Since 2005, Wichita State University’s Marcus Welcome Center has served as the gateway to campus, welcoming prospective students and their families. It showcases the university’s commitment to excellence and guides visitors through the application and admissions process.  

Thanks to another generous gift from the Marcus family, the center now features a new addition that underscores Wichita State’s dedication to students’ applied learning and career development. 

The Milly Marcus Annex is now the permanent home for the Shocker Career Accelerator, a multidimensional career-readiness experience that helps students build resumes and LinkedIn profiles, practice and prepare for interviews, meet with prospective employers, and find applied learning and post-graduation full-time employment opportunities.  

“This conversation started years ago, and we wanted to make sure that there were clear connections all the way from the recruitment process to the student experience to the job placement component of the Shocker lifecycle,” said Bobby Gandu, assistant vice president for Strategic Enrollment Management and undergraduate admissions for Wichita State.  

Gandu and WSU President Rick Muma discussed ways to connect the admissions experience with career development, then leading to the alumni experience with the Wichita State Foundation and Alumni Engagement office, conveniently located next to the Marcus Welcome Center. 

“We thought about how powerful it would be for our campus visitors — who are checking in for the first time to go on a campus tour or visit with admissions staff — to see our current students checking in for internships, interviews and resume coaching,” Gandu said.

"Prospective students will walk through our doors and immediately grasp what it means to be a Shocker. They'll explore our degree offerings, witness current students heading to interviews at the Shocker Career Accelerator, and eventually, follow their paths to internships and careers on the Innovation Campus. No other university can offer such a comprehensive student experience," Muma said. 

By housing the admissions offices and the Shocker Career Accelerator in the same space, it creates a dynamic space that seamlessly integrates admissions, career services, and applied learning.  

“This unified approach sends a powerful message about Wichita State’s commitment to student success and career preparation,” said Sara Muzzy, director of career development at Wichita State. “Ultimately, this strategic move will position Wichita State as a leader in career-focused education. By showcasing our commitment to applied learning and student success in such a prominent and accessible location, we will attract students who are eager to make a real-world impact.” 

The annex also features space for business and industry to conduct career fairs and interviews with students.   

“Our new space has areas that will facilitate private career conversations and enable our industry and campus partners to have dedicated interview rooms at their convenience is something we haven’t had in previous years,” Muzzy said.   

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Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 23,000 students between its main campus and WSU Tech, including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.

The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.

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