Applied Learning Stories

In May 2025, Michael Rivas graduated from Wichita State with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Before graduating, he shared his educational journey and its challenges with Wichita Public Schools (USD 259) high school students. Working with Wichita State Undergraduate Admissions’ Lead Admissions Representative, Baylee Almos, Rivas became a college access coach his senior year. He became integral in enhancing college accessibility and providing post-secondary planning to high school upperclassmen. Rivas connected with students about his honest experience as a first-generation, transfer and nontraditional student.

Nidhi Shenoy is a graduate student pursuing her master’s degree in quantitative analysis and economics at Wichita State University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and economics from Mount Carmel College in May 2024. Since then, Shenoy has embraced every opportunity to bridge data analysis with storytelling. In the summer of 2025, Shenoy became an essential part of internal communication at The Smart Factory by Deloitte. As an internal marketing intern, she played a key role in streamlining communication for thousands of employees. Drawing on her background in journalism and economics, Shenoy analyzed data and produced content for the experience team.

In May 2025, Rory Mata graduated from Wichita State with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and another in chemistry. She also earned a Spanish for the Professions undergraduate certificate. Mata fully explored professional pathways in both fields during her internships. She explored a career as a chemistry researcher at NASA in Kansas and as a Spanish translator at The Exploration Place, through an internship funded by Wichita State’s Applied Learning Fund.

Golam Morshed Khan, a recent graduate, received his master’s degree in management science in supply chain management in May 2025. Before attending Wichita State, he earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Independent University in his home city, Dhaka, Bangladesh. While completing his master’s, he worked at Wichita State’s Student Outreach and Support as a front desk student assistant, where he developed soft and technical skills.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in physical education, PreK–12, in fall 2023, Trajata Colbert returned to Wichita State in spring 2025 to complete her student teaching and earn her teaching license. During this final step in her preparation, she gained hands-on experience through an applied learning placement that took her to multiple schools. These rotations provided a variety of professional experiences and meaningful connections with students—solidifying her path as a fully licensed teacher after spring 2025.

Amrutha Dasyam is a Wichita State Ph.D. candidate majoring in aerospace engineering. Her research focuses on spacecraft trajectory design and planning using artificial intelligence at Wichita State’s Astronautics Laboratory . In 2021, she earned her bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Wichita S tate and stayed to pursue her doctorate through the postbaccalaureate plan of study. Now as a doctoral student, she focuses on her research in her graduate research assistant role.  

Zayden Tomson, a graphic design senior, currently interns with the Shocker Career Accelerator, where he creates promotional materials for student career resources and events. His professional design journey with the Shocker Career Accelerator began in Summer 2025, and since then, he’s been refining his skills while making a visible impact across campus.

Niki Noland is a spring 2025 Wichita State graduate who majored in studio art, concentrating in print media. Before leaving Wichita State and the College of Fine Arts, Noland directly impacted Wichita’s art scene, interning for the City of Wichita’s Arts and Cultural Services Department and Public Art Manager, Jana Erwin.

Emily Rueda is an Integrated Marketing Communication senior at Wichita State University. In the Spring 2025 semester, she experienced the behind-the-scenes aspects of social media marketing through an internship with the College of Fine Arts. Funded through WSU’s Applied Learning Fund, which provides paid, hands-on experiences in students' majors and future career fields.

Liza Danilova is a senior majoring in Integrated Marketing Communications at Wichita State University. Originally from Moscow, Russia, Danilova came to Kansas as an international student and has since embraced every opportunity to grow her skills and gain professional experience in the U.S. With a strong interest in social media management, she has taken on several roles at WSU that align with her career goals. As graduation approaches, Danilova’s diverse internships have equipped her with the skills and confidence to pursue her dream job in the field.

As a fourth-year graphic design major at Wichita State, Janis Hwang has found her applied learning experience to be both creatively fulfilling and professionally transformative. Through her role designing for No Choice but Action, a project that aims to preserve and highlight Kansas' often-overlooked role in American independent and post-punk music, she has been able to develop a deeper understanding of what it means to work as a designer in a real-world context.

As a senior in the applied engineering program at Wichita State University, Haylee Thurman is scheduled to graduate this fall with an emphasis in management. Her academic journey, however, is only part of the story. Since the start of her college career, she has been steadily shaping a dynamic and impactful role in the world of research and development.

Luke Samuelson, a senior majoring in game design, has found a unique intersection of creativity, technology, and applied learning through his role at Shocker Studios. As an LED volume and game design lab technician, he is already laying the foundation for a career that blends the immersive world of game development with the rapidly evolving field of virtual production. His dream job would be to produce games for either AAA companies or as an independent developer while also working to develop scenes for virtual production.

Wichita State student Damyin Allmond is gaining applied learning experience by working as a College Access Mentor. Damyin is from Tuttle, Oklahoma, a small town southwest of Oklahoma City, He's pursuing a bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in mathematics. In addition to his current studies, Damyin is considering adding a track in propulsion or space systems and potentially a minor in physics as well.

As a sophomore pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Design & Technical Theatre at Wichita State University, Lena Castro has stepped into a leadership role that combines both technical expertise and mentorship. Lena’s applied learning experience as the head electrician and student lighting supervisor has been instrumental in shaping their skills and career aspirations.

Donna Tran, a graduate student from Garden City, Kansas, is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work at Wichita State University. Alongside her studies, she balances a practicum at United Way of the Plains and a part-time role at Comcare Crisis of Sedgwick County as an Integrated Care Specialist. Donna aspires to become a Licensed Master Social Worker, with a career centered on advocating for vulnerable populations and helping individuals find strength in their own stories of resilience and growth.

Liam O’Connor is an education major specializing in history and government for 6-12th grade. Liam has spent most of his life in Wichita, Kansas, though his journey began in Southern California. Liam is currently working as a student teacher. He has received applied learning funds allowing him to fully focus on developing as a teacher. His responsibilities as a student teacher include—handling instruction, grading, unit creation, and classroom management. His goal after graduation is to become a Social Studies teacher, ideally at a middle school, a choice that often surprises people. “While some think that I am ‘crazy’ for that, I think they are the perfect age!” Looking further ahead, Liam eventually aspires to become a school administrator, envisioning a future where he could lead as a principal.

More than 50 Wichita State students will get unique applied learning experiences during the NCAA Tournament as it returns to Wichita March 20 and 22 at Intrust Bank Arena.

In his applied learning role at HOPE, Matthew takes on multifaceted responsibilities to ensure the organization’s programs and events run seamlessly. From preparing events and editing websites to engaging in table events, his work plays a vital role in maintaining HOPE's mission of promoting mental wellness across campus.