College of Engineering News

April 30, 2026 - The WSU-led CubeSat project started in 2016. Launch into low earth orbit by NASA will allow researchers to look at the sun in a new way and perform experiments not possible on earth with solar neutrinos.

April 29,  2026  — Mitchell Steele maximized his Shocker journey. With multiple on- and off-campus internships, research opportunities and a featured role on Wichita State’s episode of “The College Tour,” Mitchell built a truly holistic and meaningful experience during his time here.  

April 29, 2026 — Sheida Sharafi has curated her younger self’s ambition to be a doctor into a medical-adjacent field: biomedical engineering. During her time at Wichita State, she has honed her professional skills through several applied learning and research experiences.

April 29,  2026  —  Manuel Salamanca shaped his Wichita State experience through hands-on aerospace engineering work, including NASA Jumpstart, student aircraft manufacturing and competitive design-build projects. A first-generation and military-affiliated student, he will serve on active duty with the U.S. Air Force after graduation before pursuing a master’s degree in aerospace engineering.  

April 29, 2026 — From across the globe in Morrocco, Salma Echakar heard about Wichita State’s aerospace program and came to Kansas to pursue her degree. Her advice to future Shockers: “Time goes by quickly, so take advantage of every opportunity.”

March 10, 2026 - Wichita State University’s First-Year Seminar and Shocker Design Experience are producing impressive persistence increases.This design thinking course focuses on fostering an entrepreneurial mindset and developing curiosity. A key component is learning that failure can be the first step toward success.

Feb. 19, 2026 — Wichita State University’s College of Engineering has named the latest group of high school seniors to join the Wallace Scholar program.

Jan. 12, 2026 — Fueled by a boost in contracts from federal agencies and various military branches, Wichita State University continues to hold strong in its standings in the National Science Foundation (NSF) Higher Education Research and Development Survey, reporting $392 million in research expenditures in the latest survey.

Jan. 7, 2026 — Dr. Ali P. Gordon has been named as the next dean of the Wichita State University College of Engineering, effective June 7.

Dec. 8, 2025 — Isabella Winter enjoyed earning her undergraduate degree so much that she came back and earned her graduate degree in engineering management. Her advice to other students is "step out of your comfort zone and talk to people in your classes."

Dec. 8, 2025 — Natalie McConico is a homegrown Wichitan who was already well-versed in the many attributes of Wichita State University. She was particularly impressed by the opportunities available to engineering students.

Nov. 18, 2025 - The Scholars Walk at Wichita State University honors the achievements of faculty and their roles as scholars, mentors and innovators. Installed this month, Scholars Walk is a series of banners along the northeast walkway from the Plaza of Heroines highlighting faculty from the academic colleges.

Oct. 1, 2025 — Wichita State University and the Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech) are celebrating record-breaking enrollment this fall, continuing a decade of extraordinary growth. Over the past 10 years, WSU has grown 27.3% and WSU Tech 101.5%. That momentum is reflected in this fall’s historic headcount of 25,147 students — the highest in university history.

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.

July 31, 2025 — Wichita State and Groover Labs received a state grant to boost student innovation and help bring Kansas ideas to market. The funding expands hands-on learning, prototyping and outreach across the state.

July 31, 2025 — Wichita State University is one of the recipients of a renewed $20 million grant as part of the AI Institute for Foundations of Machine Learning (IFML), of which WSU is a founding member.

July 29, 2025 - James Wright’s work in the Environmental Test Lab for the National Institute for Aviation Research includes measuring salt spray fallout, welding and CAD modeling. Through each day of his paid internship, one benefit stands out – problem solving.

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.

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.

June 26, 2025 — Wichita State's College of Engineering is ranked 12th in the country out of over 500 universities in the Cyber Power Rankings, which were created by Cyber Skyline in partnership with the National Cyber League (NCL). The rankings represent the ability of students to perform real-world cybersecurity tasks on the Cyber Skyline platform.

June 9, 2025 — Shocker Composites, founded by Wichita State alum Vamsidhar Patlolla, transforms carbon fiber waste into high-performance, sustainable materials using a recycling method he developed during his graduate research. With support from Wichita State’s NIAR and Innovation Campus, the company is scaling up its impact and demonstrating how university-backed startups can drive real-world innovation and sustainability.

May 8, 2025 — Natasha Seneviratne found her place at Wichita State through family ties, supportive scholarships and hands-on experiences that helped her grow into a confident engineer.

May 7, 2025 — Braden Webb, a Gore Scholar, capitalized on Wichita State’s strong engineering program and his passion for transportation issues. He worked at NIAR WERX, studied in London and interned for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) in Washington, D.C.

April 30, 2025 — Madelyn Stilwell has built an impressive foundation in research and leadership through hands-on experiences at Wichita State and beyond, including co-authoring a scientific publication and presenting her work at national conferences. She’ll intern at Likarda this summer before continuing her studies in WSU’s biomedical engineering master’s program.

April 22, 2025 - Jacob Greenwald came to Wichita State from Lenexa. He used the applied learning opportunities at WSU to land a job as a software engineer at the National Institute for Aviation Research.