A century of learning (x3)
President’s Message
Celebrating a centennial is a rare and meaningful moment. It offers us the chance to pause, honor the journey that brought us here, and acknowledge the people whose lives and achievements have shaped an institution across generations. Milestones like these remind us that progress is not achieved in a single moment, but built over decades of dedication, creativity and collaboration — the very spirit we celebrate this year at the 130‑year‑old Wichita State.
In 2026, three of our cornerstone academic colleges — the College of Fine Arts, the College of Education and the W. Frank Barton School of Business — mark 100 years of shaping students, strengthening communities and elevating WSU’s mission. While each college has its own history, culture and areas of excellence, they share one essential truth: their greatest legacy is their alumni.
For a century, the College of Fine Arts has molded performers, creators and innovators — alumni whose talents fill classrooms, galleries, studios and stages around the world. Impressively, alumni have been nominated for or awarded Grammys, Tonys, Emmys, Oscars and the Laurence Olivier Award.
The College of Education has prepared generations of teachers, counselors, school leaders, learning advocates and professionals in human performance studies and sport and leadership studies — all of whom continue to influence countless lives and help shape the future of our communities.
And the Barton School has equipped business thinkers, entrepreneurs and industry professionals who fuel economic growth and carry the Shocker spirit into boardrooms and businesses around the globe.
Each of these colleges stands today on the foundation built by those who came before: alumni who took what they learned here and transformed it into careers of note and lives of purpose. Their achievements are the truest measure of our success — and their continued engagement and enthusiasm ensure that the next 100 years will be just as transformative.
As we celebrate these centennial milestones, we honor not only the institutions themselves, but the tens of thousands of Shockers who make their legacies real. Thank you for being part of this remarkable story, and for the many ways you continue to shape Wichita State’s past, present and future.
Go Shockers!
RICK MUMA
President
Wichita State University
