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Lisa Parcell and Blake Benson

Oct. 13, 2025 — Dr. Lisa Parcel, Kansas Health Foundation Director of the Elliott School of Communication and professor of communication, was named Kansas Board of Regents’ Tenured Faculty of the Year in September.

Christopher Leonard

Oct. 13. 2025 — Christopher Leonard, director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at Wichita State University, has been named Staff of the Year by the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) — an honor he says reflects the hard work and dedication of his entire team.

Marco Hernandez (left) stands with President Muma

Oct. 13, 2025 – Wichita State’s Marco Hernandez has been named 2025 Kansas Board of Regents Faculty of the Year. He was recognized during an event on Sept. 17 in Topeka.

Students work in a NIAR lab at Wichita State University.

Oct. 9, 2025 — Wichita State University students earned a record-breaking $39.2 million through applied learning in the 2025 academic year — a powerful testament to WSU’s hands-on approach to career readiness and its role in strengthening the Kansas workforce.

Erin O'Bryan and Harold Regier

Oct. 13. 2025 — Erin O’Bryan, assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders at Wichita State University, has been named Tenure-Track Faculty of the Year by the Kansas Board of Regents.

Brianna Stephens (right) with Kaylee Horsley, her sister.

Sept. 22, 2025 - Brianna Stephens plans to finish her accounting degree and graduate in December. She first attended WSU in 2022 while working full-time. The Shocker Comeback Program is designed to help students finish their degree program with personal support, financial aid, the Shocker Comeback Scholarship, success conversations and more.

Sarah Varner

Sept. 22, 2025 - Sarah Varner spends her days interning at the Walter H. Beech Wind Tunnel at Wichita State University. For an aerospace engineering major, that time is one example of how the university’s applied learning opportunities are vital to starting a career.

A rendering of the Wichita Biomedical Campus

Aug. 7, 2025 — The Wichita State University Board of Trustees has approved up to $750,000 to fund a comprehensive feasibility study exploring the creation of Kansas’ first dental school. This is inclusive of support from Fort Hays State University, a partner in the project, which aims to address the state’s shortage of dentists, particularly in rural communities.

Carter Duff stands next to a sign that reads Wichita-Sedgwick county Law Enforcement Training Center

July 18, 2025 — Wichita State student Carter Duff gained hands-on experience in federal law enforcement through a paid Homeland Security Investigations internship, part of the university’s applied learning program with the Midwest Criminal Justice Institute. The experience gave him career clarity, reinforced his classroom learning, and solidified his goal of working in federal law enforcement.

Janett Lerma-Reyes

July 10, 2025 — Wichita State sophomore Janett Lerma-Reyes is gaining hands-on experience and newfound confidence through a paid internship at Shuttlewagon, where she's applying engineering skills to real-world manufacturing challenges. The internship has not only sharpened her technical abilities but also affirmed her place in the industry and allowed her to support her family and well-being.

Karaline Scott

June 26, 2025 — Electrical engineering major Karaline Scott is getting an early start on her career path. The Wichita State sophomore is spending her summer at Professional Engineering Consultants, where she’s getting paid to work alongside industry professionals and experiencing how engineering concepts translate to real-world impact.

Yumi Kikuchi in her graduation regalia

May 8, 2025 Yumi Kikuchi first came to Wichita State University as part of an exchange program and decided she wanted to pursue her graduate studies at the College of Innovation and Design. Her advice to other students? “Take chances. Life is an experiment, and college is the perfect time to explore, get involved and discover what truly excites you.”

Kelly Bielefeld, Monica Lounsbery, Sheree Utash and Josephine Garcia

May 8, 2025 Wichita State University, WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech) and Wichita Public Schools (WPS) have announced a new partnership designed to strengthen the region’s teacher workforce through the launch of the Future Teacher Academy and a 2+2 pathway program.

Ashlyn Riggs works with students at the Child Development Center

April 29, 2025 Ashlyn Riggs came to Wichita State University thanks to its proximity to home and she already had a connection to campus through her mother, who is an active employee. While at WSU, she had the opportunity to work at the Child Development Center as a lead sub teacher all while getting her degree in education.

Tanaya Martin

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.