WSU News

April 28, 2025 — Wichita State University has appointed Dr. Sarah Beth Estes as the new dean of the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Estes brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to student and faculty success.

April 28, 2025 — When the email notification popped up, Dr. Mary Liz Jameson, professor of biological sciences, thought there must have been a mistake. It must have been for someone else at the university or perhaps another Mary Liz at a different university. Once the shock wore away, Jameson realized it was true: She had been elected to the prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Sciences Fellows, class of 2024, for her integrated work on entomology.

April 24, 2025 — Students from Wichita State University’s Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences got the opportunity to demonstrate their expertise in their fields at the annual Kansas Academy of Science (KAS) and Central States Entomological Society meeting (CSES) meetings April 4-5 at Friends University.

April 23, 2025 — Tayana Martin, a junior majoring in sport and leadership studies with a minor in sign language, is gaining hands-on experience as an operations specialist with Ennovar at Wichita State. A lifelong Wichitan, Tayana supports student hiring and corporate partnerships while building skills that will serve her well after graduation.

April 14, 2025 — The College of Engineering at Wichita State University is hosting an Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day event, commonly known as Girl Day, for high school students from Wichita and the surrounding area. The event will be from 9:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 30 in the Rhatigan Student Center at WSU.

April 10, 2025 — Wichita State students spent summer 2024 excavating the Boxed Springs archaeological site in East Texas, uncovering 6,000 years of Caddo history through hands-on research, artifact analysis and academic publishing.

April 9, 2025 — Daniel Reichart, a senior in aerospace engineering and physics at Wichita State, is researching how to improve particle identification in space using the SNAPPY CubeSat detector. His work simulates how electrons, protons and alpha particles can be distinguished, contributing to a better understanding of solar wind hazards.

April 4, 2025 — Anna Break, an Honors Baccalaureate junior at Wichita State, is researching how health literacy affects the acceptability of wearable fetal heart monitors in rural and underserved communities. Her work, under the mentorship of Dr. Nikki Keene Woods, supports a larger effort to expand access to maternal care through remote health technology.

April 4, 2025 — Wichita State University students are learning the importance of teamwork and communication in order to handle the pace and conditions working in paid applied learning jobs for the athletic department’s creative team. Knowing they are serving as a conduit from all 16 Shockers sports to their fans makes it a job they enjoy.

March 19, 2025 - Shocker Rowing will celebrate its 50th anniversary on April 26-27 with activities honoring the history of the program at Wichita State University. Founded in 1975, Shocker Rowing has competed at home on the Arkansas River and across the nation in the sport’s most prestigious events.

March 14, 2025 - The NCAA’s main event is back in Wichita to continue a long history of Wichita State University bringing this bracket-busting event to the city. Intrust Bank Arena is the site for men’s first- and second-round games on March 20 and 22.

March 4, 2025 - Open Streets ICT returns to Wichita State University’s campus and neighborhood on April 13 with the goal of connecting with young people. Around 8,000 people participated in Open Streets ICT – WSU & Shocker Neighborhood in 2024, double the amount from the previous year.

March 3, 2025 — Five undergraduate students from Wichita State were among the 26 students recognized at the 23rd annual Kansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence Symposium in Kansas City, Missouri.

Feb. 27, 2025 — The College of Engineering at Wichita State University is hosting its 25th annual Shocker MINDSTORMS Challenge, a robotics competition for area students in third through eighth grade or ages eight through 14 years old. The event will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 1. The competition portion will be in the Heskett Center, while the awards ceremonies will be in Hubbard Hall, room 208.

Feb. 25, 2025 — The National Endowment for the Humanities recently awarded a Wichita State University faculty member $150,000 to further develop a smartphone application that allows visually impaired people to read materials rich in visual content.

Feb. 14, 2025 — Dr. Moriah Beck's journey as a scientist is rooted in the belief that research is a powerful driver of innovation and personal transformation. For Beck, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Wichita State University, research is far more than an academic pursuit — it’s a way to connect with a global scientific community and spark change.

Feb. 13, 2025 - Shocker pitcher Grant Adler, who attended Derby High School, will graduate in May with a general studies - chemistry degree while continuing to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. He will intern at Spirit AeroSystems for a second summer.

Feb. 13, 2025 — Grace Naylor, senior at Prairie View High School, is the winner of the 2025 Lenora N. McGregor Endowed Scholarship at Wichita State University.

Feb. 12, 2025 — The College of Engineering at Wichita State University is hosting a public 5k run/walk that is open to students, staff, faculty, alumni and community members. The 5k will be from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 on the WSU campus. Registration proceeds from the 5k will go toward the College of Engineering Needs-Based Scholarship Fund.

Jan. 31, 2025 — What started as a work study position in the costume shop of her university’s theater department has propelled Melissa Penkava Koza’s sewing hobby into guiding the next generation of costume creators.