged to assume the vital role of senior executive vice president and provost at Wichita State University at such a crucial time in both the university’s transformational journey and the broader landscape of higher education,” says Lounsbery.


Lounsbery will take over the role from Dr. Shirley Lefever, who after 20 years at Wichita State is retiring at the end of December.  

Read more about WSU's next provost

Big dance bound: Shocker volleyball win American Athletic Conference tournament

Wichita State delivered a third consecutive sweep to cap off a dominant run through the American Athletic Conference (ACC) tournament, defeating Florida Atlantic 25-22, 25-19, 25-19 to secure the program’s first NCAA tournament bid since 2017.


The Shockers (18-13) will learn their postseason destination at next week’s NCAA Volleyball Selection Show, scheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 on ESPN. The first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament take place Thursday, Dec. 5 through Saturday, Dec. 7.


The victory represents Wichita State’s second AAC championship and first in a conference tournament. The Shockers won the 2017 regular season title when the conference did not host a tournament. Overall, Wichita State has now won five conference tournaments, with the previous four coming in the Missouri Valley Conference (2004, 2013, 2015, 2016). WSU will be appearing in the NCAA tournament for the 12th time in program history.

Learn more about the tournament run

Wichita Biomedical Campus Phase 1 foundation begins to take shape as construction continues

Construction is underway on Phase 1 of the Wichita Biomedical Campus, a $300 million, 471,000-square-foot joint health sciences center, located at the southeast corner of Broadway and William.


Despite the November Kansas rain, workers began installation of shoring around the elevator pits across the site to prevent dirt from caving in as they dig. Workers have since begun forming and pouring concrete pile caps and the elevator pit walls. A live view of its construction can be found online.


The Wichita Biomedical Campus is a joint project between Wichita State and the University of Kansas. Once complete, the campus will combine WSU’s College of Health Professions programs, including the Evelyn Hendren Cassat Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, WSU Tech’s health care program and the Wichita campuses of KU School of Medicine and KU School of Pharmacy.

Learn more about the Wichita Biomedical Campus

Construction and Master Plan updates reflect WSU's growth

As the holiday break nears, you will notice ongoing and new construction across Wichita State’s 330-acres and beyond, including:


  • University Stadium (formerly Cessna Stadium) - Construction is underway on Phase 1A, which is scheduled for completion in May 2025. Phase 1B will begin following the KSHSAA Track and Field State Championship.
  • Partnership Building 3B - P3B is under construction and will house the Forensic Crime Gun Intelligence Laboratory for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
  • Wilkins Stadium - Construction on the indoor practice facility next to Wilkins Stadium is underway. The facility is scheduled to be completed in March 2025.
  • NIAR Hub for Advanced Manufacturing Research (HAMR) - Construction on the NIAR HAMR building began in May and is expected to be complete by the end of 2025.

Men’s basketball show promising start to second season with Mills, softball announces 2025 schedule

Shocker men’s basketball have started the season strong with multiple wins at home, and Shocker baseball honors its former coach by enhancing the name of Eck Stadium. Learn more about what's new from Shocker Athletics below:


  • Men’s basketball – The Shockers play in the ESPN Event Invitational in Kissimmee, Florida, this week. They face Minnesota at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 28 (ESPN2) and then either Florida or Wake Forest on Friday, Nov. 29. Their next home game is at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4 against Alcorn.
  • Women’s basketball – WSU plays their next home game against Prairie View A&M at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2. They will then go on the road to KU for a game at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas.
  • Baseball – Wichita State is honoring former coach Gene Stephenson by enhancing the name of the baseball complex to Eck Stadium, Home of Tyler Field at Gene Stephenson Park. Stephenson coached the Shockers to seven College World Series titles and the 1989 championship from 1978-2013.
  • Women’s tennis – Xin Tong Wang advanced to the NCAA Singles Championships in Waco, Texas, but an injury forced her to end play in her first match. Wang, a sophomore, qualified for the national tournament after finishing as runner-up in the ITA Central Region Singles in October. She is the first Shocker to play in the NCAA individuals since Fatima Bizhukova in 2018.
  • Softball – Wichita State’s 2025 schedule includes the Shocker Invitational with Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma State and South Dakota State from Feb. 27 to March 2 at Wilkins Stadium. The Shockers also play home games against Oklahoma on March 26 and Kansas on April 30. WSU opens AAC play at Florida Atlantic, which shared the 2024 title, on March 7. Charlotte, the co-champion, visits Wichita for a series starting April 25.


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

Elliott School alum applies WSU experience at Take 36 film competition

When Jacob Workentine ’23 signed up for Tallgrass Film Festival’s Take 36 competition, he wasn’t expecting that he and his friends from Wichita State, Payton Steiner and Luke Arrasmith, would take first place and leave the weekend with a check for $1,000.


“I feel like I’m still in shock from our win, especially seeing the other creators who participated,” Workentine, director of K-9: The Car Chaser, said. “Being in this competition with them was such an honor.”


Take 36, an annual competition hosted by Tallgrass Film Festival, challenges creatives like Workentine and his teammates to write, shoot and edit a short film in just 36 hours. But this kind of creative crunch is what the director loves most.

Learn more about Jacob Workentine

Photography project offers people a chance to share what gives them joy

People with disabilities are frequently the subjects of research, with much of that focus on their health challenges and the obstacles they face in navigating society.


PhotoVoice changes those dynamics by offering adults with disabilities a chance to show what makes their life enjoyable.


Wichita State University’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is partnering on the PhotoVoice research project with AbilityPoint, an organization focused on the needs of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Participants are given a digital camera and memory card to take 50 (or more) pictures of the people, places, things and activities that bring them joy.

Read more about the project

WSU recognized as Partners in Peace institution by National Collegiate Honors Council and Nobel Peace Center

The Dorothy and Bill Cohen Honors College at Wichita State University has been named a Partners in Peace institution, a new distinction awarded in partnership with the Nobel Peace Center in Norway and the National Collegiate Honors Council. This recognition highlights the college’s commitment to fostering global citizenship, peaceful dialogue, and leadership among its students, and it places Wichita State among a select group of institutions that champion peace-focused education.


The Partners in Peace initiative celebrates honors programs and colleges that illuminate the work of Nobel Peace Prize laureates through dedicated curricula and hands-on learning experiences. By examining the lives and accomplishments of individuals and organizations that have promoted peace since the Nobel Peace Prize was first awarded in 1901, students are encouraged to engage with both historical and contemporary issues impacting peace.

Learn more about the recognition

Mental Health Advocate highlight: Military and Veterans Services

Suspenders4Hope, a program developed at Wichita State University, is highlighting different departments and individuals on campus who are advocates for mental health in hopes that their stories will inspire others to continue supporting one another in the community.


Military and Veterans Services is being recognized for its work in supporting our campus’ military service members and veterans, ensuring they have the resources they need to succeed. Hear from Larry Burks, LTC (R) – US Army, director of Military and Veterans Services, on how the office is supporting mental health.

Read more about the department's efforts

Stay in touch with President Muma

FEATURED SOCIAL MEDIA POST

Nov. 15:

Rick Case and I enjoyed being part of today's Retired Faculty and Staff Breakfast, honoring the years of service so many past faculty and staff have given to WSU. That includes Provost Shirley Lefever, who I was proud to award with the Laura Cross Distinguished Service Award.

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About Wichita State University


Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 23,000 students between its main campus and WSU Tech, including students from every state in the United States and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.

 

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.

 

The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing more than 120 acres, and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.

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