The Applied Technology Acceleration Institute (ATAI), Wichita State University's newest industry-focused applied learning environment, is staying true to its name and expanding at a rapid pace.

ATAI has hired Tonya Witherspoon, former director of WSU’s Media Resources Center, as chief strategy officer. She will be responsible for center development, working with partners to create applied learning opportunities for students, and working with faculty and staff to establish and increase industry partnerships and opportunities that support the Innovation Campus.

Witherspoon has a diverse background that suits her perfectly for the position including managing OEM global partner technical training for NetApp, one of ATAI’s key partners. Before that, she worked at Wichita State and implemented a grant to integrate technology into PreK-12 classrooms and improve the technological knowledge of teacher education graduates. Witherspoon founded the WSU Shocker Mindstorms competition, now in its 15th year serving as a model for hands-on STEM education for students, teachers, university faculty and parents. She has also written numerous books and articles and spoken internationally on the topic of STEM and hands-on experiential learning.

“I am passionate about creating applied learning opportunities for students by connecting their learning to the real world,” said Witherspoon.

Under the direction of Ken Russell, ATAI executive director, Witherspoon aims to build and diversify student involvement. The institute employs 40 students.

“We currently employ mainly engineering students, but our new industry connections require us to engage students in several additional areas including marketing, advanced analytics, social knowledge, business, and graphic design,” said Witherspoon.

These students will be involved in product implementation and go-to-market strategies -- taking products from the research and development stage all the way through the pathway to market.

ATAI has also expanded its full-time staff from just three to 14 in less than a year. The full-time staff has been selected with student coaching and mentoring as its focus to ensure ATAI deliverables are at the level expected by its industry partners.

Students working with ATAI will learn the value of what they are learning and how to incorporate it into their resume; how to work in a collaborative team environment; to understand business ethics and acumen; and how to use resources available from campus organizations like Career Services and the Office of Research and Technology Transfer to apply their skills in the workforce.

“We want to focus on the career development of our students during their time with us,” said Witherspoon. “Our goal is to reduce the learning curve for a new college graduate to be productive in industry from an average of 18 months to three months.”

“We’ll also help them reflect on projects to determine if they enjoyed the work, or feel like they would be better suited for something different.”

ATAI is growing rapidly because Russell has worked tirelessly to build a portfolio of strategic, meaningful partnerships with organizations around the country including NetApp, Cisco, iTalent, the Federal Aviation Administration, Spirit AeroSystems, HyperBorean, and ANSWR.

“Our industry partners look to ATAI and WSU as an important part of their talent plan,” said Russell. “Being able to access and leverage our students makes good business sense for them, while providing our students with valuable experiential learning opportunities.”

These organizations are collaborating with ATAI on more than 16 projects that collectively experienced a 450 percent revenue growth in the last year.

“And we’ve only scratched the surface,” said Russell. “We look forward to additional growth in 2015 and uncovering opportunities to contribute to the economic well-being of our community, the university and the Innovation Campus.”

ATAI is adding jobs and growing the economy -- fulfilling the WSU’s strategic plan -- and paving the way for additional organizations on campus that make the Innovation University concept real -- right now.