The College of Education at Wichita State University celebrated its 2026 Hall of Fame class during an induction ceremony Sept. 25 in Beggs Ballroom at the Rhatigan Student Center.
The ceremony honored six individuals for their contributions to the College of Education, Wichita State University and their communities. Dr. Jennifer Friend, dean of the College of Education, welcomed guests and provided an overview of the Hall of Fame, while Dr. Clay Stoldt, professor in the College of Education, led the recognition of the 2026 class.
The 2026 inductees include:
Brad Pittman, recipient of the Community Engagement Award, serves as senior associate athletic director for facilities and operations at Wichita State, where he has helped bring major collegiate sporting events to Wichita while creating professional opportunities for students.
A longtime partner of the Sport Management program, Pittman has worked with faculty to develop assistantships, internships, practica and event staffing opportunities. He has also served as a lecturer for more than a decade, helping students connect classroom learning with professional practice. His work with NCAA events has brought together university, industry and community partners while providing students with hands-on experience in sport and event management.
Debbie Smith, recipient of the Service Award, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Wichita State in 1979 and a Master of Arts in Communication Disorders and Sciences in 1980. She later returned to WSU to complete certification and licensure in early childhood special education.
Working with the WSU Foundation, Smith established scholarship support for students in the Teacher Apprentice Program, helping paraeducators continue their education while balancing work, family and financial responsibilities. Together with her husband, Jay, Smith has achieved Fairmount Society Lifetime Achievement status in recognition of more than $1 million in lifetime giving to Wichita State.
Marc Farha, recipient of the Service Award, is a 1986 Wichita State graduate, co-CEO of CAA ICON and a longtime supporter of the College of Education’s Sport Management program.
Farha established the Fire Down Below Endowed Scholarship to support Sport Management students and has provided additional scholarship support for students working with WSU’s men’s basketball and baseball programs. He has also shared his professional experience through classroom presentations, student mentorship and career guidance. In 2026, Farha returned to campus as keynote speaker for the Kansas Sport Summit and delivered the address at the College of Education’s spring commencement ceremony.
Dr. Maurine Fry, recipient of the Leadership Award, was an educator, scholar and academic leader whose career included leadership roles at Arizona State University and Wichita State University.
From 1988 to 1993, Fry served as dean of WSU’s College of Education and later became professor emerita. Before coming to Wichita State, she held several leadership positions at Arizona State, including department chair, assistant vice president for academic affairs and vice president of ASU Publications in Education. Fry, who died in 2021, is also recognized in Wichita State’s Plaza of Heroines for her contributions to education and support of women in leadership.
Dr. Randy Ellsworth, a colleague of Dr. Maurine Fry during her tenure at Wichita State’s College of Education, gives remarks in recognition of Fry’s induction into the College of Education Hall of Fame.
Nathan Whitman, recipient of the Alumni Award, is a 2012 Wichita State College of Education graduate who serves as an English teacher and department chair at Derby High School and as an adjunct instructor at WSU Tech.
Whitman serves as Central Region co-representative for the National Council of Teachers of English Committee on Affiliates and is set to become chair of the committee in November. He also served as president of the Kansas Association of Teachers of English from 2018 to 2024 and now serves as past president, mentoring new organizational leaders. His work has included professional presentations and publications, educator development and the revival of KATE’s student literary journal, Voices of Kansas.
Dr. Rae Niles, recipient of the Distinguished Career Award, is a Wichita State alumna whose career has included roles in teaching, educational administration and professional learning.
Niles began her career with Sedgwick Public Schools and later served as the district’s director of curriculum and technology. After more than two decades in public education, she joined Apple Inc. as senior manager for Apple Professional Learning, leading a team of more than 150 educators who provided professional learning and leadership development in the United States and internationally.
She returned to Sedgwick Public Schools in 2023 to serve as superintendent. Niles also serves on the College of Education Advisory Board, established the Dr. Rae Niles Fellowship for Education and continues to mentor educational leaders across Kansas.
The College of Education Hall of Fame recognizes individuals or groups who have positively impacted the college at any point since its founding. This includes the full range of people and programs that have been associated with the college throughout its history. Hall of Fame members reflect the college’s shared values of collaboration, leadership, community, innovation and learning.
Click here to learn more about the College of Education Hall of Fame.