Shocker News – Spring 2026
Mechanical engineer Ali Gordon steps into new role as dean of the College of Engineering
Ali P. Gordon will step in as the next dean of the College of Engineering, effective June 7. Currently serving as a professor and the associate dean of graduate affairs at the University of Central Florida’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, where he oversees more than 30 graduate programs and 2,500 graduate students, Gordon holds graduate degrees in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an undergraduate degree in mathematics from Morehouse College.
“Wichita State is already a recognized powerhouse for engineering, computing, applied learning and research,” says Gordon, whose own research focus is on durability modeling of structural materials. In support of his research activities, he has secured more than $7 million in funding from such agencies as the National Science Foundation, Air Force Research Laboratory and NASA. He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and of UCF’s Center for Advanced Turbomachinery and Energy Research, and is a four-time awardee of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research’s Summer Faculty Fellowship at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.
Gordon will bring with him to WSU the experience of teaching 11 different courses, including six that he developed, and leading an engineering-based study-abroad course in Brazil in collaboration with UCF’s Burnett Honors College and UCF Global. Thus prepared, he says: “With our talented WSU students, distinguished faculty, dedicated staff and fully engaged industry partners already in place, achieving a bold new vision for this college is well within our reach. It’s a privilege to lead the College of Engineering.”
Dockum Drug Store sit-in story takes the stage in original ballet by New York choreographer
Yusha-Marie Sorzano, a New York-based choreographer and dancer, took inspiration for a new contemporary dance work from the series of sit-ins at Dockum Drug Store in downtown Wichita in 1958. Organized by Ron Walters, then a freshman at the University of Wichita, along with his younger cousin Carol Parks Hahn ’76/82, the sit-ins led to the desegregation of the Dockum lunch counter and all Rexall Drug Stores throughout Kansas — and caught Sorzano’s attention 67 years later.
The resulting work was one of two original dance pieces making débuts in Ballet Wichita’s spring production, “Beaking Barriers,” staged April 3-4 at Wichita’s Doc B-29 Hangar. Drawing from Wichita Ballet’s company, the Ballet Wichita school and Wichita State’s dance program, the performance of Sorzano’s work featured 13 dancers representing the youth who participated in the historic Dockum event. Among the dancers was WSU junior Lena Castro, shown in the photo at right, by Kendra Cremin for The SHOUT, during a rehearsal. Castro is majoring in design and technical theater at Wichita State.
Wichita State tennis aces premier 18-court facility
Pending review and approval by the Kansas Board of Regents, Wichita State’s men’s and women’s tennis teams may soon benefit from a new NCAA-grade tennis complex set on 6 acres within Ignite at K-96, a $200 million, 60-acre mixed-use sports and entertainment district in northeast Wichita.
Designed to NCAA National Championship specifications, the potential new home of Shocker tennis will sport 18 courts — 12 outdoor and six indoor — with a spectator capacity of 1,500. The complex will also feature locker rooms, dedicated training areas and a full-service pro shop. “We will now have the resources to train and compete at the highest level,” says Darragh Glavin, the Shocker men’s coach. “It will elevate every aspect of what we can offer, from development to recruitment to community engagement.” The $18-million complex is fully funded for land acquisition and construction through a partnership among Family Destination Development, Wichita’s civic leadership and Wichita State, while fundraising for essential equipment and other student-athlete needs is ongoing. After KBOR approval, the facility could open as early as summer 2027, with the Shockers’ current home, the Sheldon Coleman Tennis Complex, transitioning to recreational and intramural use. (Please turn to page 20 for more about Shocker Giving opportunities.)
Collaboration strengthens forensic investigation methods and the range of options for criminal justice students
Two of Wichita State’s graduate degree offerings set to launch in fall 2026 are the Master of Science in forensic biology and another in forensic firearms. Delores Craig-Moreland, WSU associate professor and criminal justice department chair, says the programs were developed in collaboration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and other regional partners. The aim of both degree programs, she adds, is to graduate career-ready students to help address the national shortage of forensic examiners. “We asked our partners, ‘What would a well-qualified entry-level applicant look like?’ That helped us identify the applied learning and acquired skills that these programs would need to deliver,” she says.
Each of the new programs offers students a flexible pathway to degree completion — and employment in federal, state and local crime labs. Earlier this year, ATF solidified its partnership with WSU by planning a new field office on campus. When operational, the office will complement ATF’s other WSU-based facilities, one of which is the Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Excellence, and strengthen their joint mission to develop and implement forensic investigative methods and training strategies in the fight against violent crime.
Shockers give back to support students on WSU’s annual Founders Day of giving
Each Founders Day, Shocker Nation comes together to honor Wichita State’s legacy while investing in its future. Last year’s event demonstrated the growing momentum behind the 24‑hour effort. In a single day, 1,352 donors raised $556,406 to support students and student initiatives across campus — more than doubling the original goal. The gifts fueled everything from academic enrichment and leadership development to travel and equipment needs for students and student organizations. At the center of that success was Shocker Racing Formula SAE, which emerged as the top‑supported student group with 222 donors. Shocker Rowing and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers followed with 171 and 103 donors, respectively.
For alumni and supporters, Founders Day represents a meaningful way to stay connected to Wichita State. Every contribution — regardless of the amount — helps expand opportunities for WSU students. With unique challenge and matching opportunities highlighted throughout the day, every gift has the potential to make an even bigger difference for Shocker students.
Our 2026 Founders Day is set for Thursday, Sept. 17. Why not plan now to get revved up and help drive our Shocker future?
