Wichita State News: History

African American business history is the focus of WSU project

Fri, 31 May 2013 10:00:00 CST

Robert Weems worries that the history of African American businesses in Wichita may someday be lost forever. That's why he's made it his mission to document all that he can.

Weems – the Willard W. Garvey Distinguished Professor of Business History at Wichita State – is coordinator of The Wichita African American Business History Project.

The goal of the project, which he has worked on since coming to WSU in 2011, is to document the role of business and entrepreneurship in the development of Wichita's African American community.

Weems has been conducting interviews and collecting related historical artifacts. When completed, he hopes to have recorded the history as spoken by 50 to 75 people. The interviews and artifacts will be housed in Ablah Library's Special Collections at WSU.

"My interest in undertaking this project is linked with my research in African American business history," Weems said. "This aspect of the African American historical experience remains one of the most understudied."

'Come and gone with barely a trace'

As late as the 1960s, there were 50 viable African American insurance companies in the United States; today there are two. Even more telling, Weems said, is that only four African American-owned insurance companies have had their histories documented in book-length manuscripts.

"It appears that this important phenomenon related to African American history has come and gone with barely a trace of its existence," he said.

Based on those national statistics, Weems is determined to document the history of African American enterprise locally.

Weems said the information he gathers will be an archive of materials that students and other scholars can use as a resource for future research papers, articles and books.

Some of the people Weems has interviewed include U.L. "Rip" Gooch, whose Aero Services Inc. was a pioneering fixed-based operation; Charles F. McAfee, a world-renowned architect based in Wichita; the recently-deceased Eugene "Genie" Jackson, whose grandfather Abner B. Jackson Sr. started Jackson Mortuary in 1926; Frankie Howard Mason, whose mother Xavia Howard was the first Afican American woman in Kansas to hold a dual license as a funeral director and embalmer; and Robert Alford, whose Wichita lighting company was the first business of this type owned by an African American in the United States.

"In the end, my methodology of conducting individual interviews, along with gathering pertinent business artifacts, should result in a database of materials that will be both useful to students and scholars, as well as help document an important aspect of Wichita history," Weems said.

History professor's research took her to Mongolia, Siberia

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:56:00 CST

Wichita State Russian history professor Helen Hundley spent last summer in the highlands of Mongolia and Siberia. Hundley's latest research trip took her from the plains and prairies of Kansas to the steppes and mountains of northern Mongolia and Siberia.

Since she returned, Hundley has been working on two books detailing her research, and will soon start looking for funding for her next trip.

Landing at Genghis Khan International airport in Mongolia's capital city of Ulan Batar, Hundley began a month-long study of the resurgence of Buddhism and Buddhist imagery and symbols in the former Soviet Union.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, a "Buddhist explosion," as Hundley described it, has spread across the region in much the same way as it did originally from China. This new form of "public Buddhism," Hundley said, has changed the physical and cultural landscape of Mongolia and Siberia alike.

One of the principal reasons for Hundley's trip was the study of roadside prayer shrines called oovoos. These structures, to a casual observer, might look like a pile of stones and wood covered in strips of brightly colored fabric. In actuality, oovoos are a tangible symbol of the resurgence of Buddhism in the region and are found on the side of roads all over Mongolia.

"The interesting thing is that none of these shrines existed 30 years ago," Hundley said. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, perhaps thousands of them have been built.

"There's a sense that the Soviets destroyed everyone's history here," Hundley said, and these shrines are just one way of getting it back.

"We can explain all of our art," Hundley said. "They can't do that there."

On a closer look, Hundley said, the stones of the shrines would be covered in prayers for everything from a good harvest, to hopes that a relative's chemotherapy treatments go well.

New signs

In a country where practicing Buddhism openly was once illegal, now signs and images of its practice are everywhere, Hundley said. From roadside oovoos to Buddhist prayer wheels for sale on street corners.

Even solar powered prayer wheels, Hundley said, can be found on the dashboards of almost any car, highlighting the fusion of ancient Buddhist traditions and the modern culture of Ulan Bataar.

Leaving Ulan Bataar, Hundley traveled north to Amarbayasgalant monastery. While Mongolia was under Communist rule, thousands of Buddhist monasteries were destroyed or converted to other uses. Amarbayasgalant was one of the few to survive and was a major stop on Hundley's trip.

While visiting the monastery, where Hundley said it wasn't uncommon to see a shaven-headed monk tapping away on his iPad, Hundley stayed in a ger camp— a collection of traditional circular wooden latticework buildings covered in layers of felt and painted in bright colors.

Ger camps are usually powered by gasoline generators, but being out in the country are prone to frequent power outages. Hundley fondly remembers one particular incident where, during a power outage, she and her hosts sat around the dinner table telling stories by candlelight and the light from smartphones.

Hospitality and thousands of years of history aside, there's another reason Hundley has been traveling to Mongolia whenever she could since 1992.

"I can't describe how beautiful it is there," Hundley said.

Such a captivating country is always hard for Hundley to leave, she said. The prospect of coming home again she likened to Cinderella's coach turning into a pumpkin at midnight.

Faculty/staff news update: March/April 2013

Wed, 8 May 2013 13:26:00 CST

Academe welcomes news from WSU faculty and staff about research, teaching and service activities. This column recognizes grants, honors, awards, presentations and publications, new appointments, new faculty, sabbaticals, retirements and deaths of our current and former colleagues.

William Proctor Artz, instructional technologist and designer, School of Community Affairs, presented a paper "Secure Testing in the Virtual Classroom: Is It Even Possible?" at the Innovative Technology to Recharge and Connect (ITRAC) instructional technology conference on March 8.

Dinorah Azpuru, associate professor of political science, was invited to present her research on U.S-Latin America relations at the Woodrow Wilson Center, in Washington, D.C., on March 27. In the framework of the seminar "China in Latin America: Public Impressions and Policy Implications" she compared public opinion in the Americas about the influence and role of China and the United States in the region. Watch the webcast here.

Michael Birzer

Michael Birzer, professor, School of Community Affairs, worked with the Wichita Police Department's Command Staff on organizational transformation and issues. He also recently received a $32,000 grant award from the Kansas Department of Transportation to continue his research on racial profiling across the state of Kansas.

Travis Bruce, assistant professor, history, has published a book about the trading community of Denia, a Muslim city state in al-Andalus in the Middle Ages, and the trade links and cultural ties between the Muslim and Christian worlds.

Amy Delamaide, director, community and organizational development, WSU Center for Community Support and Research, was recently named a BoardSource Certified Governance Trainer and is now certified to deliver BoardSource's signature nonprofit governance trainings in the Midwest and Great Plains area. BoardSource supports and promotes excellence in nonprofit board service by providing cutting-edge thinking and resources on board effectiveness and by engaging and developing the next generation of board leaders.

Amy DeVault, assistant professor, Elliott School of Communication, earned four awards in the Kansas Professional Communicators 2012 contest: First and second in magazine page design; first in PR magazine (editing/creative direction); and second in magazine feature story. First-place winners move on to compete at the national level.

Ed Flentje

Ed Flentje, professor, Hugo Wall School of Urban and Public Affairs, was recognized at the December 2012 legislative policy summit for outstanding service in fostering regional cooperation for south-central Kansas. At the invitation of the Center for Information and Resources for Development, he also traveled to Asuncion, Paraguay to participate in the Public Policy and Presidential Elections Project. This trip was the seventh of an eight-part series to educate and engage political activists on democracy, elections and public policy prior to upcoming elections in April 2013.

Mark Glaser, professor, Hugo Wall School of Urban and Public Affairs, and Misty Bruckner and Corinne Bannon, both from the Center for Urban Studies, collaborated with the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County as part of a four-step process to guide a comprehensive plan update and to develop and implement a multiphase citizen engagement effort. Glaser was also recently appointed to the publication committee of the American Society for Public Administration. This is a prestigious appointment to the committee that oversees publication of the Public Administration Review, the top rated journal in the field.

Sabrina Perez Glatt, director of field practicum, School of Social Work, is the 2013recipient of the Wayne Carlisle Distinguished Service Award. The award is presented to an unclassified professional who models the standard of extraordinary service.

Brandy Jackson, undergraduate program director, was approved to receive funding from the College of Health Professions' IPE Fund to support participation in the Team STEPPS training program at Tulane University in New Orleans.

Phyllis Jacobs, assistant professor, nursing, and her husband, Lou, are receiving the 2013 Joel A. Gingras, Jr. Award from the American Brain Tumor Association. The award recognizes individuals, organizations or groups who through philanthropy, advocacy, discovery or patient care and support, have had a transformative impact on the advancement of the mission of the American Brain Tumor Association. Phyllis and Lou have facilitated a brain tumor support group called Headstrong at Victory in the Valley in Wichita for the past 14 years. The Award will be given at the American Brain Tumor Association national conference in Chicago in July.

Kim Johnson, DNP Candidate, whose submission titled "Does primary care provider advance directive education influence attitudes and practice?," was accepted as a poster presentation at the Graduate Research and Scholarly Projects. She was also selected to participate by WSU in the Rising Stars of Scholarship and Research Poster Program at Sigma Theta Tau International's 42nd Biennial Convention.

Stuart Lasine, professor of religion, has been elected vice president of the Society of Biblical Literature's southwest region. In 2014 he'll become president-elect and then in 2015, president.

Jacquelyn McClendon, senior clinical educator, Kelly Anderson (Dental Hygiene) and Mary Koehn (CHP IPE coordinator) abstract, "Making IPE Discipline Relevant" was accepted for presentation at the Collaborating Across Borders IV Conference in Canada.

Cheryl Miller, assistant dean, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, earned several awards in the 2012 Kansas Professional Communicators contest: First in personality profile, first in editing; second in advertising; and third in editing. Miller also received honorable mentions in feature writing, personality profile, and specialty articles - travel. First-place winners move on to compete at the national level.

Pamela O'Neal, SON Academic Writing Specialist, and Michelle Dreiling, a graduate student at the Elliott School of Communication, were invited to Wiley College in Marshall TX to speak at the Ethical Student Leadership Conference about the WSU Hunger Awareness Initiative.

Susan Parsons, assistant professor; Carla A. Lee, Debbie Strickert and Margaret Trumpp are authors of an article entitled "Oral Care and Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia-An Integrated Review of the Literature" accepted for publication in the forthcoming May/June 2013 issue of Dimensions in Critical Care Nursing.

Elaine Steinke, professor, nursing, Adult Health & Illness Clinical nurse specialist program coordinator, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program coordinator, had two book chapters published. Steinke, E. E. (2014). Ineffective sexuality patterns. In B. Ackley, G. Ladwig. Nursing Diagnosis Handbook,10th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; pp. 724-730. And Steinke, E. E. (2014). Sexual dysfunction. In B.Ackley, G. Ladwig. Nursing Diagnosis Handbook, 10th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; pp. 717-724.

DISTINGUISHED AND PHENOMENAL AWARDS
The Wichita State University Women's Association named its Distinguished Gentlemen Award winners in March. They are: Wilson Baldridge, chair, Modern & Classical Languages; Michael L. Birzer, professor, criminal justice/director SCA; William Bischoff, professor, geology; Buma Fridman, chair and professor, mathematics; Terre Johnson, vice president for major gifts, WSU Foundation; Chuck Koeber, associate dean, liberal arts, professor, sociology; Ron Matson, interim dean, liberal arts and sciences; Rodney Miller, dean, College of Fine Arts; Rick Muma, associate provost and professor, public health; Ravi Pendse, vice president, Information Technology, and chief information officer; Wade Robinson, vice president for Campus Life and University Relations; Mel Whiteside, director, engineering technology program;

The Office of Multicultural Affairs announced its Phenomenal Women of the Year at the fifth annual Phenomenal Women Award Recognition on March 14. Jean Patterson, from the Educational Leadership Department was awarded Faculty Phenomenal Woman of the Year. Frankie Brown, from Human Resources was awarded the Unclassified Professional Staff Phenomenal Woman of the Year. Juanita Reed from the Alumni Association was awarded the Classified Staff Phenomenal Woman of the Year. These women were recognized along with five other nominees.

IN MEMORIAM

Ronald Christy, 63, business instructor at Wichita State University, died Monday, April 22. He is survived by a son, Cody; Cody's mother, Linda Pool; extended family members, Jamie Doss, Mary Giordenella Belden and Wanda Aikin, and their children Jordan Doss, Kaylee Doss, Brooklyn Aikin, Madison Aikin, Makenna Belden and Cade Belden, who referred to Mr. Christy as Grandpa. Mr. Christy was a pioneer in entrepreneurial education and was instrumental in helping Fran Jabara found WSU's Center for Entrepreneurship in 1977. Mr. Christy taught the widely acclaimed "Your Future in Business" class to thousands of Kansans in the 1970s and 1980s. He co-authored four books on entrepreneurship, was the recipient of the prestigious Sargent Americanism Award, as well as the Outstanding Teaching Award from the W. Frank Barton School of Business. As a businessman, he founded several businesses and was a sought after consultant for over 35 years. The Ron Christy Entrepreneurship Memorial has been established through the WSU Foundation. Donations can be sent to support this memorial, in lieu of flowers, to 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS 67260-0002. Services have been held.

Jeraldine Cobb, 77, retired, died April 15. Services have been held. Survivors: husband, James; sons, Terry (Diane) Evans, Larry Evans, Michael Cobb ; daughter, Jacqueline Cobb ; sister, Roberta (Lawrence) Crockett; brother, Claude (Linda) Dayton; 7 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; a host of other relatives, Strangers Rest family and friends.

Donald Leroy Foster, 77, retired Wichita State Physics professor, died Sunday, May 5. He taught at WSU for 39 years, where he served as department chair. He is preceded in death by parents, Raymond and Hilda Mae (McCrea) Foster. Mr. Foster is survived by his cherished wife, Deanna; sister, Susan A. Foster; children, Andrew (Amy) Foster, Matt (Lucinda) Foster, Brandie (Kevin Blount) French and Kelly French; 12 grandchildren, Josh, Nick, Jack, Ethan, Luke, Zach, Alex, Sebastian, Sofia, Evelyn, Levi and Lydia; and one great-grandchild. Recitation of the Rosary will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 9, followed by the funeral mass at 10:30 a.m., both at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Memorials may be sent to National Parkinson Foundation, P.O. Box 51018, Hagerstown, Maryland 21741. Baker Funeral Home, Wichita.

Doris Kathleen "Kathy" Lewis, 73, former chair and associate professor, physical therapy, died March 11 in Peoria. Services have been held. She is survived by her daughter, Terri Lewis, and son-in-law, Daniel Angot, of Peoria; grandsons, Dustin and Jordan Angot; four brothers; two sisters; and many nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery Program in Peoria.

Marguerite "Mickey" Miller, 92, professor emeritus and longtime former chair of keyboard, College of Fine Arts, died April 17. She was preceded in death by parents, Joe and Mary Smith; husband, Luther; and grandson, Brandon. Survivors include sons Joe of Wichita, Jay (Madeline) of Lake Forest, Ill., and Jon of Kechi; daughter, Jean Little (Kent) of Kechi; three grandchildren. In accordance with her wishes, services will be private.

Gilbert "Gil" Perez, 61, WSU Environmental Scientist, passed away Saturday, April 27, 2013. He is survived by his wife, Lisa Perez; children, Paul (Annie) Perez, Angela Perez, Isaac (Crystal) Perez, all of Wichita; grandchildren, LaTaylah, Zayda, Adrian, Evan, Aiden, Brittany (Kade), Cidnie, Daphne, Emilie and Remi; mother, Beatrice Perez of Kinsley; brothers, John (Olga) Perez of Dodge City, Larry Perez of Kinsley, Tom (Diane) Perez of Dodge City; sisters, Rose Perez of Kinsley, Gloria (Joe) Lock of Lewis and Mary (Alvaro) Bencomo of Dodge City; many other family and friends. Services have been held. Memorials to Riverlawn Christian Church, 4243 N. Meridian, Wichita, KS 67204. Baker Funeral Home, Valley Center.

Research helps WSU sophomore prepare for grad school, career

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:28:00 CST

Wichita State University sophomore Matt Conklin is taking advantage of opportunities usually pursued by graduate students.

He recently conducted a research project titled "The Future of the Aerospace Industry in Kansas: State Politics and Middle East Influence" for the Kansas Undergraduate Research Forum.

The goal was to show Kansas' elected officials the negative economic impact of decreasing higher education funding by relating it to the aerospace industry. Conklin, who is majoring in history and economics, integrated his personal interest in Middle East development, which highlighted how new markets can play a role in the state's success.

"My work for the Undergraduate Research Forum project is specifically tailored as a policy recommendation to state legislators, persuading them to preserve and hopefully increase current levels of higher education funding," said Conklin.

His argument includes several main points.

• Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) institutions, such as WSU, contribute billions of dollars to the state's economy.

• The Kansas aerospace industry, one of the highest Gross Domestic Product percentages in the country, relies on KBOR schools to produce competitive graduates prepared to enter the global workforce.

• Cutting higher education funding at a time when the government faces a future revenue shortfall will not stimulate economic growth; relying on private investment in education will also hurt growth.

• Emerging markets in the Middle East are an example of how supportive higher education policies are necessary to maintain Kansas' competitive advantage in the global aerospace industry.

The research process

Within the past year, Conklin traveled to Jordan, Israel and Morocco. The trip helped him legitimize his cultural perspective. He also gathered supporting quantitative information from consultant reports, industry forecasts, governmental materials and media outlets.

Clyde Stoltenberg, professor in the W. Frank Barton School of Business, was Conklin's research adviser for the project.

"My role was to serve as a sounding board to help identify a good project that would make sense to Matt based on his experience, knowledge and interest," said Stoltenberg. "It also needed to be feasible in scope and of interest to the business and public policy community."

On April 3, Conklin will present his findings to state legislators in Topeka, Kan.

Enhancing university experience

Conklin, from Winfield, Kan., began pursuing research opportunities in order to prepare for law school after graduation and to get an advantage when applying for national scholarships.

"By gaining exposure to research and practicing various methods at this point in my undergraduate career, I hope to gain the skills and credentials to be a competitive candidate for the caliber of programs I would like to attend," he said.

Stoltenberg said that students should pursue studies that interest them and have the possibility of benefiting the public.

"For undergraduates, research helps to form the link between learning and application," said Stoltenberg.

Conklin is excited that Wichita State is focusing more on undergraduate research. He is now in the beginning stages of a project on relations between the United States and United Arab Emirates for WSU's honors research seminar class.

"Providing opportunities for students interested in research is instrumental in preparing us for success in graduate school and beyond," said Conklin. "More students should pursue research at WSU because it greatly enhances the overall university experience."

Faculty/staff news update: January/February 2013

Mon, 4 Mar 2013 11:34:00 CST

Kathy Coufal, professor and chair, communication sciences and disorders, recently joined the board of directors of the Kansas Society for Children with Challenges.

George Dehner

George Dehner, associate professor, history, had two books published recently. "Influenza: A Century of Science and Public Health Response" is aimed at the academic market, and "Global Flu and You: A History of Influenza" is a more general book on the subject.

Suzy Finn, engineering coordinator/job developer, Office of Cooperative Education and Work-Based Learning, has been accepted into the Young Professionals of Wichita 2013 Leadership Academy.

Ed Flentje, professor and longtime REAP consultant, Hugo Wall School of Urban and Public Affairs, was recognized at the December 2012 legislative policy summit for outstanding service in fostering regional cooperation for south-central Kansas.

Ed Flentje fielded calls on Kansas politics about the 2012 November elections from national reporters with the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and Reuters, in addition to Kansas newspaper reporters. He also made presentations on Kansas politics and elections, including the Docking Symposium on Kansas Politics at Southwestern College in Winfield; the Downtown Lions Club, Wichita; the Post-election Roundtable, with professors Joe Aistrup (Kansas State), Bob Beatty (Washburn), Burdette Loomis (University of Kansas), and Michael Smith (Emporia State) at Washburn University in Topeka; and the Lions Club in Clay Center.

Eric Freeman, assistant professor, Jean Patterson, associate professor, and Pat Terry, senior fellow, served as faculty advisers to students in the College of Education's educational leadership program who presented research papers at the USA|Kansas Annual Convention in January. "Growth and Sustainability in a Rural Kansas Town: The Role of Public Schools" was presented by Michael Argabright, superintendent, Southern Lyon County USD 252; Andi Williams, principal, Haysville Elementary, USD 261; and Royce Powelson, superintendent, Jayhawk USD 346 (Freeman). "Successes and Challenges of Implementing 21st Century Skills" was presented by Mary Liebl, literacy coordinator, Wichita USD 259; Janice Smith, executive director, The Opportunity Project Early Learning Center; Alicia Thompson, assistant superintendent, Wichita USD 259; Tiffinie Irving, executive director, Wichita USD 259; and Brad Pepper, executive director, The Service Center at Clearwater (Patterson/Terry).

Philip Gaunt, professor, Elliott School of Communication, director and founder, Interdisciplinary Communication Research Institute, had a book signing hosted by Watermark Books in Wichita on Feb. 9 for his recently published novel, "The Blane Game."

Lou Heldman, Distinguished Senior Fellow and interim director of the Elliott School of Communication, presented "Communicating with Citizens on Their Terms" at the 2013 Kansas Association of City and County Managers Winter Seminar, hosted by the Hugo Wall School of Urban and Public Affairs, on Feb. 8.

Sharon Iorio

Sharon Iorio, dean and professor, College of Education, presented "Partnerships with School Districts," along with other Kansas Board of Regents' college of education deans at the USA|Kansas Annual Convention conference in January.

Ashlie Jack, assistant professor, curriculum and instruction, has been selected to serve on the Kansas Handwriting Standards Committee, which will design the new handwriting standards for schools in Kansas in response to the request of the Kansas State Board of Education.

Ashlie Jack and Mandy Lusk, assistant professors, special education, received funding for their study "Developing Word Consciousness of Academic Vocabulary in Adolescents with Challenging Behaviors through Co-Teaching" to be conducted during the spring 2013 semester.

Elizabeth King, president and CEO, WSU Foundation, was re-elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of the Kansas Society for Children with Challenges. The KSCC was established in 1925.

Kenneth Kriz, professor of Public Finance and Economics with the University of Nebraska-Omaha who will soon join the Hugo Wall School as Regents Professor of Public Finance, presented the keynote speech "Public Finance in the 2010s: an Environmental Scan" at the 2013 Midwest Regional Public Finance Conference on Feb. 14 and 15 in Wichita.

Sal Mazzullo, professor, geology, had a book signing hosted by Watermark Books in Wichita on Jan. 5 for his recently published novel, "Chac Balam."

Eunice Doman Myers, associate dean, Fairmount College, and associate professor, Spanish, had her book chapter "Resounding Silences: En las noches que desvisten otras noches" included in the Festschrift Nela Rio: Escritura en foco: La mirada profunda, edited by Qantati e-books (Ottawa, Canada).

Ravi Pendse

Ravi Pendse, chief information officer, presented "Creating Relevance through Innovation and Collaboration" at the 2013 Kansas Association of City and County Managers Winter Seminar, hosted by the Hugo Wall School of Urban and Public Affairs on Feb. 8.

Michael Rogers, chair and professor, human performance, presented "International trends of study concerning exercise programs and health promotion for older adults" at the 2012 International Forum on Muscle Fitness Exercise as Chokin for Elderly People held at the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya, Japan, in December.

Donna Sayman, assistant professor, curriculum and instruction, recently had her article "Quinceaneras and Quadratics: Experiences of Latinas in state-supported residential schools of science and math" published in the Journal of Latinos and Education.

Aleksander Sternfeld-Dunn, assistant professor, music theory and composition, had two new compositions premiered at Carnegie Hall on Feb. 9 by an East Coast new music group, the Case Ensemble. While in New York, Sternfeld-Dunn gave guest presentations with undergraduate and graduate composers at The Hartt School of Music in Hartford, Conn., and Kutztown University in Kutztown, Pa.

Clay Stoldt, chair and professor, and Mark Vermillion, associate professor, both of sport management, presented "Member Churning Among Conferences: A Contributing Factor to Economic Inequality at the NCAA Scholarly Colloquium," along with Martin Perline, professor and Bloomfield Foundation Faculty Fellow, Barton School of Business.

Anh Tran, associate professor, and Jim Granada, assistant professor, both of curriculum and instruction, presented "Social, Cultural and Economic Capitals for College Success" at the 2013 USA|Kansas Annual Convention.

NEW TO CAMPUS
Leah DiPietr, coordinator for College of Engineering, Office of Cooperative Education and Work-Based Learning

Kenneth Kriz, Regents Distinguished Professor of Public Finance, Hugo Wall School of Urban and Public Affairs

Kelley Mattivi, coordinator for College of Business and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Office of Cooperative Education and Work-Based Learning

Arwiphawee Srithongrung, associate professor, Hugo Wall School

Matthew Cecil, director, Elliott School of Communication

Bob Workman, director, Ulrich Museum of Art

ON SABBATICAL
Dharma DeSilva, professor, management, fall 2013, five related projects including teaching, research and advisory service in Sri Lanka, as well as completion of international business and marketing resource textbooks

Jeffrey Hershfield, associate professor, philosophy, fall 2013, research on linguistic norms regarding truth/falsity and their underlying principles; development of a taxonomy and publication

Xiaomi Hu, associate professor, mathematics, fall 2013, conduct research to identify multivariate order relations and focus on models with their parameter vectors under multivariate order restrictions including testing and implementation

C. Nicholas Johnson, professor, dance, spring 2014, research on mime/physical theatre; further development of the SPA core curriculum mime course and a new Fine Arts exchange opportunity in Mexico

Xiufen Lu, associate professor, philosophy, spring 2014, research on Li Dazhao's adaption of Marxism to Chinese Confucianisnism; publication of two articles

Chungsheng Ma, professor, mathematics, academic year 2013-14, research on spatio-temporal stastics and vecor random fields in space and time leading to book and journal publications

Daowei Ma, professor, mathematics, spring 2014, research on complex analysis and linear transforms in applied mathematics leading to publication of several research papers

Robert Owens, associate professor, history, spring 2014, research and manuscript writing on early American frontier "Indian-hating" and attempts to settle Indian-white disputes

Atul Rai, associate professor, accountancy, spring 2014, study effects of the international financial reporting system and quality of earnings; preparation of papers for publication

Nick Solomey, professor, mathematics (physics), academic year 2013-14, participate in cosmic ray research to expand scientific expertise and enhance the ability of Kansas to qualify for joint hosting of the next large cosmic ray experiment in western Kansas and eastern Colorado

James E. Steck, professor, engineering (aerospace), fall 2013, (1) continue research on advanced aircraft flight control methods at NASA and (2) expand quantum computing research leading to publication in both areas

Craig Torbenson, associate professor, history, spring 2014, continue work on a manuscript examining Norwegian emigration and patterns of westward migration and settlement in the United States

Janet Twomey, professor, engineering/manufacturing, spring 2014, (1) investigate worker education in the emerging field of engineering-public policy and (2) develop a proposal to support a network of researchers in climate change, health care and energy

Chu-Ping Vijverberg, associate professor, economics, academic year 2013-14, compare current models for examining structural change or business cycles with an exploratory time deformation model to provide improved forecast ability and further model development

Robert Zettle, professor, psychology, spring 2014, complete writing and co-editing Handbook of Contextual Behavioral Science

IN EMERITUS
Roger D. Lowe, vice president emeritus, administration and finance

Salvatore J. Mazzullo, professor emeritus, geology

IN MEMORIAM
Peggy J. Anderson, 67, retired associate professor emeritus, College of Education, died Feb. 24 in Wichita. Services have been held. She is survived by her brothers, Denis (Bobbi) Anderson of Springfield, Mo., and Russell (Debra Dikeman) Vornold of Pilot Mountain, N.C. Memorials may be made to St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 7404 Killarney, Wichita, KS 67206.

Lois Mae Bergerhouse, 94, former WSU cafeteria employee, died Jan. 28 in Andover. Services have been held. She was preceded in death by her parents, Archie and Winifred (Ferris) Troyer; her husband, Wayne; and sisters Delores Krueger and Naomi Daharsh. Survivors include children Cynthia Gillett and Phillip Bergerhouse ; grandchildren, Dwayne Wilson, Michael Wilson, Stephanie Murphy, Joshua Bergerhouse , Ian Bergerhouse and Cody Bergerhouse. Memorials may be made to Life Care Center of Andover, 621 W. 21st St., Andover, Kan.

Donald Morse Douglas, 88, associate professor emeritus, history, died Jan. 15 in Wichita. Services have been held. He is survived by his wife, Ada Glynn ("Lynn"); daughters, Sharon Lynn Douglas and Donna Christine Douglas; granddaughters Michelle Leigh Nielsen, Erika Lynn Douglas and Meredith Lynn Coughenour; great-grandchildren, Zak, Luke and Kate Nielsen; and brother Guy Barry Douglas and his wife, Pat. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, the American Heart Association, Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice or Holocaust Commemoratives, in care of Congregation Emanu-El.

Cecilia Sanchez Epperson, 83, retired assistant librarian, died Feb. 11, 2013. Services have been held. She was preceded in death by her parents, Gregorio and Maria Sanchez. She is survived by her husband, Gene; children Rene Epperson, Mark Epperson and Diane Cole all of Wichita, and Alan Epperson of Ft. Worth, Texas; sisters Trini Sanchez of Wellington and Alejandra De La Torre of Los Angeles; grandchildren Jennifer, Laura, Justin, Kyle and Janel; great-grandson Taylor. Memorials may be sent to Hardin Hospice, 2622 W. Central, Wichita, KS 67203.

John C. Gries, 72, professor, geology, died Jan. 18 following a short illness. A celebration of life has been held. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Virginia Gries, and his brother Don. He is survived by his wife, Toni Willis-Jackman; his daughter, Lynn Gries of Tucson; his first wife and friend, Robbie Gries; sister-in-law, Neella Gries; and two nephews, Nathan and Mark. Memorials have been established at the Great Plains Transportation Museum, 700 E. Douglas Ave., Wichita, KS 67202, and the Wichita State University Foundation, 1845 Fairmount St., Wichita, KS 67260.

Harry Miller, 86, former Shocker basketball coach, died Feb. 13 in Nacogdoches, Texas. Services have been held. He is survived by his wife, Lanora (Tillie), and sons Bob and Tom of Nacogdoches, and Gary of Tyler. He is also survived by his son's wives, Ardan, Patty and Dorota; granddaughters, Claire Miller, Isabella and Sophie Miller; step-grandchildren Ember Ashby, Will Ashby and his wife, Anna; and three great-grandchildren, Bryana and Nolan Ashby, and Emerson Carden.

James M. Murphy, 90, professor emeritis, economics, banking and finance, died Feb. 10. Survivors include his children Michael J. (Arlyn) Murphy of Lubbock, Texas, Dennis J. (Beth) Murphy of Tulsa, Okla., Susan E. (Steve) Pattison of Broken Arrow, Okla., John M. (Noreen) Murphy of Beaverton, Ore., and David K. Murphy of Austin, Texas. Private services will be held in Oklahoma at a later date. Donations may be made to the Dr. James M. Murphy Endowed Fellowship, c/o WSU Foundation, 1845 N. Fairmount, Box 2, Wichita, KS 67260-0002.

William M. Perel, 85, retired former chair, mathematics, died Jan. 20 in Stillwater, Okla. Services have been held. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Ada Gaskill; and daughter Cathy Perel. He is survived by his wife, Tula Perel of Stillwater; daughters Elizabeth (Dwayne) Deckard and Shirley (Tod) King, all of Wichita; stepchildren Teresa (John) Petersen of Pawnee, Okla., Lenora (Larry) Rawdon of Wellston, Okla., Dan (Pam) Ripley of Pawnee, Okla., and Susan (Paul) Hartle of Plano, Texas; four grandchildren; nine step-grandchildren; and 14 step-great grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation of Oklahoma, 720 W. Wilshire, Suite 101H, Oklahoma City, OK 73116 or the First Baptist Church, 720 6th St., Pawnee, OK 74058.

William H. "Bill" Smith, 73, retired 30-year administrator, Rhatigan Student Center, died Feb. 20 in Wichita. Services have been held. He was preceded in death by his parents, William A. and Mary Olive Smith; and brother Garel Smith. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Smith; sons Michael (Stephanie) of Maple Grove, Minn., Stephen (Michelle) of Derby and Jeffrey (Melissa) Smith of Derby; 11 grandchildren; sister Betty Jo McWhorter of Atlanta, Ga.; several nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to Shocker Bowling Fund in care of the WSU Foundation, 1845 N. Fairmount, Wichita, KS 67260-0002.

Regis Lenora Welch, 82, former instructor, English/linguistics, died Jan. 13 in Sherman, Texas. Services have been held. She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Francis and Cecilia Ellen Flynn Downey; her husband, John William; brother Paul; and sister Margaret Ernestine Archer. She is survived by son Matthew Welch of San Francisco, Calif.; brother-in-law Charles T. Welch of Huntsville, Ala.; nieces Sheila Archer Carter and Laura Welch Gilley; nephew Thomas Welch; and great friends and caretakers Kyle and Mary Payne. Donations can be made to St. Elizabeth Scholarship Fund, St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 916 Maple St., Bonham, TX 75418.

Milan Zivanovic, 99, instructor, broadcasting and film, died Jan. 23, at home in Kansas City. He was preceded in death by his brother Dragan; mother, Olga, and father, Dusan. He is survived by his wife, Judith; brothers-in-law Tom (Vicki) Goergen and Lee Goergen; sister-in-law Pam Stucke; five nephews; and several grand-nieces and nephews.

Podcast: Historian provides perspective on this flu season

Tue, 5 Feb 2013 09:00:00 CST

This WSU Newsline Podcast is available at http://www.wichita.edu/newslinepodcast. See the transcript below:

You're listening to the podcast edition of the Wichita State University audio newsline. Learn more about WSU on the Web at wichita.edu.

We all know the signs: chills, fever, sore throat, muscle aches, coughing. The flu bug has seemingly bit a lot of people this winter and this flu season is far from over. However, if you compare this year to other years, this winter's influenza outbreak isn't as bad as you might think. George Dehner, an associate professor of history at Wichita State University and author of the book "Global Flu and You – A History of Influenza," explains.

George Dehner

Dehner: "Compared to usual years of influenza, this is kind of very transmissible, but it's not out of the run of normal years of influenza. It's well within the parameters of a normal year of influenza infections."

Knowing how many people get the flu bug sounds simple, but Dehner says not everyone always correctly identifies the flu.

Dehner: "People have a tendency to use flu to describe diseases or illnesses they have that are not true influenza. And so, when you have this false identification of flu, it doesn't always refer to a true influenza case."

Medical science has come a long way, but according to Dehner, it's still difficult to predict how severe any flu season is going to be.

Dehner: "There's no way of knowing prior to the outbreak of influenza how transmissible or how deadly it's going to be, so it makes it very difficult for public health officials to know what the next flu season's going to be like."

Dehner is a strong proponent of getting a flu shot and he says the vaccines are very safe.

Dehner: "The only protection against an influenza illness is actually the protection of a vaccine. So I believe, and many public health officials believe, that everyone should be vaccinated to protect against influenza."

"Influenza vaccines are very safe vaccines, and very rarely are there adverse reactions to it."

Nevertheless not everyone gets a flu shot for a variety of reasons, as Dehner explains.

Dehner: "I think there are two reasons why people don't get flu shots. One is that there's a resistance among adults to get protective shots and vaccines. And two, there's a widespread belief that influenza illnesses are not particularly dangerous or anything to be concerned about."

In his research about the history of influenza, Dehner says the flu virus is remarkable.

Dehner: "The virus is a remarkable organism. It is very changeable and it's very infectious, and throughout history it has popped up and impacted in communities repeatedly in greater or lesser volume."

While the flu may seem harmlessly similar to the common cold, influenza results in 250,000 to 500,000 deaths every year in epidemics that can spread rapidly around the world. According to Dehner, the challenge is that each time it appears that science has figured out its secrets, the virus pulls a new trick out of its sleeve. He says we may have gained a great amount of knowledge about influenza in the last few generations – knowledge that would stagger our ancestors – but, as the Swine flu of 2009 has reminded us yet again, we still have much to learn.

Thanks for listening. Until next time, this is Joe Kleinsasser for Wichita State University.

Faculty spotlight: George Dehner's flu research

Mon, 4 Feb 2013 15:26:00 CST

The flu: It's a popular topic of conversation lately, as most people probably know someone who has gotten sick this winter.

But for Wichita State associate professor George Dehner, the flu is a year-round focus. Dehner, who teaches world and environmental history, recently wrote two books about the flu.

"Influenza: A Century of Science and Public Health Response," which Dehner said is aimed at the academic market, and "Global Flu and You: A History of Influenza," a more general book on the subject.

"They're written for different audiences, but there's a lot of overlap," Dehner said.

Dehner received his Ph.D. from Northeastern University and came to Wichita State in 2004 on a visiting professorship. The next year, he changed directions and started on the tenure track.

His interest in influenza research, though, started more than a dozen years ago when reading about the Spanish Flu pandemic of the early 20th century.

"That set me off on my research path, and I've been plugging away ever since," he said.

Separating fact from fiction

Dehner's focus in both of his books is on the history of the flu and how the public and health officials have responded. He also aims to expose the facts and fiction surrounding the illness.

As for what most of the country is experiencing this season, Dehner is quick to point out that it is not a pandemic, and that most of what people call the flu is in fact something else entirely.

Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness that comes on suddenly, can last a week or more and can include symptoms such as fatigue, fever, cough, runny nose and sore throat.

Vomiting and other stomach problems are not typically seen with the flu, except sometimes in small children.

In terms of the flu itself, this year is a rough one, but nothing to be concerned about – especially if you get your flu shot, Dehner said.

"This is a particularly strong year for influenza, but it's not out of the realm of normal influenza," he said. "This particular year just happens to be more transmissible. There's no way of predicting it."

Dehner said throughout history, the flu virus has been very changeable and infectious.

"The virus is a remarkable organism," he said. "It is very changeable, and it's very infectious, and throughout history it has popped up and impacted in communities repeatedly in greater or lesser volume."

Podcast: 'Kansas -- In the Heart of Tornado Alley'

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:00:00 CST

This WSU Newsline Podcast is available at http://www.wichita.edu/newslinepodcast. See the transcript below:

You're listening to the podcast edition of the Wichita State University audio newsline. Learn more about WSU on the Web at wichita.edu.

In 1915, Snowden D. Flora of the U.S. Weather Bureau wrote, "Kansas has been so commonly considered the tornado state of the country that the term 'Kansas cyclone' has almost become a part of the English language."

Flora's words still seem to ring true. Whether called twister, tornado, vortex or cyclone, these catastrophic events have shaped lives in the Sunflower State for generations. That, in part, was the inspiration for two Wichita State University faculty and three graduate students to co-author the photo-based, local history book "Kansas – In the Heart of Tornado Alley."

Jay Price

Jay Price, director of the public history program at Wichita State and one of the co-authors, talks about the inspiration for the book.

Price: "The inspiration for the book came about in the wake of the 2007 Greensburg tornado. And in the conversation with Arcadia Publishing, the decision was to look at Kansas as a whole, which was a good idea because if ever there was a state associated with tornadoes, it is that of Kansas."

Producing a book on tornadoes presented some challenges, as Price explains.

Price: "The challenge was doing a photo history related toward tornadoes. Those are the types of photos that are available. Prior to really more recent innovations of camera technology and availability, the photos one had were of the destruction after an event. And after a while, photos of destruction and destruction and destruction can get a little repetitious."

Price has observed some similarities in how people view tornadoes and the sinking of the Titanic.

Price: "When we look at the sinking of the Titanic, there's a lot of interest in the technical aspects of it — how did it break up, and how did it land on the seabed and so forth? And sometimes we get so focused on the technology side, that we forget the human story. And in some ways, the study of tornadoes has become that as well. We become so interested in the dynamics of the storm formation and even the destruction they cause, that we forget the lives that are disrupted because of it."

Price also says tornadoes are part of the Kansas DNA.

Price: "Even if someone has never seen a funnel cloud, there's something about tornadoes that's in the state DNA.

"Unlike hurricanes, who are named and are talked about almost as if they're people that make conscious decisions, we tend to think about tornadoes more akin to wild animals in the sense that we watch them from a distance, hopefully a safe distance, and keep out of their way.

"The freakiness of tornadoes and tornadic destruction I think contributes to some of the interest in the phenomena. A tornado can devastate a house, but can leave a goldfish in a fishbowl untouched."

We may know a lot more about tornadoes now than we did 50 years ago, but there's still a lot that we don't know, according to Price.

Price: "Tornadoes are inherently unpredictable, and we've been lulled into a sense of security that we can now understand the phenomenon thanks to the radar and all the technology out there. But there's still an awful lot that we don't know, and that's why going out to chase tornadoes is exceptionally dangerous and is not something that the ordinary person should be doing."

The boundaries of Tornado Alley are debatable, but there is widespread agreement that the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and much of Texas form the core of the alley. Between 2000 and 2010, these four states experienced 3,908 tornadoes, with 40 percent occurring in Texas and 31 percent in Kansas.

Price says the greatest challenge for those who are responsible for alerting the public in times of severe weather is to encourage average citizens to adequately prepare for possible tornadoes and respond in ways that help rather than hinder relief and rescue efforts.

Thanks for listening. Until next time, this is Joe Kleinsasser for Wichita State University.

'Kansas -- In the Heart of Tornado Alley'

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 11:45:00 CST

Flora's words still seem to ring true. Whether called twister, tornado, vortex or cyclone, these catastrophic events have shaped lives in the Sunflower State for generations.

That, in part, was the inspiration for two Wichita State University faculty and three graduate students to co-author the photo-based, local history book "Kansas -- In the Heart of Tornado Alley."

The book was assembled by Jay Price, director of the public history program; Craig Torbenson, associate professor in geography; and WSU graduate students Sadonia Corns, Jessica Nellis and Keith Wondra.

"Even if someone has never seen a funnel cloud, there's something about tornadoes that's in the state DNA," said Price. "It is remarkable how many people assume tornadoes are almost everyday events in Kansas."

How tornadoes have shaped lives

The book explores the relationships between the people of Kansas and the tornado. It is not a comprehensive listing of all major tornadic events in the state; rather, the book shows the varied ways in which the tornado has shaped the lives of Kansans, and will likely continue to do so in the future.

"While other states receive a share of tornadoes, Kansas seems to embrace — or has been forced to embrace — the twister as one of its most powerful symbols," said Price.

The book also explores the ongoing clash between perception and reality. Many Kansans hold on to certain myths and beliefs about tornado behavior, even in the face of case studies to the contrary.

The greatest challenge for those who are responsible for alerting the public in times of severe weather is to encourage average citizens to adequately prepare for possible tornadoes and respond in ways that help rather than hinder relief and rescue efforts.

In Wichita, the book is available at Watermark, Eighth Day Books and the WSU Bookstore. The book also is available from Barnes and Noble and www.arcadiapublishing.com for $21.99.

Pearl Harbor, 9/11 attacks have similarities, differences

Tue, 6 Sep 2011 09:00:00 CST

This WSU Newsline Podcast is available at http://www.wichita.edu/newslinepodcast. See the transcript below:

You're listening to the podcast edition of the Wichita State University audio newsline. Learn more about WSU — the home of Thinkers, Doers, Movers and Shockers — on the Web at wichita.edu.

For a generation of younger Americans, the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., are the equivalent of Pearl Harbor. But how legitimate is the comparison? Wichita State University history professor John Dreifort examines the similarities and differences of the two national tragedies.

Dreifort: "One similarity between 9/11 and Pearl Harbor is the fact that these were unprovoked attacks, without benefit of declaration of war on U.S. soil."

Dreifort: "Another similarity would be the fact that public opinion was galvanized in the aftermath of both attacks, and this was aided by presidential speeches that drew public support for action against the aggressors."

And Dreifort says those aren't the only notable similarities between the two attacks.

Dreifort: "Another similarity is the failure of intelligence in both instances. Prior to the Pearl Harbor attack, there was plenty of intelligence to indicate the Japanese were up to something. And the same thing was true prior to 9/11. The problem for any intelligence-gathering organization is it's difficult to connect the dots. We had information, but it was difficult to put into a picture."

According to Dreifort, both attacks led to exaggerated fears and overreaction.

Dreifort: "Another similarity is the fact that in the aftermath of both Pearl Harbor and 9/11 there were exaggerated fears of subsequent follow-up attacks. In California, people feared that a Japanese attack on the West Coast would occur. In 9/11, our air space was closed down for several days in the aftermath of the attacks, fearing another airplane attack."

And the attacks led to a restructuring of government, as Dreifort explains.

Dreifort: "In both cases there was a significant restructuring of government. In the aftermath of 9/11, the Department of Homeland Security and the Patriot Act gave the government significant powers that it had not enjoyed up to that point in peace time. And after Pearl Harbor, of course, significant growth of the government for waging war was important."

Dreifort goes on to point out some of the major differences in the two attacks.

Dreifort: "An obvious difference between the two attacks was, in 1941, the attack was primarily against military targets, military installations. Whereas 9/11 was against civilian targets."

Dreifort: "Another significant difference is that after 9/11 the United States was able to retaliate against the aggressors much quicker. Within a month we were waging war in Afghanistan against the Taliban and Osama bin Laden. Whereas after the attack on Pearl Harbor, it took us six months to stop the Japanese and probably nine months before we were able to start launching an offensive against them."

According to Dreifort, the force of strength differed significantly in the two attacks.

Dreifort: "A difference was the fact that the Japanese attack was a government-sponsored attack using significant force strength. There was a whole naval task force, 360 planes, six aircraft carriers that launched this attack. Whereas in 9/11, it was a nongovernment-sponsored attack, involving 19 people with four aircraft."

And Dreifort says America's response differed following the attacks.

Dreifort: "Another difference is that in the aftermath of the attacks, the American government and people responded differently. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese Americans, particularly on the West Coast, were rounded up and placed in relocation centers, where many of them stayed for months or years. In the aftermath of the 9/11 attack, President Bush and the American public overall tried to avoid that kind of overreaction against Muslim Americans."

In 1941, millions of Americans listened to news of the Pearl Harbor attack on the radio. On 9/11, millions of Americans watched the attacks live on TV or on computers.

The comparisons of the two attacks are inevitable. After the 9/11 attacks, the shock, loss and outrage were similar, but the course of action was less clear against stateless, ill-defined enemies who preferred killing civilians to battling armies. But both the Pearl Harbor and Sept. 11 attacks led to the same consequence – pushing the United States into war.

Thanks for listening. Until next time, this is Joe Kleinsasser for Wichita State University.

WSU Podcast: Kansas celebrates its sesquicentennial

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 10:10:00 CST

This WSU Newsline Podcast is available at

http://www.wichita.edu/newslinepodcast

See the transcript below:

You're listening to the podcast edition of the Wichita State University audio newsline. Learn more about WSU — the home of Thinkers, Doers, Movers and Shockers — on the Web at wichita.edu.

In what might arguably be one of the more quiet milestone birthday celebrations in its history, Kansas has turned 150 years old this year. Jay Price, director of the public history program at Wichita State University, comments on the birth of the Sunflower State.

Price: "1861 set in motion the creation of Kansas as it is today. It begins our story in many ways."

Long before Kansas became a state, Price says the area was predominantly Indian territory.

Price: "Before we were Bleeding Kansas, we were actually a part of Indian territory. And it's important to remember that this was a place where various tribes met or were brought to as part of larger government policy."

Just before the Civil War, the conflict between the pro- and anti-slavery forces earned the region the grim title of Bleeding Kansas.

Price: "I tend to think of Bleeding Kansas as a rivalry between the cities of the Missouri River, which lean South, places such as Leavenworth and Atchison, and those of the Kansas or Kaw River, such as Topeka and Lawrence, who tended to lean to the North."

According to Price, before Kansas was granted statehood, much of the Kansas territory encompassed much of what is now Colorado.

Price: "The 150th allows us an opportunity to think about what might have been. In the territorial period, Kansas extended from the Missouri River to the Rocky Mountains, and places such as Pike's Peak were actually in Kansas."

Price says that geographically, Kansas is the part of the nation where everything comes together.

Price: "Kansas is that part of the nation where the north, the south, the east, the west, the Midwest and the Southwest, all meet. We share elements of all of those regions and yet we're distinct from each of those regions as well."

Wheat fields, oil-well derricks, herds of cattle and grain-storage elevators are chief features of the Kansas landscape. A leading wheat-growing state, Kansas also raises corn, sorghum, oats, barley, soybeans and potatoes. Kansas stands high in petroleum production and mines zinc, coal, salt and lead. It is also the nation's leading producer of helium.

Kansas has changed a lot in 150 years. Wichita is one of the nation's leading aircraft-manufacturing centers, ranking first in production of private aircraft, and Kansas City is an important transportation, milling and meat-packing center, but the state's image continues to stay relatively unchanged, as Price explains.

Price: "In terms of image, we are a state of agriculture. We're a state of small towns. And those are communities that very much help us in our local economy, but don't always lend themselves to tourism."

Although Kansas tourism pales in comparison to some states, Price says a lot of it has to do with logistics.

Price: "A lot of tourism is actually about logistics. It's about finding things for people to do. It's about providing opportunities for eating out. And it's also providing opportunities, for example, to get out on to the land; for public land access as well is part of the story."

As Kansas continues into the second half of its second century, it finds itself having to connect to visions and ideals from across the world.

Price: "They used to say as goes Kansas, so goes the nation. At one time, Kansas was the embodiment of what it meant to be American. Today in a global world, Kansas, as well as the Great Plains as a whole, is going to have to rethink what it means to be important on the global stage. Whether that means we're going to be in high-tech or, as some have said, the Saudi Arabia of wind, that's a story yet to be written."

Thanks for listening. Until next time, this is Joe Kleinsasser for Wichita State University.

Tornado Alley is the subject of upcoming book

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:02:00 CST

A team of professors and students at Wichita State University is working on a photo history of tornadoes in Kansas.

Jay M. Price, associate professor of history at WSU, is editor of the project that includes co-authors Craig Torbenson, WSU professor of geography and history, and history students Sadonia Corns, Bethany Kennedy, Keith Wondra and Jessica Nellis.

The Department of History is the sponsoring organization for the book.

The group will look at the various ways in which Kansas has embodied the region known as "Tornado Alley." While the project covers the stories of infamous twisters as well as the development of warning and emergency response systems, main emphasis will be on the ways that tornadoes have become part of the everyday lives of Kansans.

The twister

From the association of Kansas with Dorothy and "The Wizard of Oz" to periodic "tornado bait parties," the twister has become as much a part of local culture as a destructive force.

The book will be published by Arcadia Publishing, and its tentative release date is early 2012.

Those who have interesting stories and pictures dealing in particular with how tornadoes touch everyday life and influence culture in Kansas can reach Price at (316) 978-7792 or jay.price@wichita.edu.

WSU professor and Kansas historian Craig Miner dies

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:00:00 CST

H. Craig Miner, the Willard W. Garvey Professor of Business History at Wichita State University, died Sunday, Sept. 12, following a lengthy illness. He was 65.

Services were held Sunday, Sept. 19.

Dr. Miner, a WSU alumnus, left a doctoral fellowship at the University of Colorado in 1969 to join the Wichita State faculty.

In 1972 he became an associate professor and was promoted to full professor in 1978. Ten years later, Dr. Miner was named distinguished professor, and his endowed professorship began in 2006.

He taught courses for Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the W. Frank Barton School of Business, including courses in economic history; Kansas and local history; U.S. 1865-1900; and advanced research and writing.

Dr. Miner served as chair of the History Department from 1998-2004 and director of the public history program from 1998-1999.

He was an expert in the history of Kansas and business history and the author of about 40 books.

He served on the WSU Centennial committee and the University Press of Kansas Editorial Board. He was on committees for about 20 organizations throughout the years.

Dr. Miner was often nominated for Board of Trustees Excellence in Teaching and Academy for Effective Teaching Awards. He won more than half a dozen other awards for his work.

A vast array of subjects kept Dr. Miner's interest. He had considered the possibility of returning to school to study Egyptology. He gave instruction in amateur astronomy.

Dr. Miner also enjoyed bicycling, classical guitar, book collecting and classic cars.

He married Susan (Suzi) Miner in August 1967. They have two sons, Hal and Wilson.

Miner told the history of Kansas

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 09:00:00 CST

Almost anyone who has a love for Kansas history knows the work of Craig Miner.

There wasn't much Dr. Miner, Willard W. Garvey Distinguished Professor of Business History and past chairman of the department of history at Wichita State University, didn't tackle.

From railroads, oil, entrepreneurship, technology, Civil War and pioneer stories, he passionately wrote the history of Kansas — all told, more than 40 books.

Dr. Miner died Sunday. He was 65. Services are pending.

Read full story.

Gythiel's translated work is published into new book

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:46:51 CST

Wichita State University history professor Anthony Gythiel has published a new book, "Dragon's Wine and Angel's Bread. The Teaching of Evagrius Ponticus on Anger and Meekness."

The book was translated from the German text, written by Gabriel Bunge, titled, "Drachenwein und Engelsbrot. Die Lehre des Evagrios Pontikos von Zorn und Sanftmut."

Gythiel's book was published by St. Vladimir's Seminary Press and is available in Wichita at Eighth Day Books, 2838 E. Douglas.

Gythiel, who is in phased retirement, has been at WSU since 1971. Aside from teaching, he has dedicated his career to translating historical theology works by world-renowned scholars. He is fluent in five languages.

In 2008, Gythiel was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by the trustees and faculty of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, NY.