Current ARCS Awards
Dr. Rannfrid I. Lasine Thelle
Associate Professor
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Dr. Thelle specializes in Old Testament and Hebrew Bible studies, and her research has been published in various languages including English. Her most recent book is Discovering Babylon (Routledge 2018). She has also published Ask God: Divine Consultation in the Literature of the Hebrew Bible (Peter Lang, 2002) and Approaches to the Chosen Place: Accessing a Biblical Concept (Continuum 2012), as well as an edited volume, New Perspectives on Old Testament Prophecy and History (2015). Dr.Thelle has alos published over a dozen journal articles on biblical prophecy, holy war, topics of gende and power, and the history of research. Professor Rannfrid enjoys traveling and has taken numerous groups on study tours to countries in the Middle East. She is also a frequent speaker at community venues for adult education in Wichita.
Ph.D., Faculty of Theology, University of Oslo, Norway, 1999
Project Abstract
The project is to conduct research and write a chapter for a book project called Contending Icons: Objects in Religious Texts called “The ‘City of David’: Claiming a Past.”
If conditions allow, this will include a two-week trip to Jerusalem to study the “City of David” archaeological site and museum. The “City of David” is an archaeological site in the Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem village of Silwan. East-Jerusalem’s status is in dispute. It is considered Israeli-occupied by International Law and considered to be a part of the unified city of Jerusalem by Israel since 1980. A large portion of the excavations lies underneath contemporary residential housing. According to international law, the excavations are illegal, though considered legal by Israel. This situation means that the parties involved at the site since 1967 have needed to justify legal and ethical violations regarding excavation, curation, and presentation of the site. The case study of the “City of David” focuses on religious and national-religious rhetoric that the actors excavating site have used as their rationale in supporting their agendas. One feature of this approach is to analyze religiously infused rationales for ownership of sites considered sacred. However, if conditions do not allow travel at this time, the Rannfrid will work on parts of the chapter and overall book project, that can be conducted in Wichita.
Dr. Irma Puškarević
Assistant Professor of Graphic Design
College of Fine Arts
Irma Puškarević is a Professor of Graphic Design and an Area Head of Graphic Design Department at the Wichita State University, KS. She holds a PhD in Graphic Engineering and Design from University of Novi Sad, Serbia. Her background in the study of philology and literary analysis builds on her academic-practice based work in graphic design to form cross-disciplinary research pursuits. She is invested in the study of the relationships between languages and alphabets in the field of graphic communication and how these systems of codes embody and transmit cultural and social narratives. Puškarević is a part of the international network of mentors affiliated to the Alphabettes Mentorship Program. Her scholarly and art work have been published and presented in journals, conferences, and exhibitions locally and internationally. She regularly contributes to the academic peer review process and acts as a member of the Scientific/Programme Committee for Graphic Arts/Design Conferences.
Project Abstract
Documenting typographic cultural heritage of the Balkans. Access to historical materials is vital for understanding cultural identities and concepts of belonging. To this point, a significant route into exploring a cultural identity is the outcome of typographic practice, like printed matter and graphic communication ephemera. With the transition to the postdigital space, various efforts have been made towards digitally documenting typographical cultural heritage, making history more accessible and visible. However, certain geographical spaces, like the space of Former Yugoslavia, are still facing challenges when it comes to archiving and preservation. Rich in cultural production, this space faced numerous traumatic experiences which manifested in leaving archival material fragmented, public archives hyper-localised, and the history of typography and graphic communication not easily accessible. This project is a part of a long-term initiative which aims to establish more systematic methodologies of documenting, mapping, and researching typographic cultural heritage of the Balkan region. More specifically, the purpose of this project is to index and digitally document a collection of printed matter and ephemera from the 20th century, as well as catalogue an existing range of digital archives. Additional goal is to distribute archived material to open access platforms and repositories, such as SOAR (Wichita State) and People’s Graphic Design Archive. The indexing and digitisation will serve to lay a foundation for developing a comprehensive online research and educational resource that will aid in open and equitable research projects.
Dr. David MacDonald
Assistant Professor of Music Theory and Composition
College of Fine Arts
David's music has been performed at venues around the world, including Carnegie's Weill Recital Hall. He has been honored by the BMI Foundation, ASCAP Deems Taylor Awards, the Koch Cultural Trust, the Sinquefield Family Foundation, and Michigan State University Honors Competition. He has been commissioned by the Allen Philharmonic Orchestra, Kansas Music Teachers Association, Hastings College Symphonic Band, h2 Quartet, and others. David's writing on music notation, teaching, and music technology have appeared in Scoring Notes, where he is a senior contributor and cohosts the Scoring Notes podcast. He serves on the board of the KNOB Festival of New Music in Wichita, and has previously served on the board of directors of Nullstate, a non-profit organization promoting research and education in computer music. Recent projects include an open folio of works for solo vibraphone, commissioned by KMTA, and a young-audiences work for narrator and orchestra, commissioned by the Allen Philharmonic. Recordings of David's work can be heard on Blue Griffin and Navona Records. David believes passionately that new music — even pretty weird music — is for everyone, not just the formally trained few, and he loves sharing new music experiences with a wider audience. He teaches composition, theory, and technology at Wichita State University, where his also the founding director of the contemporary music ensemble Happening Now. He is from St. Louis, Missouri and received a B.M. in composition and trumpet performance from the University of Missouri - Columbia and a M.M. and D.M.A. in composition from Michigan State University.
Project Abstract
Concerto for Horn and Wind ensemble will be a 15- to 20-minute long, original composition for a French horn soloist and symphonic wind ensemble of around 40-50 players. The work will be my first concerto since my 2011 Concerto for Steelpan and Wind Ensemble. The horn concerto will be a virtuosic piece premiered by Dr. Jeb Wallace, solo horn, and the Wichita State University Wind Ensemble, directed by Dr. Timothy Shade.
Dr. Bryan Lehecka
Associate Professor of Physical Therapy
College of Health Professions
B.J. Lehecka, DPT, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Wichita State University. He has been a faculty member at WSU since 2012. Dr. Lehecka's educational background includes a PhD in Orthopedic and Sports Science from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from Wichita State University, and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Kinesiology from Kansas State University. In addition to his academic role, Dr. Lehecka is a licensed physical therapist in Kansas, with professional experience working at Via Christi Health. Dr. Lehecka's contributions to the field of physical therapy are reflected in his expanding list of peer-reviewed publications, textbook contributions, and numerous professional presentations. Dr. Lehecka is actively involved in research, focusing on gluteal function and sport performance.
Project Abstract
This study establishes baseline measurements of bone density, lean muscle mass, and movement mechanics in NCAA Division I women's volleyball players at Wichita State University. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans will quantify bone mineral density and lean muscle mass. The DARI motion analysis system will provide objective measures of movement patterns. This descriptive research addresses a critical gap in understanding the physical characteristics of female volleyball athletes, particularly concerning bone health and movement. The collection of this baseline data is essential for future investigations examining the correlation between these parameters and injury incidence during the subsequent competitive season. By quantifying bone density, muscle mass, and movement profiles, this study aims to contribute to the development of targeted injury prevention strategies. Ultimately, this research will provide foundational data for improving athlete safety and performance.
Dr. Yeil Kwon
Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Statistics
Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Dr. Kwon is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics, Statistics & Physics at Wichita State University. His research focuses on empirical Bayes estimation methods for high-dimensional data, with broader interests in parameter estimation problems and data science education.He earned a Ph.D. in Statistics from the Fox School of Business at Temple University in Philadelphia, an M.S. in Operations Research with an emphasis on Financial Engineering from Columbia University in New York, and an M.S. in Statistics from Korea University. Dr. Kwon brings extensive industry experience, having worked as a quantitative analyst at a hedge fund, where he developed options trading strategies using stochastic models. As a principal portfolio manager at an insurance company, he oversaw $12 billion in assets, leveraging analytics to assess credit risk and customer behavior. Additionally, he served as a credit risk analyst at leading credit bureaus, designing predictive models for credit risk, bankruptcy, and fraud detection. His expertise has contributed to major projects with Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) and Experian, where he played a key role in developing advanced credit risk systems for financial institutions.
Project Abstract
In modern data analysis, estimating the probability of infrequent events is a critical and challenging problem. Infrequent events refer to discrete occurrences that are rarely observed, encompassing extreme cases such as catastrophic terrorist attacks, earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or higher on the Richter scale, or single-day stock market changes exceeding 10. While many existing methods effectively handle cases where p is near 1/2, estimating p becomes significantly more difficult in extreme cases where p approaches zero due to inherent information scarcity. This research focuses on addressing these challenges by employing two strategies: (1) Empirical Bayesian approach and (2) Restricting the parameter space for p from 0 < p < 1 to 0 < p < u, where u < 1/2. The empirical Bayesian approach allows for the estimation of probabilities by leveraging information from the target population and other seemingly independent populations. Owing to its superior performance, this method has been widely used for estimating multiple parameters across diverse applications for decades. This study will propose an empirical Bayes estimatorbased on a four-parameter beta distribution for a prior distribution to reflect the parameter restriction. Simulation studies will provide empirical evidence to demonstrate the new estimator's superior performance compared with existing estimators, such as the James-Stein estimator and the beta-binomial-based empirical Bayes estimator. Finally, to showcase its real-world applicability, the proposed method will be applied to Major League Baseball home run data. This application will highlight the practical benefits of handling infrequent event probabilities in a new paradigm.
Dr. Jacob McGlaun
Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre
College of Fine Arts
With over a decade of experience in musical theater education and directing, Jacob is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of performers through an innovative, movement-based approach. Jacob earned a BFA in Musical Theater from the University of Michigan and an MFA in Movement from London's Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, with additional training in Meisner Technique at NYC's Neighborhood Playhouse.
A seasoned musical theater performer, Jacob's credits span off-Broadway stages, iconic NYC Cabaret venues and regional theaters across the country. His international production work has graced stages in London and Italy, bringing a diverse array of firsthand experience to his practice.
Project Abtract
This project builds on my previous research at the University of Cincinnati and represents a significant step in the development of holistic acting practices. By integrating Zen-based principles into actor movement training, my overall goal is to develop and refine a curriculum which empowers actors to reclaim their bodies as a means for more authentic creative expression. Zen and actor movement training share a common vehicle for development: the human body. Through cultivating embodied awareness, my specific objectives within the curriculum are to help actors gain a stronger connection to space, an enhanced physical presence, and a more deeply felt connection with other actors in the studio. My methodology – known as Practice as Research – synthesizes actor feedback on the curriculum with my own observations, theoretical research and embodied knowledge in the field. This project also serves as an essential phase in my ongoing research, which has been provisionally accepted for publication in Dance, Movement and Spiritualities. These workshops will not only refine my curriculum but also provide the required photographic documentation for the article’s publication.
Dr. Chesser is a Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences at Wichita State University. She holds a doctorate in health communications. Her primary research interests are public health, women’s health, health communication, health literacy, health disparities, and older adults. She has taught multiple communications courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels including Health Communications, Health Communications for Older Adults, Social Marketing, Organizational Communications, Global Public Health Communications, and Introduction to Communications. She has twenty years of experience working in health literacy and is a part of the Health Literacy Regional Network. Dr. Chesser was awarded the Quality Matters National Certification: AGE 804 Aging Programs and Policies and AGE 717: Health Communications. She has received the WSU Gold Standard award for all other classes that she has taught. In 2016, Dr. Chesser received the Excellence in Research Award for the College of Health Professions. She has worked with Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) data for more than a decade. The survey includes a Diabetes Risk Assessment as well as health literacy questions. Currently, Dr. Chesser is collaborating with Drs. Keene Woods and Drassen Ham on activities for Interprofessional Education through National Interprofessional Healthcare Education and Research Team (NIHEART).
Project Abstract
Interprofessional education (IPE) is essential for preparing healthcare professionals to work collaboratively, improving team communication, and enhancing patient safety. However, gaps exist in IPE implementation, particularly concerning measuring learning outcomes related to communication skill development. This URCA research project aims to address these gaps by evaluating our currently implemented IPE activity called Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety (TeamSTEPPS). Using a survey methodology, students and faculty will provide feedback to the IPE training. Surveys will be analyzed through Qualtrics. The research team will present the findings of this project to a wide range of audiences.
Current MURPA Awards
Dr. Tamas Molnar
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
College of Engineering
Tamas Molnar is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Wichita State University since 2023 fall. Beforehand, he held postdoctoral positions at the California Institute of Technology (2020-2023) and at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (2018-2020). He received his PhD (2018) and MSc (2015) in Mechanical Engineering and his BSc (2013) in Mechatronics Engineering from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary. His research interests include nonlinear dynamics and control, safety-critical control, and time delay systems with applications to connected automated vehicles, robotic systems, and autonomous systems.
Project Abstract
Electrification plays a pivotal role in today's technological development for aerial and ground vehicles. A key element of electrification is the battery, thus a significant effort is being invested into developing more efficient and safer battery systems. Lithium-ion batteries, when not operated properly, are prone to failures like overheating, which may even lead to fire hazards or accidents. Such battery failures must be avoided, especially in applications like battery-powered flights where safety is absolute priority and battery failures could have catastrophic consequences. This project proposes to develop a safe battery management system that is capable of mitigating failures for lithium-ion batteries. This is achieved by establishing a battery management algorithm that determines how fast battery cells can be charged or discharged such that the battery is kept safe. To this end, we first characterize the behavior of lithium-ion batteries and quantify when they are considered safe, and then we use control theory to develop the safe battery management algorithm. The envisioned end result is reduced risk of battery failures and extended battery life.
Dr. Davi Soares
Assistant Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering
College of Engineering
Davi Soares is assistant professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at Wichita State University. He holds a PhD from Kansas State University, MSc in Electrical Engineering from University of Campinas (Unicamp), Brazil, and Bachelor of BSc from Federal University of Itajuba (Unifei), Brazil. He previously worked as Cell Modeling Engineer for Freudenberg Battery Power Systems and XALT Energy, where he developed equivalent circuit and physics-based models and conducted experiments to validate models and assess safety and thermal properties of lithium-ion cells. His research focuses on the development, characterization, and modeling of high-performance battery electrode materials and systems. He is the author and co-author of sixteen journal papers, one book chapter, and has presented his research in several conferences.
Project Abstract
Electrification plays a pivotal role in today's technological development for aerial and ground vehicles. A key element of electrification is the battery, thus a significant effort is being invested into developing more efficient and safer battery systems. Lithium-ion batteries, when not operated properly, are prone to failures like overheating, which may even lead to fire hazards or accidents. Such battery failures must be avoided, especially in applications like battery-powered flights where safety is absolute priority and battery failures could have catastrophic consequences. This project proposes to develop a safe battery management system that is capable of mitigating failures for lithium-ion batteries. This is achieved by establishing a battery management algorithm that determines how fast battery cells can be charged or discharged such that the battery is kept safe. To this end, we first characterize the behavior of lithium-ion batteries and quantify when they are considered safe, and then we use control theory to develop the safe battery management algorithm. The envisioned end result is reduced risk of battery failures and extended battery life.
Dr. Philip Mullins
Associate Professor of Counseling
College of Applied Studies
Dr. Philip Mullins is an Associate Professor of Counseling and Co-Chair of the Department of Intervention Services and Leadership in Education at Wichita State University. He holds a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adams State University and a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Wyoming. Dr. Mullins is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a research focus on athlete mental health and counselor training practices. He is a member of the Kansas Counseling Association Board and an active member of the American Counseling Association.
Project Abstract
This project aims to explore the use of Generative AI (GenAI) as an innovative tool for counselor education and training. Specifically, we will explore how GenAI can enhance role-playing exercises by enabling the AI to simulate diverse client personas based on parameters we define. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether GenAI-based training is an effective method in fostering counselor development and establish a base model for generating parameters for GenAI to act as an interactive case-study training modality. Over two semesters, 30-40 counseling graduate students will be invited to participate in this study. Using a Design-Based Research (DBR) approach, we will evaluate the GenAI-based training and collect both qualitative and quantitative data to assess its impact. The findings will provide insights into the integration of AI in counselor education and its potential as a dynamic and innovative training tool.
Dr. Jason Li
Associate Professor of Counseling
College of Applied Studies
Dr. Jason Li is an Associate Professor of Counseling in the Department of Intervention Services and Leadership in Education at Wichita State University. He holds a Master's in School Counseling from Western Kentucky University and a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Texas Tech University. A Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), and Certified Career Counselor (CCC), Dr. Li's research focuses on career development, assessments, and mental health issues affecting underrepresented groups in schools. He is a past president of the Kansas Counseling Association and an active member of the American Counseling Association and National Career Development Association.
Project Abstract
This project aims to explore the use of Generative AI (GenAI) as an innovative tool for counselor education and training. Specifically, we will explore how GenAI can enhance role-playing exercises by enabling the AI to simulate diverse client personas based on parameters we define. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether GenAI-based training is an effective method in fostering counselor development and establish a base model for generating parameters for GenAI to act as an interactive case-study training modality. Over two semesters, 30-40 counseling graduate students will be invited to participate in this study. Using a Design-Based Research (DBR) approach, we will evaluate the GenAI-based training and collect both qualitative and quantitative data to assess its impact. The findings will provide insights into the integration of AI in counselor education and its potential as a dynamic and innovative training tool.
Dr. JaeHwan Byun
Associate Professor Instructional Design & Technology
College of Applied Studies
Dr. JaeHwan Byun specializes in Instructional Design & Technology as an Associate Professor chairing the MEd in Learning and Instructional Design program at Wichita State University. He has secured multiple grants, including a NASA Kansas Space Grant Consortium Teacher Workshop Program Grant for enhancing STEM education. His research areas include learner engagement, digital game-based learning for K-12 mathematics education, and accessibility in online courses. Recently, he has focused on artificial intelligence in educational settings and online learning in developing countries. Dr. Byun's innovative work earned him the Excellence in Online Teaching award in 2023, reflecting his commitment to enhancing student engagement through technology.
Project Abstract
This project aims to explore the use of Generative AI (GenAI) as an innovative tool for counselor education and training. Specifically, we will explore how GenAI can enhance role-playing exercises by enabling the AI to simulate diverse client personas based on parameters we define. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether GenAI-based training is an effective method in fostering counselor development and establish a base model for generating parameters for GenAI to act as an interactive case-study training modality. Over two semesters, 30-40 counseling graduate students will be invited to participate in this study. Using a Design-Based Research (DBR) approach, we will evaluate the GenAI-based training and collect both qualitative and quantitative data to assess its impact. The findings will provide insights into the integration of AI in counselor education and its potential as a dynamic and innovative training tool.
Current URCA Awards
Dr Beatrice Latavietz
Associate Professor of Educational Psychology
College of Applied Studies
Dr. Beatrice M. Latavietz, aka Beata M. Latawiec in scholarly records received her Ph.D. in Education (Cognitive Sciences of Teaching & Learning, and Language/Literacy) from the University of Illinois. She has been working as Educator of Educational Psychology (since 2014), Developmental Psychology to Counseling professionals since 2016, and Psychology of Discourse Processes, Persuasion and Naturalistic Research Methods to Educational Leadership-Educational Psychology doctoral candidates since 2019, at Wichita State University. She has also worked at the University of Illinois (independent researcher and language instructor), University of Social Sciences and Humanities as well as the University of Warsaw (English Teachers Training College). She has 20 years of experience in training and supervising teachers in TESL/TESOL and/or psychology (nearly 20 years) and holds an ESL teacher certificate. She has been serviceable to many professional institutions as reviewer, mentor, discussant ( AERA, AAAL/American Applied-Linguistics Association, Society for Text & Discourse), incl. being co-editor for the International Journal of Special Education.Her research interests lie at the interface of language and cognition; psychology of language/communication; metacognition, sociolinguistic and psychosocial development, language/literacy assessment, discourse processing, instructional/ classroom/ helping professions discourse, and language as text/social action. Dr. Latavietz enjoys working with multicultural populations and her recent book chapters heavily hinge on sociocultural and sociolinguistic phenomena. Her latest research projects straddle over educational and counseling psychology, epistemology, and classroom discourse (e.g., disciplinary instructional discourses/gestures, teachers’ epistemic beliefs, empathy and mindfulness in the counseling language).
Project Abstract
Dr. Akmal Mirasdikov
Assistant Professor of Information Systems
Barton School of Business
AKMAL MIRSADIKOV (akmal.mirsadikov@wichita.edu) is an assistant professor of information systems at Wichita State University. He received his Ph.D. in MIS at Iowa State University. His research interests include computer-mediated communication, deception detection, website credibility, information security and assurance, and information privacy topics. His work has appeared in the AIS Transactions on HCI, International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, and Journal of Virtual Worlds Research, among others.
Project Abstract
Deception is a pervasive issue in many domains, from legal proceedings and fraud investigations to online reviews and social media posts. It poses a significant risk in various contexts such as legal, financial, and national security. Detecting deception in text-based communication is a challenging task, and there is a need to understand the linguistic and cognitive cues involved in detecting deception. While most research on linguistic cues focused on sanctioned deceptive statements provided in lab experiments, mostly by undergraduate students, little is known about the effect of linguistic cues available in high-stake deception, with real-life consequences. This study investigates linguistic cues to deception in written real-life, high-stake accounts using eye tracking. Building on the theories of deception and reading, we offer a novel approach to investigate the relationships between the message veracity, linguistic cues to deception, reading patterns, and detection accuracy. The findings from this study will help us better understand how the reading behavior of veracity judges varies across honest and deceptive statements. The analysis using eye tracking technology will provide an objective measure and insight into the gaze behavior and its impact on detection performance. In particular, this study will help us explain the relationship between the message veracity, linguistic cues to deception, prominence of those cues, cognitive processing by veracity judges, and detection accuracy across honest and deceptive statements.
Dr. Jennifer Thornberry
Assistant Professor for the Graduate School of Nursing
College of Health Professions
Jennifer Thornberry, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, has been an Assistant Professor at Wichita State University for the Graduate School of Nursing since 2021. She teaches the courses FNP Primary Care Practicum, Advanced Nursing Practice Preceptorship, and Practice Management. She has practiced clinically as a family nurse practitioner in the areas of Family Practice, Urgent Care, Student Health, and Retail Health. Her research interests include best practices for advanced practice nursing student clinical and simulation experiences, immunization practices, and animal assisted interventions.
Project Abstract
Dr. Kimberly Wilson
Professor of MAT
College of Applied Studies
Kimberly Wilson, PhD, CCC-SLP received her undergraduate from Wichita State University in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education. She was a kindergarten teacher in USD 259 for several years. She then pursued her master’s degree from Wichita State in Communication Disorders and Sciences and was a speech-language pathologist in USD 259. She obtained her PhD from Florida State University, with an emphasis on language and literacy. Dr. Wilson is a Professor in the College of Applied Studies, Intervention Services & Leadership in Education where she serves as program chair for the Reading Specialist program, the graduate certificate in Dyslexia and Literacy, the Master of Arts in Teaching Early Childhood Unified program, and the Masters in Education — Special Education Early Childhood Unified program. She has secured over $14M in grant funding and has served as Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-PI on several longitudinal, multi-state grants. Her primary area of research focuses on psychosocial factors that impact youth outcomes.
Project Abstract
Dr. Julie Thiele
Assistant Professor of TAP
College of Applied Studies
Dr. Julie Thiele is an Assistant Professor in the Teacher Apprentice Program (TAP) at Wichita State University. She earned her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction, with a focus in mathematics education, from Kansas State University. She teaches elementary mathematics methods, internship, assessment, and mentoring courses and is a Success Coach for TAP students. She also serves as the Instructional Coordinator for TAP, supporting adjunct instructors to provide rigorous learning opportunities for students. She is currently the Kansas Association of Teachers of Mathematics President, a member of the ATE Technology Committee, and serves on a variety of college and state level committees and offers professional development to numerous school districts to support the field of education in Kansas and the nation.
Project Abstract
This grounded theory research project will engage a team of university faculty and district stakeholders to uncover the effective strategies, processes, and initiatives that are vital to the success of alternative certification pathways for pre-service teachers. A Professional Development School (PDS) Model for Alternative Certification Pathways will be generated as a result of the initial and on-going research activities. Simultaneous renewal activities will follow the initial creation and dissemination of the PDS Model for Alternative Certification Pathway Teachers.
Dr. Chinyere G. Okafor
Professor of English and Womens Studies
College of Liberal Arts
Dr. Chinyere G. Okafor is a professor of English and Women’s Studies. Her research is interdisciplinary intersecting literature, African, cultural, and feminist studies with the organizing principle of gender. Lived experiences in Africa, America, and Europe promote her global outlook and enthusiasm for engaging global intercultural issues in local contexts. She inaugurated the annual Diverse Women’s Summit (DWS) and the Global Village Assembly (GVA) at WSU and serves as the Vice President of African Women Scholars (AAWS). She collaborated with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to win the Jan Henri grant used for a collaborative event by students and local community to experience the Dockum Sit-in site in Wichita. She teaches Theories of Feminism, Writing by Women, and Women in Society (Issues). Okafor has ten published books and numerous articles in journals and edited volumes.
Project Abstract
Dr. Alyssa Lynne-Joseph
Assistant Professor of Sociology
College of Applied Studies
Dr. Alyssa Lynne-Joseph (she/her pronouns) is an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology at Wichita State University. Her research interests lie at the intersection of medical sociology, gender and sexuality studies, and global and transnational sociology. In addition to her research on healthcare bans, she is currently working on a book manuscript entitled Global Transformations in Transgender Medicine: How Clinicians, Patients, and Activists Create Gender-Affirming Healthcare.The book draws on four years of research in the U.S., Thailand, and virtual spaces to show how imperialism shapes medicine on a transnational scale. It argues that the standardization of care around Global North knowledge, and a hegemonic notion of white, binary transgender identity, stymies gender-affirming approaches to care in both the U.S. and Thailand. Dr. Lynne-Joseph received her doctorate in Sociology, a certificate in Gender in Sexuality Studies, and a Searle certificate in Advanced Teaching & Learning from Northwestern University. Her research has been published in Social Problems; Culture, Health,and Sexuality; and Social Science & Medicine.She has previously received funding from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Education (Foreign Language and Area Studies), and the Sexualities Project at Northwestern.
Project Abstract
While social scientists have studied medicine’s intersections with law and media separately, few have examined the connections between medicine, law, and media concurrently. This research addresses this gap by investigating portrayals of medical, civil, and legal expertise in news media that reports on legislative activity surrounding the regulation of gender-affirming healthcare for transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth in the U.S. In recent years, the issue of gender-affirming healthcare for TGD youth has become a contentious and high-profile topic, with multiple U.S. states introducing bills aimed at either restricting or protecting such healthcare for minors. As of September 2023, 23 U.S. states have approved laws or administrative rules that restrict the provision of gender-affirming healthcare to TGD people under 18 years of age, and 11 states have passed laws protecting gender-affirming healthcare for minors. Drawing on content analysis of press releases, news articles, video media, and government documents, this project examines how the use of medical, civil, legal expertise in news media connects to legislative activity related to banning or protecting gender-affirming healthcare for youth. This research holds both academic and practical significance. It contributes to the field of medical sociology by shedding light on the role of media in interpretations of expertise. Additionally, the research has practical implications for TGD youth, their families, policymakers, and advocates, as it provides valuable insights into the complexities of gender-affirming healthcare policies across states and can aid in informed decision-making and advocacy efforts.
Dr. Claudia Pederson
Associate Professor of Art, Design & Creative Industries
College of Fine Arts
Claudia Costa Pederson received a PhD. in Art History and Visual Studies from Cornell University. She is the author of Gaming Utopia, Ludic Worlds in Art, Design, and Media(Indiana University Press, 2021). Her writings appear in various journals including Arteologie, Media-N, Review: Literature and Arts of the Americas, and Afterimage, and in edited volumes on film and media, including The Ethics of Documentary Film(2025) , Handbook of Documentary(2025) , Latin American Modernisms and Technology(2018), The Philosophy of Documentary Film(2016), Cinema em Redes:Tecnologia, Estetica e Politica na Era Digital(2016), and Indie Reframed: Women Filmmakers and Contemporary American Independent Cinema(2016). She is Associate Professor of Art History at Wichita State University, Kansas, curator for the Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival at Ithaca College, New York, and recipient of the Andy Warhol Arts Writers Grant 2022.
Project Abstract
Dr. Timothy Jones
Assistant Professor of Violin
College of Fine Arts
Dr. Timothy Jones is an artist, teacher, and performer with roots in Kansas and branches across the Americas. He serves as Associate Concertmaster of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and Assistant Professor of Violin at Wichita State University, as well as Concertmaster of the Wichita Grand Opera and Ballet Wichita Orchestras. Jones holds degrees in Music Education and Violin Performance, having received his doctorate in Performance. He has performed as soloist, concertmaster, and chamber musician in North and South America. Jones performs frequently with the Fairmount String Trio, a WSU faculty ensemble. Recent highlights for the Trio include an acclaimed performance with Rachelle Goter at the International Clarinet Association Annual Conference, and multiple presentations of Mozart and Brahms Quintets in Kansas and Iowa. As a soloist, since returning to Kansas in 2018, Jones has performed the Bach Double Concerto with the Wichita Symphony, the Tchaikovsky and Mendelssohn Concertos with the Hutchinson Symphony, and Beethoven Romance No. 2 with the Independence Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his performing career, Jones is an avid educator of students of all ages, and has worked throughout his career as both private and classroom instructor. He taught strings in the Wichita Public Schools, and has taught and performed at music festivals in the United States, Mexico, and Brazil. In 2023, Jones’s contributions to the professional artistic community of Wichita were recognized by the Wichita Arts Council Burton Pell Achievement in Music Award, as well as the receipt of a Koch Cultural Trust Enabling Grant, and an Artist Access Grant from the City of Wichita Arts and Cultural Services Division.
Project Abstract
The fine arts have always been both cause and effect of shifts in human thought. While music, visual, and performing arts have reflected human culture throughout history, they have also influenced its trajectory; art is often the medium through which society processes controversial or innovative ideas. Modern professionals in music are charged to work fervently toward innovation and inclusion in our artistic output, lest our concert halls remain museums of the sounds of colonial Europe. Toward this end, the creation and performance of new compositions — by and for the living — must be catalyzed. This grant supports the composition of a large-scale orchestral work by composer Robert J. Hagenbuch Jr., and the production of a World Premiere performance of said work on the WSU campus in Fall 2024. The work will feature two WSU College of Fine Arts faculty members as well as the University Symphony Orchestra, an ensemble comprised of 50-60 School of Music students. In addition to composing the work, the composer will conduct a brief residency at Wichita State prior to the premiere, providing rehearsal coaching for the Symphony Orchestra and a masterclass within the Composition studio. Commissions and world premieres of this scale are rare within the academic world, making this project a unique and powerful demonstration of the level of artistic excellence and innovation within the WSU College of Fine Arts.
Dr. Shruti Kshirsagar
Assistant Professor School of Computing
College of Engineering
Dr. Shruti Rajendra Kshirsagar is an Assistant Professor in the School of Computing at Wichita State University (WSU), where she specializes in artificial intelligence, assistive technologies, medical image processing, audio processing, and multimodal signal analysis. She holds a PhD in Telecommunications from INRS, Montreal, Canada, and leads the SoundMind Neurovision Innovation Lab at WSU. Her team investigates innovative AI applications in healthcare, such as brain tumor segmentation, ECG classification, and cognitive load assessment, as well as advancements in assistive technologies, including deepfake detection and audio event analysis.
Dr. Kshirsagar serves as the Graduate Coordinator for the MS Data Science program and as the Awards Chair for the IEEE GreenTech Conference 2025. She has been recognized with the INRS Best Doctoral Thesis Award. Dr. Kshirsagar is committed to advancing impactful research at the intersection of deepfake detection, assistive technology, and human health, driven by her passion for data science and AI
Project Abstract
The rapid growth of generative AI technologies has led to increasingly convincing deepfakes, now extending beyond visual manipulation to audio and multimodal data. While deepfakes have potential benefits, such as in speech restoration, they pose significant risks for identity theft, misinformation, and voice biometrics fraud. This project is dedicated to developing a robust, accurate, and interpretable system for audio deepfake detection by integrating handcrafted feature extraction with advanced deep learning models. This project explores feature extraction techniques for detecting deepfake audio using a combination of handcrafted features—modulation, OpenSMILE, log-Mel spectrograms, and quality-based measures—and deep learning models, including ResNet and RNNs. The main research goal is to develop a robust, interpretable, and generalizable system for detecting diverse deepfake attacks, contributing to digital media security and explainable AI (XAI) solutions. Current detection systems often face challenges related to their “black box” nature, which limits transparency and hampers trust in AI decision-making, particularly in sensitive areas. By designing a hybrid system, this research ensures that high-dimensional, nuanced artifacts in synthetic audio are detectable while also improving model interpretability, making detection results more understandable for end users. The proposed system will be rigorously benchmarked using the ASVspoof5 dataset to evaluate performance across both in-domain and out-of-domain scenarios, ensuring resilience and generalization across various types of deepfake manipulations. This project’s contributions are expected to enhance digital media security by providing a practical and interpretable detection tool applicable in critical fields like law enforcement, biometrics, and media verification, where high accuracy and reliability are essential. With a focus on improving both detection accuracy and interpretability, this research aims to create a deeper understanding of AI-based detection systems and promote trustworthy AI applications in the context of audio security challenges.
Dr. Matthew D. Howland
Assistant Professor of Anthropology
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Dr. Matthew D. Howland is an anthropological archaeologist whose research focuses on the application of digital 3D and spatial methods to the study of the past. Dr. Howland is the director of the Geospatial Archaeology Laboratory at Wichita State University and received his PhD and MA from the University of California San Diego and his BS/BA from Penn State. His research involves the application of low-altitude aerial remote sensing, including UAV/drone-based photography, to record and map archaeological sites in 3D and conduct intra-site spatial analyses in GIS. Dr. Howland also applies 3D and spatial storytelling platforms for community-engaged digital public archaeology. Dr. Howland is engaged in active field research in Kansas, Georgia, and the Eastern Mediterranean. His work has been published in journals such as the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, PLOS One, Journal of Archaeological Science, and Advances in Archaeological Practice, and has been covered in media outlets including CNN, Vice, and Newsweek.
Project Abstract
This project aims to quantify the risks posed by anthropogenic coastal erosion to archaeological sites, using sites on the Atlantic coast of Georgia as a case study. Coastal erosion is driven by long-term processes of sea level rise/tidal variation and short-term disaster events such as storm surge caused by hurricanes, both of which are increasing in severity due to anthropogenic climate change and landscape modification. Archaeologists are well-aware of the threat posed by these processes to coastal archaeological sites but lack understanding of the relative contribution of damage to coastal sites from these long-term and short-term processes. This project aims to quantify the impacts of coastal erosion through multiscalar analysis of erosion on archaeological sites. At regional scale, I will use multispectral band indices on historic Landsat imagery to track erosion/accretion on the Georgia coast since the 1970s and in the aftermath of major storm events during this period, comparing results to the distribution of archaeological sites along the coast to understand which sites have been impacted. At site scale, I will precisely quantify erosion by intensively recording archaeological sites in 3D at 6 month intervals and in the aftermath of major storms, if funding permits, over the project period using UAV-based LiDAR scanning. This work will provide time-series data on the damage done to at-risk sites by erosion at millimeter/centimeter scale. Project results will therefore provide a multiscalar understanding of how coastal erosion impacts archaeological sites and the relative contribution of long and short-term risk factors in causing erosion.
Dr. Trevor R. Nelson
Assistant Professor of Musicology
College of Fine Arts
Dr. Trevor R. Nelson (he/him) is Assistant Professor of Musicology at Wichita State University. Central to his teaching, research, and service are questions of how music education practices and institutions contribute to and maintain historical inequities, as well as the drive to develop practical solutions to create a more just artistic world. His research concerns the post-World War II British Commonwealth and how music informed the development of a globally minded Britishness. His writing has appeared in Twentieth-Century Music, Ethnomusicology Review, NABMSA Reviews, and Notes. At Wichita State University, Dr. Nelson teaches undergraduate courses in music history, global music cultures, and popular music studies, as well as graduate seminars in Listening to Empire, and Music, Childhood, and Youth. He completed his Ph.D. at the Eastman School of Music—University of Rochester in 2023.
Project Abstract
Musicologists and cultural historians have considered the ways imperial expansion influenced how musicians and listeners conceived of British musical identity (Ghuman 2014; Richards 2002; Webster 2005). Yet scholars have ignored the effect of mid-twentieth century imperial decline on musical Britishness. With the British Empire’s decline in the mid-twentieth century, how was musical Britishness adapted to foster a globally minded outlook on citizenship and positive relations with former colonial holdings? In this project, I examine how musicians used their art in instructing Britons about imperial decline and the Commonwealth’s formation as a post-imperial cultural collective. This project concerns six case studies from multiple musical genres, from children’s operas to concept albums. The study will result in a monograph titled Let’s Make A Commonwealth: Musical Britishness at the Twilight of Empire, where I argue that music and sound were tools in teaching new modes of global citizenship; thus, Britons heard the decline of their Empire, the deimperializing process, and the Commonwealth’s formation. With URCA funding, I will travel to the UK to visit three archives (The Britten-Pears Foundation Archive in Aldeburgh, The Mass-Observation Project Archive in Brighton, and the Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru in Aberystwyth) and view primary sources necessary to complete my monograph. Ultimately, I establish music’s use in instructing the British people about their nation’s new place in the global matrix of power, thus providing new insight into the study of cultural transmission, the politics of national heritage, and the United Kingdom’s continued reckoning with race and imperial identity.
Dr. Maggie Ward
Assistant Professor School of Nursing
College of Health Professions
Dr. Maggie Ward is an Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing within the College of Health Professions. She began her career as a staff nurse in oncology in 2006. Since that time, she has worked a multitude of roles in the care of cancer patients, including research, nurse navigation and now as a genetics practitioner for hereditary cancer syndromes. Since starting at Wichita State University in 2021, her research has focused on oncology survivorship, hereditary cancer syndromes, cancer prevention and cancer screening. Her current focus of HPV vaccination is to determine current rates of vaccination, barriers to vaccination and ultimately, to further educate the community on the benefits of HPV vaccination, including the significant reduction in HPV-related cancers. Dr. Ward is honored to receive the URCA grant to begin this research endeavor and looks forward to further expanding her research over the coming years.
Project Abstract
In the United States, the human papilloma virus (HPV) causes nearly 21,700 cancers among women and 15,600 cancers among men each year. HPV is associated with cervical, vaginal, penile, anal, vulvar and oropharyngeal cancers. It is estimated that HPV is associated with 10% of cancers in women and 5% of cancers in men, while the HPV vaccination can prevent this viral infection; therefore, preventing the development of HPV-related cancers. This project proposes to assess the HPV vaccination rate among college age students, ages 18-24, specifically within the Wichita State University community, in order to determine barriers to vaccination, education needs of students related to HPV vaccination and determine potential opportunities to provide vaccination within the university community. Through the receipt of the URCA grant, monies will be used as seed funding for future research and application for funding through the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute to expand to a larger population. In partnership with the Immunize Kansas Coalition, it is planned to expand this assessment study following the completion of this research and procure funding for students across the state of Kansas (especially those that are uninsured) to provide the HPV vaccination series.
Dr. Greg Houseman
Professor of Biological Sciences
Farimount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Dr. Greg Houseman is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. His research and teaching focuses on approaches to restore and manage native prairies in Kansas. He has worked in prairie and savanna ecosystems in Michigan, Illinois, and Kansas. In addition to his research and teaching, he is also the Director the Wichita State Biological Field Station, which includes sites near Viola, Waterloo, and Beaumont Kansas.
Project Abstract
Plant diversity in restored prairies is often much lower than intact, native prairies limiting the conservation value of restoration efforts. One likely cause of this low plant diversity is low environmental heterogeneity caused by years of soil tillage. Additionally, seeds in native prairie typically disperse in a spatially aggregated way while prairie restoration projects generally sow seeds in an equal and even mixture of all species potentially undermining natural spatial separation that may be necessary to build and maitain a diverse plant community. My hypothesis is that environmental heterogeneity from soil and seed arrival are important for high plant diversity in prairies. To address these ideas, my lab has established a field experiment to test whether 1) soil heterogeneity increases plant diversity and 2) if these effects depends on spatial structure of seed arrival. One major challenge for this research is that obtaining answers to these questions requires long‐term data because the plant species are long‐lived and plant competition takes time to develop. Likewise the data necessary to understand how environmental variability contributes to the observed patterns require numerous students and technicians to collect data each year. Consequently, my goal is to collect data from this experiment in 2025 that will be used to support an external NSF grant proposal for longer-term data collection.