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Kathy Downes

Aug. 28, 2023 - Kathy Downes, dean of University Libraries since 2017, came to Wichita State in 1979 as a biomedical librarian. She will retire this fall semester. Downes played a central role as Ablah Library expanded and the digital services of University Libraries grew in number and importance.

Shocker Success Center

Aug. 25, 2023 - Wichita State University’s campus continues to evolve guided by a commitment to the people, businesses and economy of our state. As you return to campus, you will notice construction cranes, dirt moving and updates to existing buildings as work continues to elevate Wichita State as a premier, urban public research university in the United States.

Innovation Campus

July 20, 2023 - As Wichita State University’s Innovation Campus approaches its 10th anniversary, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities is recognizing the Innovation Campus’ role in cultivating research and innovation. The APLU today named Wichita State University as one of five finalists for its 11th annual Innovation & Economic Prosperity (IEP) University Awards.

ATF and WSU officials standing together

March 17, 2023 — Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Director Steven Dettelbach and Senator Jerry Moran recently visited Wichita State University to announce plans for a unique new National Forensic Laboratory at Wichita State. The forensic laboratory is a new $75 million facility that will complement the Gun Crime Intelligence Center of Excellence and National Integrated Ballistic Information Network Correlation and Training Center, which were announced last summer.

Wheelchair user in elevator

Jan. 20, 2023 - In December, the National Science Foundation Convergence Accelerator Track awarded a Wichita State-led team a $750,000 grant to gather information and create digital maps of indoor spaces that could be used by persons with disabilities.

Wichita State's Molecular Diagnostics Lab

Dec. 12, 2022 — Just in time for the surge of respiratory illnesses flooding the state, Wichita State University’s Molecular Diagnostics Lab has announced it will extend free RSV, influenza and COVID (RIC) testing through March 31, 2023.

WSU and Army officials and Apache news conference

Aug. 8, 2022 — The U.S. Army Aviation enterprise is collaborating with Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research to develop an AH-64 Apache Digital Twin in a contract that kicked off with a ribbon-cutting event on campus last week.

Woman standing with tablet

Aug. 4, 2022 - Wichita State University’s Office of Innovation and New Ventures will address technology gaps in the local business ecosystem with the formation of the Small Business Digital Transformation Program. The program is funded with a $1 million grant from the American Rescue Plan Act. The Small Business Digital Transformation Program focuses on small businesses (500 or fewer employees).

P3 building

June 29, 2022 — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced today the establishment of its Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Excellence, located on Wichita State University’s Innovation Campus.

Technicians process COVID-19 tests at the MDL

June 28, 2022 — Wichita State University’s Molecular Diagnostics Lab will continue to offer free COVID-19 testing to the public through December 2022.

National Institute for Research and Digitial Transformation

May 6, 2022 — The steel columns and beams rising on the east edge of the Innovation Campus will soon provide a physical centerpiece for the ongoing work of digital transformation at Wichita State University. The National Institute for Research and Digital Transformation will occupy the building at 18th Street and Oliver by spring 2023.

Wichita State's Molecular Diagnostics Lab

March 10, 2022 — Wichita State University’s Molecular Diagnostics Lab has been awarded the Jiggs Nelson Quality of Life 2022 award for its lifesaving and heroic work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

B1B in a Wichita State parking lot

On March 9, 2022, the B-1 System Program Office (SPO), Tinker AFB, OK awarded a six-year, $100 million follow-on contract to Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) to continue the B-1’s Digital Engineering (DE) transformation. The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) helped form the strategic partnership and created a flexible contract structure, which allows NIAR and the B-1 SPO to adapt requirements real-time to meet critical warfighter needs.

Darren DeFrain holding up phone with Vizling app

Jan. 20, 2022 — The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has awarded a grant of $243,922 to a Wichita State University researcher for his work on an app that will allow people who are visually impaired to read comic books, graphic novels and other digitized graphic materials on their devices.

Build Back Better Challenge EDA finalist logo

Dec. 15, 2021 — The U.S. Economic Development Association recently awarded Wichita State University and South Kansas $500,000 to Build Back Better with the potential opportunity for a Phase 2 award of $25-75 million.