Wichita State University
Forward Together Podcast
"Forward Together" is a podcast hosted by Wichita State University President Rick
Muma. In each episode, Dr. Muma and his guests discuss the aspirations and inspirations
that drive Wichita State to be one of the nation’s most innovative public universities,
known for providing impactful student experiences and driving prosperity for the people
and communities we serve.
Episode 46 – October 2026
Dr. Jamarco Clark: A bold vision for student affairs
President Rick Muma sits down with Dr. Jamarco Clark, Wichita State's vice president for Student Affairs, to discuss leadership, innovation and creating a student experience that helps every Shocker thrive. "I see myself as someone who wants to do student affairs differently. I want to be an animator in it. What better place to do that than at Wichita State?".
Episode 45 – September 2026
Landon Huslig: The Wichita Life Guy
In 2017, Shocker graduate Landon Huslig launched an Instagram account to spotlight some of the exciting things happening in Wichita. Today, Wichita Life is a media empire that includes a newsletter, podcast, merch, an event calendar, and job listings — all with one mission: to tell the stories of Wichita and celebrate the people who make this city special.
Episode 44 – May 2026
Shocker Design Experience: A First-Year Seminar
Wichita State President Rick Muma talks with Shocker Design Experience mentors Yuridia Abrego, Alexander Kimble and James Wright — current students who have completed the course and now help guide others through the experience. The program helps students develop critical thinking, teamwork, problem-solving and project management skills through hands-on learning.
Episode 43 – April 2026
Mike Kennedy: Voice of the Shockers
Join President Rick Muma when he talks with Mike Kennedy about his 46-year career as the Voice of Shockers and his future plans.
Episode 42 – March 2026
ASL @ Wichita State: Interpreting Linguistics and Deaf Culture
Join President Rick Muma when he engages with Edward Bart, director for the American Sign Language Program about curriculum, career paths and deaf culture.
Episode 41 – February 2026
Carl Bowden
Join President Rick Muma as he visits with Carl Bowden about how his MBA from Wichita State helped him pivot from a career in wildlife conservation for a career focused on strategy, leadership and influence.
Episode 40 – February 2026
Coaches Kristi Bredbenner and Coach Brian Green
Wichita State President Rick Muma sits down with softball coach Kristi Bredbenner and baseball coach Brian Green for a candid conversation about their seasons, their student‑athletes, and what it truly means to compete as part of Shocker Athletics.
Episode 39 – December 2025
Student Centered, Innovation Driven
Wichita State University has grown leaps and bounds in the past 10 years, thanks in no small part to its forward-thinking leadership, strategic partnerships, and initiatives that prioritize student success. Join President Rick Muma as he talks about his new book, "Student Centered, Innovation Driven" with members of his executive team: Dr. Monica Lounsbery, senior executive vice president and provost; Dr. Shelly Coleman-Martins, vice president of strategic communications and marketing; and Andy Schlapp, vice president of strategy and government relations.
Episode 38 – November 2025
Joyce DiDonato
Grammy award-winning mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato has performed on some of the world’s most renowned stages, including La Scala in Italy, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and the Royal Opera House in London. But before her 24-carat gold voice stole the hearts of audiences across the globe, she was a Shocker.
Episode 37 – October 2025
Coach Paul Mills (MBB)
Wichita State President Rick Muma talks with men's basketball coach Paul Mills about how the college athletics landscape has changed in the last few years and his strategy and goals for his third season with WSU.
Episode 36 – October 2025
Coach Chris Lamb (V) and Coach Terry Nooner (WBB)
Join Wichita State President Rick Muma when he talks with women’s basketball Coach Terry Nooner and volleyball Coach Chris Lamb about their seasons, athletes and what it means to be part of Shocker Athletics.
Episode 35 – September 2025
Another Broken Egg Café
President Rick Muma is joined by proud Shocker alums and co-franchisees of Another Broken Egg Café in Wichita. Learn about Jacob O’Connor and Jon Peterson’s vision and the entrepreneurial spirit we strive to foster at Wichita State.
Episode 34 – May 2025
ROTC at Wichita State
Join Wichita State University President Rick Muma for a conversation with ROTC students about how Wichita State and ROTC has shaped their Shocker journey, as well as their education and leadership development.
Episode 33 – April 2025
An Update on the Biomedical Campus
The Wichita Biomedical Campus is a cooperative effort among Wichita State, WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech) and the University of Kansas to centralize health care education and research. Join Wichita State President Rick Muma when he sits down with WSU Tech President Sherree Utash and Greg Hand, dean of the WSU College of Health Professions, to talk about programs, collaborations, partnerships and progress of the Wichita Biomedical Campus.
Episode 32 – March 2025
Justin Rorabaugh – Shocker Studios and the School of Digital Arts
The School of Digital Arts (SODA) in the College of Fine Arts is one of the fast-growing schools at Wichita State. Justin Rorabaugh, director for SODA joins President Rick Muma to talk about Shocker Studios and some of SODA’s unique offerings in degree programs, applied learning, new technologies, partnerships and infrastructure.
Episode 31 – March 2025
Pierre Harter - Research and Industry on Campus
Pierre Harter, associate vice president of research (interim) and industry engagement, joins President Rick Muma to discuss his role in promoting faculty research and his work with NIAR, including its innovative work in digital transformation.
Episode 30 – February 2025
Dr. Nick Solomey - Physics and NASA research at WSU
President Rick Muma sits down with Dr. Nick Solomey, professor of physics at Wichita State University, to discuss his innovative research efforts with NASA — including the development of a neutrino detector that will orbit the Earth — and the other projects the Department of Physics is engaged in.
Episode 29 – February 2025
Meet Monica Lounsbery
Dr. Monica Lounsbery, Wichita State University’s new senior executive vice president and provost, brings with her a wealth of experience in higher education leadership. Learn more about Dr. Lounsbery, her early impressions of WSU, and what she hopes to accomplish during her tenure.
Episode 28 – December 2024
Scott Wituk: Community Engagement Institute
The Community Engagement Institute at Wichita State University recently celebrated its 40-year anniversary. President Rick Muma talks with its director, Scott Wituk, about how CEI collaborates with partners to facilitate learning, develop innovative solutions and build capacity to create real change.
Episode 27 – November 2024
Greek Life @ Wichita State
There are many Student Life and extracurricular activities at Wichita State. Join President Muma when he sits down with the council presidents who represent 26 Greek-letter organizations at WSU. Tune in for an inside look at how Greek life shapes our campus community and student experiences.
Episode 26 – October 2024
Bobby Gandu: Applied Learning and The Shocker Career Accelerator
Join President Muma when he talks with Bobby Gandu, Wichita State’s associate vice president of Strategic Enrollment Management and applied learning, and director of admissions. As part of his role, Bobby oversees the Shocker Career Accelerator, which just moved into its permanent home inside the brand-new Milly Marcus Annex.
Episode 25 – September 2024
Badges and microcredentialing at Wichita State: Kim Moore
Join President Muma as he talks to Kim Moore, a founding member of the 1EdTech TrustEd Microcredential Coalition and executive director of workforce, professional, and community education for Wichita State, about the value, meaning and credibility of badges and microcredentialing at WSU.
Episode 24 – May 2024
SHOCKERS UP: Iris Okere
Join President Rick Muma when he talks to outgoing student body president senior Iris Okere. Iris is graduating on May 11, 2024 with a degree in marketing with minors in management and Spanish. Iris discusses her various experiences as a Shocker and future plans.
Episode 23 – April 2024
GoBabyGo @ Wichita State
Join President Rick Muma when he talks to representatives from WSU's Go Baby Go. The Go Baby Go program modifies off-the-shelf ride-on toy cars for kids with disabilities at no cost to the family. Learn more about the collaborative interdisciplinary hands-on learning experience for WSU students and how their work benefits children with disabilities.
Episode 22 – March 2024
Bobby Berry
Join President Rick Muma when he talks to Dr. Bobby Berry, assistant dean and assistant professor for the College of Applied Studies, about serving students and his research and work with first-generation students.
Episode 21 – February 2024
Women in STEM: Leanne Caret
Join Wichita State President Rick Muma when he talks with Leanne Caret, featured on Forbes Magazine’s Most Powerful Women list, about her career in the aerospace industry and women in STEM. While recording the podcast, Caret discovered several Easter egg photos on set featuring President Muma. Vote for your favorite at wichita.edu/voteforrick. The first 100 responses will be eligible for a vintage WuShock glass.
Episode 20 – December 2023
Elizabeth H. King
Join Elizabeth H. King, President and CEO for the WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement, as she takes over the Forward Together Podcast and interviews President Rick Muma about some of the work being done at Wichita State.
Episode 19 – November 2023
Judge Stephanie Dawkins Davis
Join Wichita State President Rick Muma when he talks with the Honorable Stephanie Dawkins Davis about her career and her experience as a Shocker. Judge Davis serves on the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals and has appellate jurisdiction over the federal district courts in Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee.
Episode 18 – October 2023
Wichita State and One Small Step
Join Wichita State President Rick Muma when he talks with Dave Isay, founder of StoryCorps and One Small Step. Designed to “remind the country of the humanity in all of us,” One Small Step brings people with different political views together to record a facilitated 50-minute conversation.
Episode 17 – September 2023
Wichita State Esports
Join President Rick Muma for a conversation about the growth of Esports at Wichita State. Rick spoke with Travis Yang, director of Wichita State’s Esports program, and assistant director Joe Mazzara about Shocker Esports, which began in 2019 and quickly became WSU’s fastest-growing varsity program.
Episode 16 – May 2023
Shockers Up: Joshua Senn
Joshua Senn is a graduate student in the College of Fine Arts’ choral conducting program. Joshua came to Wichita State from Ohio to pursue a master of music degree. In his graduate conducting recital, he presented an emotional tribute to his late nephew.
Episode 15 – May 2023
Shockers Up: Brittany Wojciechowski
Brittany Wojciechowski is a first-generation student working on her Ph.D. in aerospace engineering. Her research specialty is structures and solid mechanics with a particular interest in structural acoustics. In 2021, she was awarded the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.
Episode 14 – May 2023
Shockers Up: Ebony Moore, Ryan Walter and Kyle Walter
Ebony Moore, Kyle Walter and Ryan Walter are working as interns at Deloitte’s Smart Factory @ Wichita on the Wichita State Innovation Campus. Ebony Moore is a junior in human resource management and is working as an experience design intern. Kyle Walter is a senior in mechanical engineering and is the student team lead. And, Ryan Walter, who is Kyle’s twin, is also a senior in mechanical engineering and works at the Smart Factory as an Industry 4.0 technology student.
Episode 13 – April 2023
Former CIA Master of Disguise
Before she was the CIA’s chief of disguise, Jonna Mendez was a Shocker. In this episode of “Forward Together,” Wichita State President Rick Muma talks with Mendez about her time at WSU and the path that led to be an expert in disguise, identity transformation, and clandestine imaging.
Episode 12 – March 2023
Deloitte Smart Factory @ Wichita State
Join President Muma for a conversation with Stephen Laaper, a principal at Deloitte Consulting, when we talk about Deloitte Smart Factory at Wichita State, a groundbreaking, immersive learning environment for business leaders to experience smart manufacturing solutions.
Episode 11 – February 2023
Canada's Chief Science Advisor
In this episode of Wichita State University’s “Forward Together” podcast, President Rick Muma speaks with WSU graduate Dr. Mona Nemer, a leader in the field of molecular cardiology and chief science advisor for Canada. They discuss her career path and the influence of policy and science in relation to public health.
Episode 10 – December 2022
Wichita State R&D with Industry and Defense
In this episode of Wichita State University’s “Forward Together” podcast, President Rick Muma speaks with John Tomblin, senior vice president for Industry and Defense and executive director of WSU’s National Institute for Aviation Research. They discuss the evolution and advancement of research at Wichita State, including how Tomblin has grown WSU’s aerospace engineering R&D portfolio from $20 million in 2004 to more than $190 million today.
Episode 9 – November 2022
Education in Kansas
In this episode of Wichita State University’s “Forward Together” podcast, President Rick Muma talks about the state of education in Kansas with two extraordinary educational leaders: Wichita Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Alicia Thompson; and Wichita State University Provost, Dr. Shirley Lefever.
Episode 8: October 2022
Athletics: Name, Image and Likeness
In this episode of Wichita State University’s “Forward Together” podcast, President Rick Muma talks with Kevin Saal, who was hired as director of athletics at Wichita State University in June. Kevin is leading Shocker athletics during a time of significant change – name, image and likeness, the transfer portal and conference realignment top the list.
Episode 7: September 2022
Performing Arts: WSU on the National Stage
In this episode of Wichita State University’s “Forward Together” podcast, President Rick Muma talks with Julius Thomas III and Amy Baker Schwiethale — two graduates of the WSU School of Performing Arts. Julius Thomas III is an actor, singer and dancer with credits in movies, television and stage — including starring roles in traveling productions of “Motown: The Musical” and “Hamilton.” Amy Baker Schwiethale performed on Broadway including a national Broadway tour of “42nd Street” and “Honk!” Schwiethale is currently a Wichita State professor and program director of musical theatre.
Episode 6: May 2022
LatinX Food, Culture and Community in Wichita
Celebrate the food and culture of the LatinX community with WSU President Rick Muma in the latest episode of the “Forward Together” podcast. Dr. Muma speaks with WSU faculty members and LatinX cultural researchers Dr. Enrique Navarro and Dr. Rocío Del Águila.
Episode 5: April 2022
Innovation at Wichita State
In this month's episode of the Forward Together podcast, we talk about all things innovation. Hear about the accessible comic book app WSU's Dr. Darren DeFrain developed, and learn more about next-generation networking technology with Shocker alum Khalid Raza.
Episode 4: March 2022
Research at Wichita State
Learn about some of the cutting-edge research being done at Wichita State University in our March Forward Together podcast. To celebrate Women's History Month, President Rick Muma speaks with Dr. Melinda Laubach-Hock, director of sustainment at WSU's National Institute for Aviation Research; and Dr. Coleen Pugh, vice provost for research and dean of Wichita State's Graduate School.
Episode 3: February 2022
Providing Access to Higher Education
On this episode of the Forward Together podcast, WSU President Dr. Rick Muma and his guests discuss WSU’s priority of making higher education accessible and how it helps build a stronger community and a stronger Kansas. Special guests include John Rolfe, president and CEO of the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce; and Isaac Brown, WSU men’s basketball head coach.
Episode 2: January 2022
Annual Report
On this episode of the Forward Together podcast, WSU President Dr. Rick Muma and his guests reflect on and celebrate all that Wichita State University has accomplished in 2021. Special guests include James Chung, founder of Reach Advisors and author of the Chung Report; and Dr. Kaye Monk-Morgan, vice president of engagement and planning at Wichita State University.
Episode 1: December 2021
Digital Transformation
In this inaugural Forward Together podcast, we focus on digital transformation in the arts. We're joined by Shocker alum Dean Hargrove — writer, director and producer, whose credits include “Columbo” and “Matlock — and Wichita State's dean of the College of Fine Arts, Dr. Rodney Miller.