AWARDS/HONORS

Wichita State University South Campus has been recognized by the Kansas Business Case for Breastfeeding for its lactation room facility. The campus was awarded the Gold Recognition Award in response to positive reviews and the comfortable, secure environment it provides. To learn more, go to http://bit.ly/1RUC2AP.

Michael Yeung, director of WSU South, has been recognized by the Derby Health Collaborative with the Above and Beyond Award. Yeung has been a member of the collaborative since its inception in 2010. Yeung contributes his knowledge and support for the collaborative in an effort to show the community the care and well-being of the university. To learn more, go to http://bit.ly/1PQF3gZ.

Randy Ellsworth was chosen for membership in to the Academy for Effective Teaching, an organization of retired faculty members who distinguished themselves during their teaching careers. Current faculty are responsible for nominating retired instructors for membership.

Mike Ross, professor of Sport Management, won the Wichita State University Leadership in the Advancement of Teaching Award and Gayla Lohfink, assistant professor of Curriculum and Instruction, won the Wichita State University Excellence in Teaching Award. They will be honored along with other university award winners in a ceremony in May.

The WSU Teacher Preparation program won the Distinguished Program in Teacher Education award from the Association of Teacher Educators. The judges awarded based on the depth of the program and the evidence provided showing the impact the program has on student achievement and teacher preparation.

Abigail Wilson of KMUW received a Gracie award in recognition of her documentary, “The Pieces that Remain.” The documentary explores the perspective of friends, family members and survivors as they look back at the Wichita State University plane crash. The Gracie Awards, named for Gracie Allen, recognize exemplary programming by women, for women and about women in all facets of media and entertainment.

GRANTS

Cybertron, a company led by WSU doctoral student, Ahmed Aziz, pledged a gift of $2.5 million to provide computers, monitors and five years of desktop support for the new Experiential Engineering Building at WSU.

Hyuck M. Kwon, professor of Electrical Engineering, received a new grant from the Air Force Research Laboratory on "Optimum Boundaries of Signal-to-Noise Ratio for Adaptive Code Modulations." The research is supposed to assist the design of commercial satellite communications systems.

PRESENTATIONS

Gayla Lohfink, assistant professor of Curriculum and Instruction and Rick Pappas, Physical Education educator, co-presented “Movement in the Classroom: Teacher Candidates Make Literacy Learning Meaningful,” at the Association of Teacher Educator’s Conference in Chicago.

Michael Rogers, professor and chair in Human Performance Studies, was invited to present "Functional exercise for the workplace,” at the National Research Centre for the Working Environment in Copenhagen, Denmark, in February. He also served as the outside examining member on a dissertation defense for the Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics at the University of Southern Denmark, titled "Effect of workplace versus home-based physical exercise on musculoskeletal pain, perceived exertion and physical function among healthcare workers - A cluster randomized controlled trial including a reliability study.”

Rick Pappas, Physical Education educator, made a presentation to the Newton School Board on the importance of recess.

PUBLICATIONS

Michael Rogers, professor and chair in Human Performance Studies, along with colleagues from the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya, Japan, published "Effects of seated vs. seated exercise on strength and balance in community-dwelling older women," in the journal of Activities, Adaptation, and Aging.

NEW APPOINTMENTS

The Department of Sport Management has announced Mike McCoy as the newest Executive-in-Residence (EIR). McCoy brings a vast amount of experience to the position including several general manager positions for professional football teams and the director of Business Development for the Indoor Football League.

Lamin Barrow and Derek Whitney started at the Center for Behavioral Health Initiatives in February. Barrow began as the prevention VISTA and Whitney as the Peer Support VISTA, allowing them to contribute by providing support to the prevention initiative.

MISCELLANEOUS

Michael Birzer, professor of Criminal Justice and director of the School of Community Affairs, recently completed a five-year research project commissioned by the Kansas Department of Transportation. The study involved two investigative phases: how racial minority citizens experience what they believe to be racial profiling in Kansas, and perspectives of Kansas Law Enforcement officers regarding racial profiling. The Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center, which trains Kansas Law Enforcement officers, used Birzer's findings to develop a biased based policing training program. Birzer also developed a three-hour training curriculum based on the research and has trained over 400 Kansas Law Enforcement officers representing dozens of police agencies.

The Community Engagement Institute and the Office of Student Involvement hosted the second annual Civic Leadership and Service Summit in February. Approximately 60 AmeriCorps VISTA members, university students and community members participated in breakout sessions and presentations.

IN THE NEWS

Masud Chand, associate professor of International Business, was invited to be a guest speaker on the weekly radio show, “Money Planning Hour,” on KNSS. He spoke about how aging populations affect the business and economic environment.