Wichita State News: College of Education

WSU teacher programs already reflect White House goals

The College of Education at Wichita State University is in the process of meeting the teacher-training reforms recently outlined by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in a speech covered by the Associated Press ("Official: Colleges don't prepare teachers," Oct. 22 Wichita Eagle).

Thanks to a U.S. Department of Education grant worth $6.2 million over the next five years, WSU's education faculty can continue work on a program that advances teacher preparation for urban education. Funds for development of the Urban Teacher Preparation Program at WSU came from the DOE's teacher quality partnerships grant program.

In his speech, given to Columbia University's Teachers College, Duncan called for an overhaul of college teacher preparation programs. He cited two common complaints from teachers: not enough hands-on training in the classroom; and not enough learning about how to use data to improve instruction and boost student learning.

Sharon Iorio

In fact, said WSU Education Dean Sharon Iorio, WSU actually started reforms in its teacher preparation program two years ago with a seed grant from the Kansas Board of Regents.

"WSU is likely one of the first universities to hit the ground running with the new delivery programs for teacher preparation on a large scale with all undergrads involved," said Iorio.

The new program at WSU will add deeper layers to already existing partnerships with Wichita public schools by sending teacher candidates into high-need schools.

"Not only are our WSU students preparing in these schools, faculty from the colleges of education, fine arts, and liberal arts and sciences will be helping our students in these schools as well," Iorio said. "There is no other program that we know of than the professional development schools model we use at WSU that will give teaching students more time in school classrooms."

In addition, Iorio pointed out that all undergraduate students at WSU are taught about creating tools for data collection in a course early in their programs, and they complete mini-research projects in methods and student teaching. These projects require the collection and analysis of data in terms of the whole class, two individuals and two groups. WSU students cannot graduate without meeting the competency on these assessments.

Graduating students at WSU consistently give high marks regarding preparedness in the College of Education's exit survey, Iorio said. In turn, those who end up teaching in Kansas are highly rated by their employers, according to a 2009 College of Education survey sent to Kansas schools that hire WSU undergraduate teacher education candidates.

Iorio said the survey asked the employers to rate the candidates as either highly prepared, moderately prepared or slightly prepared. Results found that about 74 percent of Kansas employers who hire WSU undergraduate teacher education candidates consider them "well prepared" to enter their first year of practice and an additional 23 percent of employers consider WSU candidates "adequately prepared."

Taken together, said Iorio, 97 percent of employers feel WSU candidates are prepared for their first days of teaching.

For more about the state of the nation's teacher preparation, the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education has responses to the secretary of education's speech at http://www.aacte.org.

Doctoral student advocates for cultural understanding in classrooms

Wichita State University doctoral student Kim Burkhalter will use her background in social work to get a broader perspective in helping children in Wichita Public Schools.

Burkhalter received her bachelor's in social work from WSU in 1992 and her master's from the University of Kansas in 1995. In 2007, she began her doctoral studies at WSU in educational leadership.

When she began her college career at WSU, she was an education major. She changed her major to social work because she wanted a deeper understanding of children who need help in Wichita.

But she knew her career was in education.

"(Social work) was just another way for me to broaden my perspective studies," Burkhalter said.

The knowledge she gained in social work gave her a better opportunity to know students at a deeper level, instead of just being in the classroom, she said.

And her career path has been shaped by what she learned and experienced in social work.

Burkhalter is heavily focused on social justice issues, including embracing cultural differences in schools.

"Kim is passionate about students learning in culturally diverse classrooms in urban settings," said Mara Alagic, Graduate School assistant dean.

Burkhalter's doctoral work focuses on the process educators take to embrace the culture they live in and the cultures their students come from to become better teachers.

Her most recent position in the Wichita school district is as the director of equity. Her purpose is to make sure each student "gets what's equitable, or fair, not just what's equal."

She said Wichita's education system is grounded in middle-class values.

"We have an ever increasing population of kids coming to us who live at or below the poverty line," she said.

She also said USD 259 has more students whose first languages are not English and whose cultures differ vastly from most in Wichita.

"How do we help kids make the transition into a system that's unlike what they have in their own environment?" she said.

Burkhalter had the opportunity to travel abroad last summer and faced challenges in expressing basic needs, which, she said, many USD 259 students face every day at school.

And it's not just students coming from other countries, she said, but students in different parts of the community, whose values and cultures differ between teachers and classmates.

"If we're not aware of the differences that kids are bringing into class, how can we reach them to teach them?" she said.

She said there is a demographic shift in children entering USD 259, and she wants to know how Wichita schools will shift to better educate those students.

She said USD 259 teachers are predominantly white and female, but students are increasingly coming from diverse minority groups in poverty.

The demographic has shifted, she said. The teaching needs to shift, too.

Her dissertation looks at how teachers make that shift and how they make the curriculum culturally relevant.

She is focusing on teachers who have already made a transformation in their classrooms, where students are thriving.

Alagic said Burkhalter's research will attempt to provide educators with a deeper understanding of the complexities teachers face in urban classrooms, as well as, show by examples, how the teachers' attention to racial and cultural diversity helped their students be successful learners.

Once she completes her doctorate, Burkhalter hopes to share her knowledge across the district.

She wants "to help people become aware of who they are and the experiences they bring to the classroom."

Burkhalter wants everyone, from educators to parents to food nutrition specialists, to cultivate the aspirations of Wichita's youth by being involved and understanding kids for who they are.

"It is so important that adults understand, no matter what role they play in society," she said. "They truly influence and impact the lives of our kids."

Grant will transform Wichita State's teacher education for urban schools

Wichita State University has been awarded a $1 million grant, renewable for five years to total more than $6 million, from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) for a program that advances teacher preparation for urban education.

Funds for development of the Urban Teacher Preparation Program (UTTP) at WSU come from the DOE's teacher quality partnerships grant program.

Sharon Iorio

"This grant will transform teacher education at WSU," said Sharon Iorio, dean of the WSU College of Education and project director for the UTTP.

Addressing the growing need for specially trained teachers in urban school districts such as Wichita's, the grant will help WSU partner with Wichita Public Schools and its early childhood education partners at The Opportunity Project and possibly another local agency to provide high quality, integrative, comprehensive preparation for urban education.

"Our partnership with The Opportunity Project is going to be very rewarding," said Iorio, "because it will be the first time in Kansas that our WSU students will work, at the site, alongside early childhood professionals in a residency program."

Wichita's public school district enrolls a diverse student body of approximately 50,000; of those students, 68 percent are designated as economically disadvantaged.

Through the UTPP, WSU education students can receive elementary and secondary preparation for urban schools and participate in a teacher residency program for early childhood special education.

WSU is among 28 universities nationwide to be granted teacher quality partnership grants for urban teacher training programs to improve instruction in struggling schools.

Gary L. Miller

"This grant affirms the position of the College of Education as a national leader in developing and deploying effective models of teacher education," said Gary L. Miller, WSU provost. "We are extremely proud of the faculty's commitment integrating their programs with our partners in USD 259 and other school districts in our region."

Kim McDowell, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction at WSU, co-wrote the grant with Terry Behrendt, senior fellow for research; Sheril Logan, assistant dean of education; and Shirley LeFever Davis, associate dean of education. Behrendt and McDowell are co-principal investigators with Iorio.

The UTTP's core curriculum for all levels of concentration will focus on urban education and diverse student needs, paying close attention to the literacy skills of students in high-need schools.

"Upon completion of the UTPP pre-baccalaureate program," said McDowell, "candidates will possess the knowledge, skills and dispositions from the integration of pedagogy and research-based practices to work effectively in an urban setting. Many of the candidates will have learned to teach in the same work environment where they will be employed."

The program will prepare UTTP students to be licensed in their chosen content area, McDowell said. In addition, they will have the skills and knowledge necessary to receive an ELL endorsement in teaching English-language learners.

Candidates in the teacher program will be rigorously selected and intentionally matched with a well-qualified classroom teacher for mentoring. The partnering agencies will collaborate on the design and implementation of the program, including curriculum, implementation and evaluation/assessment of the program's effectiveness.

Kansas Dropout Prevention Regional Pre-Summit planned for Sept. 25

What works for one area of the state may not work for another.

That's why there needs to be a dialogue in each of eight regions to encourage each region to engage in their own conversation about high school dropout prevention, according to Terry Behrendt, co-director of Transition to Teaching in Wichita State University's College of Education.

In an effort to consider possible solutions to help prevent students from becoming a dropout statistic, a dropout prevention regional pre-summit for the Wichita region will be held from noon-2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, in the Workforce Learning Center, lower level, 150 N. Main in Wichita.

The event is co-sponsored by the WSU College of Education, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, State Farm Insurance and America's Promise Alliance.

RSVP to Jessica Noble at (785) 296-1521 or jnoble@kdheks.gov.

High school dropouts, on average, earn $9,200 less per year than high school graduates, and about $1 million less over a lifetime than college graduates.

Students who drop out of high school are often unable to support themselves; high school dropouts are more than three times more likely than college graduates to be unemployed.

PODCAST: The importance of parent/teacher conferences

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.

Parent/teacher conferences are important for parents, teachers and students. Kim McDowell, an assistant professor of education at Wichita State University, explains how parent/teacher conferences can be beneficial to all involved.

McDowell: "The true purpose behind the parent/teacher conference and the importance of conference time is really all about communication and collaboration between the teacher and the parents, so that they can establish a trusting relationship and be open about sharing information about the children."

For the most part, parent/teacher conferences are brief, so McDowell suggests that parents spend a little time in preparation for the meeting.

McDowell: "Some things parents can do to make conferences a success — I would encourage them to prioritize. You're going to have a limited amount of time to talk to the teacher, so prioritize, make a list of specific questions or concerns you have. And then also be open-minded in terms of what the teacher or the information the teacher is going to share to you about your child."

McDowell also has some suggestions for teachers.

McDowell: "From a teacher's perspective, I would encourage them to use the sandwich technique. Start with something positive. Work in there things that maybe you're concerned about regarding academic performance or behavior, and then end with something positive. I also encourage teachers to use examples of student work to show the parents."

Ideally, both parents and teachers benefit from the parent/teacher conference.

McDowell: "Best-case scenario, the outcome of a parent/teacher conference is open lines of communication, clearly demonstrated student progress in terms of the standards or academic goals for the year, and then also just a sense of trust and knowing that the teacher and the parents both have the children's best interests at heart."

Unfortunately, the experience isn't always positive, as McDowell explains.

McDowell: "If you're in an instance where the parent/teacher conference isn't so positive, I would encourage both the teacher and the parent to remain neutral and as objective as possible in their communication efforts and, as a last resort, if needed, get the administrator involved to act as a moderator."

In any case, McDowell says it's a good idea for parents to participate in parent/teacher conferences as long as they have children in school.

McDowell: "I encourage parents to stay involved in their children's educational careers throughout the ages. A lot of parents think that it's okay in the early years, and then slip up or don't attend quite as often in the later years, but really it's important to stay involved throughout your child's educational career."

Barbara Callaghan, a teacher and principal for 20 years, advises that parents be on time, call or reschedule. Every minute counts. Don't shortchange your opportunity to hear about your child.

Have a positive attitude. The teacher may tell you something that is disappointing. Try not to get defensive — use the time as an opportunity to make a plan for improvement.

Tell the teacher what the child talks about at home — if the teacher knows what is successful with your child, he or she can do more of the same.

If there is stress in the home, let the teacher know just that, not the details, so that he or she can better understand the change in your child's attitude or performance.

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

WSU doctoral student globalizes Wichita music class

Wichita State University grad student Lisa Lutz is interested in globalization; more specifically, she is interested in making relationships and communication global for students in her district.

Lutz works in the USD 259 district office in secondary curriculum and instruction.

"If I'm going to be a leader in education, then I feel I should educate myself to the highest degree that I can," Lutz said.

Her doctoral project is focused on global education and building lasting relationships between Wichita students and students in other countries.

Her research subjects are high school students in a USD 259 music class. The students will work with others around the world to compose a piece of music.

She is studying how they work together and how their perceptions of each other change over time.

Graduate School Assistant Dean Mara Alagic said Lutz put a lot of time and careful thought into the design of her project.

"(The project) aims to help us understand more about how collaborative music performance can improve the development of a global mindset," Alagic said.

The other schools participating are in Spain, Austria and Japan. Lutz traveled to each country to set up her project. The Ollie A. and J.O. Heskett Graduate Fellowship funded her travel.

Lutz wants to expand her project through the K-12 curriculum in Wichita classrooms to offer all students global interaction before they enter the work force, which she said expects such skills.

She hopes the experience will give the students a global mindset as well.

She said globalization is "beyond an understanding." To her, globalization is "to have a compassion for the human spirit regardless of where" it is.

"As a result of the multiple communications they have, they will gain a broader understanding and acceptance of others with the potential to develop some sustainable relationships," she said.

While there is the ability to globalize the curriculum of every subject, Lutz chose music because it doesn't pause at language barriers.

Language is a challenge, but Lutz said it is a give-and-take opportunity and fully part of the global experience. Connections will be made in multiple time zones, and students will have to work through that.

Lutz doesn't want her project to be a one-year, one-classroom event in Wichita. She wants to see it implemented in every classroom in the district.

"This could go somewhere," she said. But she needs someone to facilitate the project to expand it community wide.

Her desired outcome would be to have global concerts, occurring at the same time in each participating country, where students can play the music they've composed.

Regardless if Lutz's concert happens, Alagic said: "The outcomes of her project will inform further global learning initiatives, particularly in the area of music education, in USD 259, and broader as she's intent to publish her findings at national and international levels."

Faculty/staff news update, summer 2009

Faculty/staff news update, summer 2009

As the academy of faculty and the staff at Wichita State University engage in externally supported research, training and service activities consistent with the university's mission and vital to its growth, this column will recognize grants, honors, awards, presentations and publications, new appointments, new faculty, sabbaticals, retirements and the deaths of our current and former colleagues.

AWARDS, HONORS AND WSU GRANTS

Les Anderson

Les Anderson, professor, Elliott School of Communication, received the Kansas Press Association's Clyde M. Reed Jr. Master Editor Award. Anderson, former owner of The Ark Valley News in Valley Center, was recognized for a lifetime of contributions to the newspaper industry.

Ted Ayres, vice president and general counsel, attended the 56th Annual National Security Forum at the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. During the week of May 18-22, about 130 civilian leaders in business, education and government met with senior military leaders to explore current and future national security issues facing the United States.

Albert Goldbarth, Adele Davis Distinguished Professor of Humanities, has been made an honorary member of Harvard's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa as part of providing this year's commencement poems for the chapter. Read the article and hear his speech at www.harvardmagazine.com.

Grady Landrum, director of disability services, qualified to play in the Wheelchair U.S. Open Tennis Tournament, Aug. 31-Sept. 6, in St. Louis.

Patricia McDonnell, director, Ulrich Museum of Art, has joined the board of directors for the College Arts Association, based in New York. The CAA boasts an international membership of 14,000 individuals and more than 2,000 institutions.

Cheryl Miller, assistant dean, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and David Kamerer, former visiting assistant professor, Elliott School of Communication, received first-place honors from the National Federation of Press Women 2009 Communications Contest. Sharon Iorio, dean of the College of Education, and Wilma Moore-Black, assistant director/curriculum coordinator, TRIO Communication Upward Bound, won third-place national awards, and Les Anderson, professor, Elliott School of Communication, received an honorable mention. NFPW will hold its awards banquet at the national conference Sept. 10-12 in San Antonio.

Michael Palmiotto, professor, School of Community Affairs, was awarded a May/June Fulbright Specialist Award to Serbia, where he lectured to University of Belgrade Law and Security faculty, met with American Embassy officials, traveled to Kragujevac for three lectures at the University of Kragujevac, and attended and presented a paper at an international police conference in Macedonia.

Rosalind Scudder, professor, Communication Sciences and Disorders, has received the Kansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association's "Honors of the Association" for 2009. The award recognizes members who have made distinguished contributions and service to the field and the association. Scudder's award will be presented during the KSHA convention at the Hyatt Regency Wichita, Oct. 1-3.

PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

Mara Alagic, assistant dean, Graduate School, associate professor, curriculum and instruction, is the guest editor for the September special issue of Journal of Mathematics and Arts devoted to mathematics education. The journal is published by Taylor & Francis (UK).

Daniel Bergman, assistant professor and chair, secondary science education, had "Quality questions" published this summer in New Teacher Advocate.

Frankie Brown, director, Human Resources, presented "What do Employers Really Want?" in July at the Statewide Diversity Job Fair hosted by Wichita's Urban League.

Cindy Craig, social sciences librarian, University Libraries, and Curt Friehs, business librarian at Kansas City, Kansas Public Library (previously of University Libraries) presented original research at the American Libraries Association Annual Conference in July in Chicago. They also presented a research poster at the conference. Their research article "Assessing the Effectiveness of Online Library Instruction with Finance Students" was published last winter in the Journal of Web Librarianship.

Lynne Davis, Ann and Dennis Ross Endowed Faculty of Distinction in Organ, presented a performance on WSU's Marcussen organ of French composers for the June 18 closing concert of the American Guild of Organists region 6 convention in Wichita, and the June 28 opening concert of the AGOs region 5 convention in Detroit. In July, she performed at the Cathedral of St. Michel and St. Gudule in Brussells, Belgium.

Karen Hayes, assistant professor, and Alicia Huckstadt, professor and graduate program director, School of Nursing, presented their research, "Improving Clinical Care of Hypertensive Patients," at the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners National Conference, Nashville, Tenn., on June 18.

Alicia Huckstadt, professor and graduate program director, nursing, had her chapter "Health promotion" published in Chronic Illness: Impact & Intervention.

C. Nicholas Johnson

C. Nicholas Johnson, director of dance, and Sabrina Vasquez, dance faculty, performed with the Alithea Mime Theatre dance company for the International Mime Festival in Warsaw, Poland, Aug. 22-31. Johnson is artistic director for Alithea, and Vasquez is co-director. Current and former WSU dance students joined the pair for the Warsaw festival.

Patricia McDonnell, director, Ulrich Museum of Art, contributed an essay on artist Marsden Hartley to the forthcoming exhibition publication for Cezanne and American Modernism, organized by the Baltimore Museum of Art and Montclair Art Museum.

Martha J. Smith, associate professor, School of Community Affairs, co-edited two special issues of Security Journal with Bonnie Fisher, University of Cincinnati. The first issue is Insecurity in the Ivory Tower: Understanding and Responding to Students' Victimization and Fear. The second issue, Women's Security: Critical Perspectives on Assessment Techniques and Preventive Responses, also includes an article by Smith, "A Six-Step Model of Potential Victims' Decisions to Change Location."

Liorah Golomb, assistant professor and humanities librarian, was co-author of "Navigating the MLA Bibliography: Performance Across Vendor Platforms, published in the Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship. Her co-author was Aline Soules, California State University.

Virginia Kay Williams, assistant professor and acquisitions librarian, was co-author of "Graphic Novels in Libraries Supporting Teacher Education and Librarianship Programs," in the July Library Resources and Technical Services. Her co-author was Damen V. Peterson, Mississippi State University. Williams' review of the book "Analyzing Library Collection Use with Excel" by Tony Greiner and Bob Cooper was published in the same journal issue.

NEW FACULTY AND NEW POSITIONS

These faculty members recently achieved full professor status: Les Anderson, Elliott School of Communication, Wilson Baldridge, modern and classical languages, Alex Chaparro, psychology, David Eichhorn, chemistry, C. Nicholas Johnson, performing arts/dance, Rhonda Lewis-Moss, psychology, Chunsheng Ma, mathematics and statistics, Linda Mitchell, curriculum and instruction, Chinyere Okafor, English and women's studies, Keith Pickus, associate provost, history, Prakash Ramanan, computer science, Michael Rogers, Center for Physical Fitness and Aging, Jim Wolff, Barton School of Business, Charles Yang, engineering, and Robert Zettle, psychology.

Jean Brickell, associate professor, College of Health Professions, has been named chairperson of Medical Technology.

Mary Koehn, associate professor and associate dean, College of Health Professions, has been named acting chairperson of the School of Nursing.

Craig Owens, assistant professor, music education, has been appointed director of jazz studies for WSU.

Linda Starkey has been appointed director of the School of Performing Arts.

Phil Bowers has been promoted to assistant director of TRIO Disability Support Services.

IN EMERITUS

The Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research recently announced the 2009 emeritus faculty: Judith Johnson, associate professor (history); Susan Kovar, dean and professor (Graduate School and kinesiology and sports studies); Mahmoud Edwin Sawan, professor and chairperson (electrical and computer engineering); Ram Singhal, professor (chemistry); Juanita Tate, associate professor (nursing); and Phillip Thomas, dean and professor (LAS and history). In addition, Ron Kopita, vice president (campus life and university relations), has been granted emeritus status.

IN MEMORIAM

John Ballar Breazeale, 83, retired WSU administrator, died June 6 in Houston. Breazeale's career at WSU included serving as chairman of the physics department, dean of the Graduate School, vice president for Academic Affairs and director of the Institute for Aviation Research and Development. He was preceded in death by his wife, Wilma Ruth. Survivors include daughters Susan (Stuart) Twemlow of Houston, Barbara Schaecher of Salt Lake City, and Rachel (Steve) Mackey of Topeka; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Memorials can be made to the American Parkinson Disease Association or the American Diabetes Association.

Moya Diane Dickerson, 61, accounting, died Aug. 14 in Wichita. She is survived by her husband, Paul; son Kevin (Christine) of Colorado Springs; daughter Kristina (John) Andrews of Muvane; three grandchildren; sister Sandei (Alan) Fain; brothers Matthew (Hazel) of Enid and Randy (Patti Waibel). Services have been held.

Lois Amy (Howard) Gunter, 94, retired from the financial aid department, died June 7. Preceded in death by her husband, Preston,; sisters Dorthea Underwood and Lola Kreis; brother Bill Howard. Survivors include daughter Judy (Knute) Fraser of Wichita; sons Gary (Dianne) Gunter of Denver and Mike (Patti) Gunter of Austin; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; sister Audrey Collins of Hutchinson; brother Ben (Mary) Howard of Merced, Calif.; many nieces, nephews and dear friends. A memorial to benefit low-income children has been established at College Hill United Methodist Church in Wichita.

Jack Mitchell, 85, former University of Wichita football coach, died July 6 in Arizona.

Wendell Peete, 62, system administrator in the Media Resources Center, died Sept. 5 in Wichita. He was preceded in death by daughters Demetra Lynn and Melody Ann, granddaughter Taylor and father J.B Peete. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; daughter Winona; son Wendell Jr. (Georgia); grandsons Ocean and Austin; mother Helen Culton; sisters Philomene (Sherman Keeling), Tonette Crowley, Margaret Culton-Davidson (Mathis); brothers Thomas, Michael, George and Ricky Culton; and stepmother Nellie Peete and family. Services have been held.

Joshua Locke Yearout, 33, archivist, Special Collections, University Libraries, died July 7 in Wichita. He is survived by his wife, Amy; daughter, Grace; parents Charlene and Phil Yearout of Andover; sister Jessie Horning of Andover; grandmother Yvonne Critchfield of Hill City. Memorials may be made to the Grace H. Yearout Memorial Fund c/o Emprise Bank, 257 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS 67202.

IN OTHER NEWS

Albert Goldbarth

Albert Goldbarth, Adele M. Davis Distinguished Professor of Humanities, was interviewed for an Aug. 17 television broadcast, "Junk Man: Poet and Professor Albert Goldbarth," on "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer" (in the NewsHour Poetry Series) on PBS. http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/wsunews/news/?nid=761

Dotty Harpool, director of graduate studies, lecturer, marketing, Barton School, was interviewed for a July 23 Wichita Eagle article, "Dillons branches out with gas." http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/wsunews/cnews/?cnid=817

Dean Headley, associate professor, was quoted in a June 18 Wichita Eagle article, "marketing and entrepreneurship, contributed to the article, "Fighting for every sale." http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/wsunews/news/?nid=713

Doug Hensler, dean, and Kate Kung-McIntyre, assistant dean, Barton School of Business, contributed to a July 6 Wichita Eagle article, "WSU students go abroad to acquire global business skills." http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/wsunews/news/?nid=722

Jeremy Hill

Jeremy Hill, director of the Center for Economic Development and Business Research, was quoted in a July 13 Wichita Business Journal story, "Sedgwick County approves AirTran subsidy." http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/wsunews/news/?nid=726

Jeremy Hill also was interviewed for a June 25 KAKE Channel 10 story, "Kansas bankruptcy levels lower than national average." http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/wsunews/news/?nid=718

Stanley Longhofer, director of the Center for Real Estate, was quoted in a July 28 Christian Monitor article, "US home prices rise. Is it time to buy?," about the Case Shiller index. http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/wsunews/newsrelease/?nid=739

Gary L. Miller, provost and vice president for academic affairs and research, was interviewed for an Aug. 16 Wichita Eagle article, "WSU lab building stellar reputation," about WSU's Advanced Networking Research Center. http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/wsunews/news/?nid=759

Michael E. Rogers, research director of the Center for Physical Activity and Aging, was quoted in an Aug. 3 Boston Globe column, "Sweat equity," on fitness for aging women. http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/wsunews/news/?nid=744

Victoria Shaffer, assistant professor of psychology, was interviewed for an Aug. 26 Incentive Insights Podcast from Incentive magazine about her research comparing the cash and noncash awards in corporate incentive programs. http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/wsunews/news/?nid=774

Levente Sulyok, assistant professor, and Robert Bubp, associate professor, foundations, drawing and painting, were interviewed for a July Mercury-Register (Chico, Texas) article, "Two artists portray their interpretations of place," about their summer exhibition at the 1078 Gallery.

John Tomblin

John Tomblin, executive director of the National Institute for Aviation Research, was quoted in an Aug. 23 Wichita Eagle article, "Stimulus could pay for CIBOR site." http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/wsunews/news/?nid=768

Wild intern helps earn IFL Franchise of the Year award

Wichita State University student Eric Siever interned with the Wichita Wild, an indoor football team, and helped the organization win the Franchise of the Year award.

Eric Siever

Siever, a sport management senior, has a strong background in sports, especially football.

He attended Emporia State University directly after high school to play football, but tore his ACL, the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee, after two seasons and gave up playing.

He coached college football at West Virginia University, but decided to move back to Wichita when he realized he wasn't making any money and wanted to go back to school.

"I wanted to experience life a little, trying to decide what it was I wanted to do for a career," Siever said. "I found that here at WSU."

Siever was in the business administration program when he first enrolled, but he found sport management was a better fit for him.

"Being involved in sports is my passion," he said, "so I figured I should do something that I will love to do day in and day out."

Siever applied to intern with the Wichita Wild in December 2008.

"I think my previous experiences in sports, playing and coaching, my personality, work ethic and my drive to get better is why they (the Wichita Wild) chose me," he said.

Siever began his internship in late January and worked until the last home game, Aug. 1. He worked 20 hours a week, unpaid, at the office and another several hours during weekend home games.

He was the ticket management intern for the Wild. He dealt with ticket sales, birthday parties and any other duty needing to be done for the organization.

During Siever's time with the team, the Wichita Wild saw a 75 percent increase in attendance over last year.

James Bain, internship coordinator and Wild assistant general manager, attributed part of the increase in attendance to the interns, including Siever.

"(Siever) and the rest of our students from WSU were prepared very well for the internship," Bain said. "They all took their responsibilities very seriously."

Siever said it was exciting trying to get the Wichita community involved with the organization.

"Getting people to come out to their first indoor football game ever and watch them enjoy themselves so much is a thrill to watch," he said.

Siever's internship gave him the added benefit of networking with people he said he wouldn't have met had he not participated.

He said it also "adds to my drive to get through school and start my career." He wants to be one of the best in the industry.

His career path is certain: an athletic director or front office management for a team.

He will graduate in spring of 2011.

Education graduate enjoys teaching young children

Dana Mitchell enjoys interacting with her kindergarten students and seeing them grow in their education.

"I want to teach young children because they still have (an) attitude of learning," Mitchell said. "They want to come to school."

Mitchell graduated from Wichita State University with her bachelor's degree in elementary education in spring 2008.

As an undergrad, she participated in the Cooperative Education and Work-Based Learning Program and received six credit hours when tutoring at Samuel E. Spaght Multimedia Magnet, the elementary school she attended.

Mitchell is now teaching kindergarten at Spaght full time.

"She has just completed her first year and received a special award from the district for being an outstanding first year teacher," said Cathy Razook-Ellsworth, College of Education coordinator in cooperative education.

Mitchell is working on her master's degree at WSU, as well.

But her education career began in high school when she tutored at Spaght as a senior. At the time, she was thinking about a future in social work, but she decided to pursue a degree in education after working with the students.

"I loved working with kids and seeing the gains they made," Mitchell said.

Mitchell teaches reading, writing, math, science, health and social studies. She said it depended on the child, but all of her students seem to enjoy every subject.

She said music helps the children calm down, but it also "hypes them up" when needed.

"We love to dance and sing," she said.

Mitchell said she is amazed how complex the minds of 5- and 6-year-old children are.

"They are so funny, loving, caring and hardworking," she said, "and they always want to please you."

The students are making her a better person, as well.

"When I went into teaching, I never thought that I would be learning from them," she said. "They teach me to be more silly and carefree."

She said the children make her laugh every day, and she returns the favor.

One challenging aspect of her career is dealing with all the personalities in her classroom and meeting the needs of each student, she said.

"Teachers educate the future, and if I don't do my part in teaching the basics, I am not only failing them, I am also failing myself," Mitchell said.

If she sees her students struggling, she works with them to get them where they need to be.

"Teaching is more than making sure that they learn, it's about teaching them to be better people, to respect themselves and everyone else," she said. "I am helping to prepare them for their future."

Gwendolyn Mukes, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction, said Mitchell has an intuitive teaching factor needed in the education profession.

"It was apparent that (she) was a natural," Mukes said.

Mitchell's second-grade teacher, Kathy Stybr, was her favorite teacher when she attended Spaght and one influence that pushed her toward a teaching career.

"She helped me to love learning," Mitchell said. "On the last day of school she read ("I Love You Forever") to us, and she cried. I read to my students on the last day, and I cried, too."

Mitchell said working with co-op was the practice she needed to be prepared.

"Co-op gave her real-world job experiences and allowed her the freedom to test her wings," Mukes said.

"The hands-on experience that I gained is unbelievable," Mitchell said. "Everyone should do it."

Start walking with WSU's Center for Physical Activity and Aging

The Center for Physical Activity and Aging (CPAA) is offering Active Walking Seniors Uniquely Motivated (AWSUM) classes that will meet from 6:30-7:30 a.m. and 7:30-8:30 a.m. Monday through Friday in Wichita State University's Heskett Center, starting Monday, Aug. 24.

The cost is $50 per 20-week session (plus a one-year parking fee of $20 is required in August). Classes will meet on the Cessna Stadium track until after the Labor Day holiday.

Activities are designed and supervised by CPAA director Ruth Bohlken, and provide older adults the opportunity to train to improve functional fitness.

Functional fitness represents the ability to carry out activities of daily living or performing real-life activities in real-life positions (i.e., taking the sack of groceries out of the car and carrying it into the house).

Activities include organized walking, Tai Chi, resistance training with elastic bands, soft weights or elastic tubes, Yoga, water fitness, balance training and stretches to improve range of motion.

For more information, contact Bohlken at (316) 978-5150 or ruth.bohlken@wichita.edu.

Sweat equality

Charlie Hardesty is a personal trainer in Quincy, Mass., with a lot of female clients, and he's not too impressed with the older ones.

"Most of them have never exercised in their lives," said Hardesty, referring to women 50 and up. "As far as they're concerned, going to the mailbox is exercise."

For today's older women, "the level of (exercise) education and awareness hasn't been there their entire lives as it has been for women 40 and younger," said Michael E. Rogers, research director of the Center for Physical Activity and Aging at Wichita State University in Kansas.

Read full story.

WSU announces spring commencement schedule, speakers

About 2,100 students are eligible to participate in the 111th spring commencement ceremonies Friday and Saturday, May 15-16, at Wichita State University.

Ceremonies will be held in Charles Koch Arena.

Undergraduate and graduate degrees will be conferred in individual college ceremonies.

Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

About 840 liberal arts and sciences students are eligible to participate in commencement exercises at 3 p.m. Friday, May 15.

Jarold (Jerry) Boettcher will represent the Kansas Board of Regents. The commencement speaker will be Anita Cochran, former TV news anchor.

College of Health Professions

About 285 health professions students are eligible to participate in commencement at 7 p.m. Friday, May 15.

Jarold (Jerry) Boettcher will represent the Kansas Board of Regents.The commencement speaker will be Pamela Clancy Ammar, member of the Wichita State University Foundation board of directors and chair of the College of Health Professions Dean's Advisory Committee.

W. Frank Barton School of Business

Almost 400 business students are expected to complete their degrees this spring or summer. The commencement ceremony will be held at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 16.

Jarold (Jerry) Boettcher will represent the Kansas Board of Regents. The commencement speaker will be Collin G. Stieben, senior vice president of commercial banking at Commerce Bank in Wichita.

College of Education

About 315 education students are eligible to graduate in a ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 16.

Jill Docking will represent the Kansas Board of Regents. The speaker will be Nick Taylor, two-time Paralympics gold medalist in tennis, director of a women's professional tennis tournament and part of the USTA pro circuit.

College of Engineering

About 200 engineering students are eligible to graduate in a ceremony at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 16.

Jill Docking will represent the Kansas Board of Regents. The commencement speaker will be Wolter Fabrycky, Lawrence professor emeritus of industrial and systems engineering, and chairman of Academic Applications International at Virginia Tech University.

College of Fine Arts

Approximately 100 fine arts students are eligible to graduate in this ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 16.

Jill Docking will represent the Kansas Board of Regents. The speaker will be Denny Senseney, a public school music educator, former retail school-music business owner, arts advocate and professional trade association leader.

Camps of all kinds run through the summer at WSU

There are various academic and athletic camps offered at Wichita State University during the summer.

Academic camps include:

College of Fine Arts

College of Education

College of Engineering

TRIO/Gear Up programs

Future Shocker Camp

Athletic camps include:

Boys and girls basketball

Baseball

Bowling

Golf

Volleyball

For detailed information, go to http://www.wichita.edu/camps to see what's available.

WSU to host LEGO Mindstorms Challenge for ninth year

The colleges of education and engineering at Wichita State University will host the ninth annual LEGO Mindstorms Robotics Challenge from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Heskett Center gymnasium. An awards ceremony follows at 5 p.m. in 208 Hubbard Hall.

The event, funded by Spirit AeroSystems, provides young students with the opportunity for practical application and exhibition of math, science, programming and engineering skills, as well as promoting teamwork, dedication and sportsmanship.

Teams of fourth- through eighth-grade students from across Kansas will complete mission challenges designed by College of Engineering students and demonstrate what they have learned to an audience that includes professional engineers and educators, industry representatives, families, friends and members of the community.

Oral presentations, table displays and notebooks require students to document and articulate what they learned and the process their team completed to prepare for the challenge.

Sportsmanship and spirit are judged throughout the day to promote collaboration and teamwork.

The Mindstorms Challenge provides teachers an opportunity to showcase what they learned in WSU classes and workshops, and how they use robotics to teach science, technology, engineering and math concepts to their students.

It also provides an environment in which they can share and collaborate with other educators and professional engineers.

This year, organizers expect about 40 teams, almost double the participation in previous years.

Teams will be from such diverse Kansas communities as Andover, Belle Plaine, Canton-Galva, Cheney, Derby, Goessel, Colwich, Lyons and Wichita.

Many of the coaches who bring teams to the Mindstorms Challenge received training through robotics courses taught by WSU's College of Education and received start-up equipment from funding provided by Boeing Charitable Trust and Spirit AeroSystems grants.

For more information about LEGO Mindstorms Challenge, visit the Web site at www.wichita.edu/shockermindstorms/.

Competition didn't deter scholarship hopeful Whitman

Studying hard and applying early for scholarships paid off for freshman Nathan Whitman, who has received four scholarships to Wichita State University.

He began applying in the fall of his senior year of high school, and he didn't discriminate when it came to dollar amount. He applied for every one he could.

"The scholarship process is hectic, but worth it in the long run," he said.

Whitman received the Top Shock scholarship, the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational Top 50 scholarship, and the Presidential Scholar and Sedgwick County scholarships, which total $6,500.

"Some are renewable if I keep my grades high, so I'm studying hard," he said.

Whitman filled out paperwork, did interviews and wrote essays to fulfill the scholarship requirements. He said that having a high GPA and good ACT score helped him, as well.

The DSI scholarship required him to spend a day on campus with other high school students who were competing for the same award. He said he had to work in groups, solve a hypothetical problem and write an essay about himself in a given time limit.

"It was very stressful but satisfying," he said. "The judges and the evaluations of our essays determined who got what scholarship."

Because WSU offered him the most money and carried his intended major, Whitman decided to attend WSU over Kansas State.

"K-State offered me a nice scholarship opportunity, but the majority of the aid would have gone to dorm costs," he said. "WSU is best for my financial situation."

The scholarships have also allowed him to stay debt-free, which was one of his goals. He also liked how friendly the student body and faculty were.

Whitman is majoring in secondary English education and creative writing and plans on becoming a high school English teacher. He cannot wait to analyze literature, see the perspectives of others and then pass that information on to students. He also wants to be an author.

"If I were a published author, I could tell stories that might have impacts to be remembered for years," he said.

In high school, Whitman took drafting classes and met with architectural firms and architects about their careers. He loves being creative, which is part of the reason he was originally drawn to architecture.

"I saw how many limitations and building standards there were in the field," he said. "Their workbook of building codes is about the size of a Gutenberg Bible."

Whitman said he hated moments of his drafting classes and realized how those moments could represent the whole of his life. Instead, he looked into career possibilities such as writing, reading and teaching, which coincided with his special interests.

"I have always enjoyed helping others learn," he said. "Knowing that as a teacher, I will be helping to shape the future of America gives me a feeling of accomplishment that is absolutely priceless."