‘Student Centered, Innovation Driven’: Our story in print
President Rick Muma
Every university has a story. Ours is one of transformation, bold choices, shared vision and a relentless focus on opportunity. Over the past decade, Shocker Nation has reimagined what an urban public research university can be. We’ve strengthened our community connections and built a culture of innovation for the sake of the communities we serve.
That transformation didn’t happen overnight or in isolation. It took the insight and dedication of faculty and staff, the drive and resilience of our students, and the belief of our business and industry partners. It meant asking tough questions and finding the courage to take a different path forward.
This journey — and the people who made it possible — is at the heart of “Student Centered, Innovation Driven,” a new book published by the University Press of Kansas. While my name is on the cover, this isn’t just my story. It’s our story. It’s the story of a campus that chose to lean into change and to chart a course that would expand access and strengthen the Kansas economy.
Inside the book’s pages, readers will find stories of the Innovation Campus taking shape, research breakthroughs that solve real-world problems, and examples of how applied learning changes lives. You’ll also see the challenges we faced along the way and how each one pushed us toward who we are today.
If you’re curious about how Wichita State became the university it is and where we’re headed next, I invite you to explore the book. My hope is that you’ll see your own contributions reflected in its pages and feel inspired to help shape the work that is ahead.
The next chapter of this story belongs to all of us. Let’s keep writing it together.
Go Shockers!
Dr. Rick Muma
President of Wichita State University