Author: Leah Lamunyon

The spring faculty and staff meeting for the College of Engineering will be from 3 to 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16 in 123 Wallace Hall.

All faculty and staff are encouraged to attend for some important updates from Dr. Anthony Muscat, dean, College of Engineering. Topics include new personnel, budget information, enrollment, faculty hiring and some exciting new initiatives.

The College of Engineering has announced that Dr. Anil Mahapatro will serve as its associate dean for undergraduate and graduate programs. A similar position, associate dean of undergraduate studies, finance and administration, was previously held by Dr. Steven Skinner, who returned to teaching and research within the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering this past June. The new associate dean role will involve enhancing curriculum relevance, refreshing the Engineering+ program and expanding current programs to train workforce-ready students.

Before accepting the associate dean position, Dr. Mahapatro served as a professor in and chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Within his role as a department chair, he fostered its growth from an undergraduate program to offering both master’s and doctoral degrees, demonstrating his ability to envision, create and execute strategic growth plans. According to Dr. Anthony Muscat, the dean of the College of Engineering, Dr. Mahapatro’s collaborative spirit and dedication will be instrumental in helping the college become even stronger.

To conclude National Engineers Week, the College of Engineering is hosting a public 5k run/walk that is open to students, staff, faculty and community members. The 5k will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 on campus, with the 5k beginning and ending behind the John Bardo Center. Registration proceeds from the 5k and associated donations will go toward the College of Engineering Needs-Based Scholarship Fund.

Through Feb. 16, tickets are $15 for WSU students and $40 for WSU staff or faculty and community members. After Feb. 16, the registration costs will increase. Registration includes a free long-sleeve crewneck shirt, water and snacks at the event. Medals will be presented to the overall fastest participant, as well as the top three fastest participants in the students, staff/faculty and community members categories.

To celebrate National Engineers Week (Feb. 19-24), the College of Engineering is hosting multiple student-focused events, as well as a public event. Students are invited to attend each of the events listed below, as well as to bring family members to the Cosmic Bowling Night and to invite friends and family to participate in the public Wichita State Engineering 5k run/walk. In addition to the events listed below, there will be a Golden Calculator Search with clues announced daily via the college’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. Winners of the search will receive up to $40 of WSU merchandise from the WSU Bookstore.

View all National Engineers Week events or select the appropriate link below.

• Monday, Feb. 19: Dean Meet & Greet from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the John Bardo Center
• Tuesday, Feb. 20: Vision Boards from 2 to 4 p.m. in Partnership 2 Building, room A131
• Tuesday, Feb. 20: “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in 134 Woolsey Hall
• Wednesday, Feb. 21: Carnival and Student Organization Fair from 6 to 8 p.m. in the John Bardo Center
• Friday, Feb. 23: Cosmic Bowling Night from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Shocker Sports Grill and Lanes in the basement of the Rhatigan Student Center
• Saturday, Feb. 24: Wichita State Engineering 5k run/walk from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., beginning and ending behind the John Bardo Center

To celebrate National Engineers Week (Feb. 19-24), the College of Engineering is hosting multiple events, including several designed to include college staff and faculty, as well as a public event. College staff and faculty are encouraged to attend the “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” event featuring various faculty members and the family-friendly Cosmic Bowling Night. Additionally, students, staff, faculty and community members are encouraged to participate in the public Wichita State Engineering 5k run/walk. View all National Engineers Week events, including several more student-focused events, or select the appropriate link below.

• Monday, Feb. 19: Dean Meet & Greet from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the John Bardo Center
• Tuesday, Feb. 20: Vision Boards from 2 to 4 p.m. in Partnership 2 Building, room A131
• Tuesday, Feb. 20: ”Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in 134 Woolsey Hall
• Wednesday, Feb. 21: Carnival and Student Organization Fair from 6 to 8 p.m. in the John Bardo Center
• Friday, Feb. 23: Cosmic Bowling Night from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Shocker Sports Grill and Lanes in the basement of the Rhatigan Student Center
• Saturday, Feb. 24: Wichita State Engineering 5k run/walk from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., beginning and ending behind the John Bardo Center

The College of Engineering has announced that Dr. Jacob Mendez will serve as its interim assistant dean for student success. The position was previously held by Dr. Jason Bosch, who recently accepted a new position at the Kansas Leadership Center. The assistant dean role involves leading the Engineering Student Success Center (ESSC) which currently includes five other staff members.

Before accepting the interim assistant dean position, Dr. Mendez served as the director of student engagement and career readiness within the ESSC. His track record includes spearheading transformative student engagement initiatives and propelling the growth of signature programs like the ACE Mentoring Program, Engineering Living Learning Communities and GEEKS Tutoring Center. College-wide events like Engineering Welcome Week and National Engineers Week have also flourished under his leadership. Recently, Dr. Mendez collaborated closely with Dr. Bosch on a student professional development program.

The College of Engineering is hiring a project and office coordinator for its Office of the Dean. The role includes project-related tasks, such as coordinating and managing specified events, and administrative-related tasks, such as coordinating and scheduling arrangements for meetings and conferences. The new project and office coordinator will also oversee office supplies, office maintenance and several front desk student assistants.

The position is open to both internal and external candidates. Applicants should have at least 60 hours of related college coursework, although a bachelor’s degree is preferred, and three years of relevant work experience.

The College of Engineering is hosting an Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (IGED) event, commonly known as Girl Day, for about 200 high school girls from Wichita and the surrounding area. The event will be from 9:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22 in 305/306 Rhatigan Student Center, Beggs Ballroom.

The students will participate in hands-on STEM activities, listen to inspirational female speakers, attend an industry fair featuring companies from STEM fields and meet women from the engineering and computing industries, including professionals, WSU faculty and students. There is still a need for companies from STEM fields to join the industry fair and for women from the engineering and computing industries to provide mentorship during the event.

Dr. Jason Bosch, the assistant dean for student success in the College of Engineering and the president of the University Staff Senate, has accepted a new position at the Kansas Leadership Center. A farewell reception to recognize the distinguished service of Dr. Bosch is planned from 10 a.m. to noon Monday, Feb. 5 in 142 Rhatigan Student Center, Harvest Room. WSU staff and faculty are encouraged to attend.

In response to student needs, the College of Engineering is offering free math tutoring and labs to any students who could benefit from precalculus, calculus 1 or calculus 2 assistance. Casey Shotwell, an assistant educator in the college, is available for one-on-one precalculus tutoring by appointment, as well as a calculus 1 lab from 2 to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays and a calculus 2 lab from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Fridays. Both labs take place in A131 in the Partnership 2 Building.

“We want to remove any academic barriers students may be facing,” said Dr. Anthony Muscat, the dean of the college. “After offering the tutoring and labs for two prior semesters, we have seen some great benefits to students.”

Students interested in scheduling a precalculus tutoring session may contact Shotwell at casey.shotwell@wichita.edu. To attend a lab, interested students should enroll in the applicable Blackboard group and visit A131 in the Partnership 2 Building at the designated time.

• Calculus 1 Blackboard group
• Calculus 2 Blackboard group