Author: Michael Birzer

The 2025 Kansas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol features up to 40 students from all Kansas Board of Regents institutions, including five from Wichita State.

Students, faculty, Kansas Board of Regents members, state lawmakers and members of the public are invited to visit the Capitol Rotunda from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26 to view the students’ presentations.

Student presenters from WSU:

• Sejun Moon
  Major: Computer science
  Project title: “Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning Approach for Robot Teaming in Mars Exploration”
  Faculty mentor: Dr. Fujian Yan, assistant teaching professor, School of Computing
• Diego Fuentealba
  Major: Aerospace engineering
  Project title: “Robust and Scalable Quantum Repeaters using Machine Learning”
  Faculty mentors: Dr. James Steck, professor, Department of Aero Space Engineering; and Dr. Elizabeth Behrman, professor, Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
• Daniel Reichart
  Major: Aerospace engineering and physics
  Project title: “Simulation of Solar Wind Charged Particle Energy Deposited and Particle Identification by ΔE-E Discrimination in the SNAPPY Cubesat Detector”
  Faculty mentor: Dr. Nickolas Solomey, professor, Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
• Lille Nightingale
  Major: Dance
  Project title: “Embodied Research on the Physical and Emotional Challenges Wildebeests Face While Migrating”
  Faculty mentors: Denise Celestin, professor; Cheyla Clawson Chandler, director for the School of Performing Arts and associate professor; Mina Estrada, assistant professor; Sabrina Vasquez, senior educator; School of Performing Arts
• Anna Brake
  Major: Honors Baccalaureate, concentration in biology and public health sciences, second major in biology
  Project title: “Increasing Obstetrics Care Access in Rural and Underserved Areas: The Effect of Health Literacy Levels and Age on Fetal Monitoring Device Acceptability”
  Faculty mentor: Dr. Nikki Keene Woods, interim chair and professor, Department of Public Health Sciences.

For questions about the 2025 Research Days at the Capital, contact Dr. Michael Birzer, director of the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Hub, at michael.birzer@wichita.edu

Students, faculty and staff are invited to join us for a discussion about campus safety from different perspectives. A panel of diverse representatives of Wichita State University will discuss campus safety from their own unique perspectives at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9 in 233 RSC (Santa Fe Trail room).

• Moderator: Dr. Michael Birzer, professor in the School of Criminal Justice

Panelists:

• Guy Schroeder, chief of police  for Wichita State University Police Department
• Dr. Marche Fleming Randle, vice president and chief diversity officer
• Dr. Teri Hall, vice president for student affairs
• Alicia Newell, assistant vice president for student affairs, assessment and retention
• Dr. Kevin Harrison, assistant teaching professor and director of diversity, equity and inclusion
• Gabriel Fonseca, director of student engagement, advocacy and leadership
• Josh Davis, graduate student in the School of Criminal Justice and former police officer

Bring your lunch and join us for this informative discussion. This event is open to the public.

Professor and School of Criminal Justice graduate coordinator Michael Birzer was recently appointed by the Wichita City Manager Robert Layton to serve on the committee to select Wichita’s next police chief. Birzer, a Wichita native and former law enforcement professional, teaches and specializes in the study of policing. His research agenda is specific to policing issues in urban communities.

Birzer says he is honored to serve on this important committee. This is the third major police chief selection committee Birzer has recently served on.

According to the City of Wichita’s chief search public website, “The review committee made up of diverse community members has been convened to ensure representation throughout the search process, aid City staff with front-end processes, and interview candidates vetted by Public Sector Search and Consulting.”

Birzer said a community-minded police executive committed to servant leadership is what he’d like to see in Wichita’s next police chief.