September 2022

Campus renovations foster student success

When I speak to Wichita State students, I’m always sure to emphasize the student support services we have in place to help them succeed — from tutoring and academic advising to money management and career counseling. 

But in truth, every single program, initiative, priority and goal we have is created to support our students; and every member of our faculty and staff is dedicated to the success of our Shockers. 

As Wichita State’s enrollment numbers continue to climb, we’re welcoming new populations and generations to Shocker Nation. But enrolling students is just the beginning of our responsibility to our students. 

It is our duty as an urban public research institution to ensure that we have systems in place to drive their success and engage them in learning so that — by the time they graduate — they are confident and capable employees, entrepreneurs and leaders of tomorrow.  

To that end, next month we’re starting the transformation of Clinton Hall — recently vacated by the W. Frank Barton School of Business, which moved into the new Wayne and Kay Woolsey Hall — into the Shocker Success Center. The building will be completely renovated, inside and out, to accommodate 17 student services that are currently spread out among 10 buildings across campus.

Performing Arts: WSU on the national stage

Each month, President Muma takes to the mic for the Forward Together Podcast, where he interviews guests about the aspirations and inspirations that drive Wichita State to be one of the nation’s most innovative public universities.

This month, in episode 7 of the podcast, he talks with Julius Thomas III and Amy Baker Schwiethale — two graduates of the WSU School of Performing Arts.

Julius is an actor, singer and dancer with credits in movies, television and stage — including starring roles in traveling productions of “Motown: The Musical” and “Hamilton.”

Amy has performed on Broadway, including a national Broadway tour of “42nd Street” and “Honk!” She is currently a Wichita State professor and program director of musical theatre.

Listen to this and all episodes wherever you get your podcasts.

To watch a video of this month's podcast, click the link below.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced today will award $51.4 million to Wichita State University to aid in the rapid development and adoption of emerging smart manufacturing technologies for South Kansas.

The funding, provided through the American Rescue Plan Build Back Better Regional Challenge, is the largest single award the university has received from the EDA.

“The Economic Development Administration is proud to support Wichita State University as it leads this coalition,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo, who visited the university for a tour and industry roundtable this summer. “This EDA investment brings together world-class expertise from academic institutions, leading industry players, and the public sector to strengthen the southern Kansas regional economy.”

Dr. Ryan Amick, a Wichita State University alumnus and NASA engineer, has been selected as one of the Innovators in Residence for the College of Innovation and Design during the 2022-23 academic year.

Amick is a principal human factors engineer at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston. He serves as the extravehicular activity (EVA) human factors lead, where he provides human factors and human-systems integration guidance to the NASA community as applied to the development of the Exploration EVA System, and its integration with the larger NASA Spaceflight System Architecture.

He additionally serves as the habitability (HAB) scientist for NASA’s Human Research Program, where he investigates how the design of vehicles, habitats and spacesuits impact astronaut crew health and performance.

A Wichita State University research team has received funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for their proposal, “Examining the feasibility of a wearable device for fetal heart rate monitoring through interdisciplinary research.”

The objective is to develop a wireless, non-invasive, wearable fetal electrocardiogram monitoring device that will use algorithms and cloud-based health monitoring to improve clinical care among pregnant women in rural communities.

Maternal and infant health outcomes in rural areas of the U.S. represent a constant and growing health need. Innovative wearable medical devices create an opportunity to address health disparities in rural communities.

Keep in touch.