Hands-on service

Joan Wagner ’99/04 thinks of her time at Wichita State as an incubator that equipped her for life outside of college; a place to learn real-world skills and sample different industry experiences. Today, it’s exactly that mindset that inspires her to invest her time and talents back into the university. 

“It’s important to me to build up those things that helped build me up, to give a little bit of that to future students,” says Wagner. “The university has given me a lot, and I really feel compelled to give something back.”

As an undergraduate, Wagner put her skills to work at a cooperative education job at Learjet and as an assistant in an industrial engineering study within the engineering department. She was a recipient of the prestigious Wallace Scholarship, and credits Velma Wallace with cultivating a spirit of giving back within the entire cohort. After completing her degree, she began a career in manufacturing at Spirit AeroSystems, where she now holds the position of technical fellow. 

One of the joys of Wagner’s career has been the opportunity to pay it forward; to share her experiences with students and equip them with the skills they need to pursue their degrees. As a member of the Industry Advisory Board for the College of Engineering, she plays a direct role in guiding the curriculum to fit the needs of the industry, ensuring students feel prepared and competent as they enter the workforce. She also serves as a connection point for Wallace scholar alumni and current students and was the main driver in creating the Wallace Scholars Legacy Scholarship to provide a way for alumni to continue the philanthropic legacy of the Wallace family. In addition, Wagner serves on the WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement’s National Advisory Council and the Cohen Honors College Advisory Board, a seat particularly close to her heart as a former honors student.

“It’s been wonderful seeing how that college has grown and how the vision of our honors leadership has developed,” she says. “When we were students, to go from an honors program to a college was just a dream.”

The Honors College isn’t the only thing to have seen drastic change since Wagner’s days as a student. As Wichita State continues to grow, with ambitious plans for the next ten years, there is likely to be considerable change within the campus. While some may be daunted, Wagner is excited for the future. 

“Today’s students are so bright, and they’re able to assess complex problems in ways I couldn’t even dream about as an undergraduate,” she says. “They have so many tools in their toolbox coming into a collegiate environment, and now they have all of WSU at their fingertips. They can walk to their internships on the Innovation Campus, and there are so many opportunities to help them craft the vision for their futures.”

With Wagner’s continued support, there’s no doubt these students will be equipped to succeed.

Wagner will be recognized for her outstanding service to the university with the 2025 Volunteer of the Year award at the annual Heritage Gala on Thursday, Oct. 9.