Wichita State University
February Lunch & Learn
February Luncheon Event Details:
Topic: Collaborative Policing and Community Impact
Speakers: Officers Nate Schwiethale and Brittany Graham of the Wichita Police Department Homeless Outreach Team (HOT)
Date: February 26, 2026
Time: Check in: 11:45 AM | Program: 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Location: Conference Room AB at the Advanced Learning Library, 711 West 2nd St N, Wichita, KS 67203
Officer Schwiethale has been with the Wichita Police Department for 25 years. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Wichita State University. In 2013, Officer Schwiethale won the Officer of The Year award for developing the Wichita Police Departments Homeless Outreach Team (H.O.T.). This team works to help homeless into permanent on transitional housing. To date, H.O.T. has assisted over 1,600 homeless out of homelessness and worked with providers to dramatically reduce chronic homelessness. The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and multiple other federal agencies have listed Wichita H.O.T. as a best practice and Officer Schwiethale is currently assisting the federal government to implement H.O.T. in other cities. Officer Schwiethale is currently a consultant on police Homeless Outreach Teams and has done consulting work for the National Advisory Board for the Department of Justice, COPS, IACP among other federal agencies. Officer Nate Schwiethale is the author of Rooster: What a Homeless Man Taught a Cop.
Brittney Graham is a 9-year Veteran of the Wichita Police Department. During that time, she served as an Animal Cruelty Investigator and was recruited to switch to Patrol in 2018. Most of her time was a Patrol officer and experienced 11 months on a Detective Rotation in Domestic Violence and Sex Crimes Unit before joining the Homeless Outreach Team. She was selected to be on the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) and has been on the Recruiting Team for 8 years. Officer Graham is active and involved with the Sedgwick County CIT Council. CIT Council is tasked with training local Law Enforcement Officers and Deputies around the state of Kansas to assist mentally ill individuals effectively during police interactions. Officer Graham is also currently an Adjunct Professor for WSU Tech helping teach Police Science for the Private Security classes since 2023.
Register by Feb 13th at NOON
April Lunch & Learn
April Luncheon Event Details:
Topic: Wichita Collective Impact
Date: April 16, 2026
Time: Check in: 11:45 AM | Program: 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Location: PEC - Suite 310 Building - 310 S. Topeka
Registration Deadline: April 7, 2025 at Midnight.
Speakers
Speaker: Dr. Tiffinie Irving
Dr. Tiffinie Irving is a seasoned educator with over 25 years of experience as a teacher, principal, and district leader. She currently serves as Vice President at a global education organization, where she leads strategic initiatives to support academic success in virtual learning.
Dr. Irving holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Wichita State University and is an active community leader. She serves on multiple nonprofit boards and is co‑chair of TBC SMART, advocating for expanded educational opportunities and community engagement.
Speaker: Jamie Fuller, Public Policy & Management Center
Jamie is passionate about bringing qualitative and mixed methods approaches to bear on questions that directly impact people’s lives. After completing her B.A. in anthropology and M.A. in African African-American Studies at the University of Kansas, Jamie began her Ph.D. in Anthropology at the University of Florida. She specializes in focus group and interview facilitation, survey research, and participatory research methodologies. As a Wichita native, Jamie is excited to bring her experiences and skills back home.
Speaker: Brad Richards, Public Policy & Management Center
Brad Richards is the Community Programs Coordinator on the Access and Engagement Team at the Wichita State University Public Policy and Management Center. A Wichita native originally from Leavenworth, he holds a degree in Economic Pre‑Law from Kansas State University.
He previously served as a Lead For America fellow at The Kansas African American Museum, later continuing as Education Manager, and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration at Wichita State University while remaining active in Wichita Urban Professionals and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.; he was recognized as a 2023 NextGen Under 30 Kansas Rising Star.
Thank you to our luncheon sponsor!
June Lunch & Learn
June Lunch and Learn Details:
Topic: Engaging Community Through Collaboration
What does it look like to bring workforce, education, and small business support together in a way that truly serves a community? We're sharing how our team has connected these efforts at Empower by working closely with partners and truly listening to community needs.
We’re highlighting what’s been working, the lessons that have shaped our approach, and how collaboration can turn ideas into real impact. Join the conversation and walk away with practical ideas for building strong partnerships, encouraging meaningful engagement, and creating programs that make a difference.
Date: June 25, 2026
Time: Check in: 11:45 AM | Program: 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Location: PEC - Suite 310 Building - 310 S. Topeka
You can Register to attend HERE.
Register deadline: Monday June 22 at NOON.
Speaker: Idalia Loya
Idalia Loya is passionate about Wichita, especially the North End she calls home. Driven by a commitment to giving back, Idalia works to enrich the lives of residents through programs and initiatives focused on education, workforce readiness, and community impact.
With almost four years at Empower, Idalia leads community-focused strategies that connect residents to vital resources and develop programs that support educational growth, life skills, workforce advancement, and efforts that strengthen community. Her work centers on building partnerships, expanding access to opportunities, and creating meaningful impact.
Like many residents, Idalia is a first-generation Wichitan with family roots in Chihuahua, Mexico. She is also the founder of Latina Lider, a network of Latinas supporting one another through sisterhood, empowerment, and personal development. In her free time, Ida enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and exploring all that Wichita has to offer
Thank you to our luncheon sponsor!
Full-Day Conference
2026 Women in Public Service Conference - Engaging and Empowering Others
Everyone is welcome to attend the Women in Public Service conference. Here is your chance to grow, network, learn from inspiring speakers on topics in a choice of workshops and main sessions.
Join us August 6, 2026!
Where: Wichita State Rhatigan Student Center
Time: Check in starts: 8:00am | Program: 8:30am-4:15pm
Conference includes light breakfast and lunch
Member - $85
Non-Member - $130
Register by July 27, 2026
Schedule
| Time | Session | Session Title | Speakers | Room |
| 8:00 AM - 8:25 AM | Registration & Light Breakfast |
|
305 Beggs East | |
| 8:30AM - 9:30AM | Opening Keynote | You Can’t Do It All |
Dr. Katie Ervin CEO, Catalyst of Development |
305 Beggs East |
| 9:45AM - 10:45AM | Breakout | Own Your Path: Building a Career with Purpose, Not Permission |
Ricki Ellison Greater Wichita Partnership |
265 Lucas |
| 9:45AM - 10:45AM | Breakout | Financial Empowerment: Building a Plan That Supports Your Life and Work |
Jordan Swisher 6Meridian |
266 Pike |
| 11:00AM - 12:00PM |
General |
Resilience: In An Ever-Changing World |
Jo Lynn Bright HopeNet Wichita |
305 Beggs East |
| 12:00PM - 12:45PM |
Lunch & Networking |
305 Beggs East | ||
| 12:45PM - 1:45PM |
Breakout |
Trust: Our Foundation Has Cracks |
Misty Bruckner Public Policy and Management Center |
265 Lucas |
| 12:45PM - 1:45PM |
Breakout |
Building Chemistry for Empowering Others |
Dr. Janice Perkins Capacity |
266 Pike |
| 2:00PM - 3:00PM |
General |
Servant Leadership |
ShaQiyla Banks Sedgwick County |
305 Beggs East |
| 3:00PM - 3:15PM | Video Remarks | Governor Laura Kelly | 305 Beggs East | |
| 3:15PM - 4:00PM | Closing Keynote | From Surviving to Serving: Lessons in Courage, Leadership, and Resilience | Niomi Thompson | 305 Beggs East |
Sponsors
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Annual Evening Celebration
Annual Evening Event
Join WPS for our 2026 Evening Event! We are giving back to Wichita's Littlest Heroes!
Wichita's Littlest Heroes is here to provide Hope, Help and Happiness to medically fragile children ages 0-18 in the Kansas area who are battling different life threatening medical conditions through free fun events, financial assistance, art therapy, online support and so much more! Because...No One Fights Alone! Wichita's Littlest Heroes is passionate about changing the landscape of what pediatric resources look like for generations to come in Kansas.
Where: Brewer Community Center - 1329 E 16th Street, Wichita KS 67214
Date: Thursday, November 12th, 2026
Time: 6:00PM - 7:30PM
FREE for members; $30 for non-members
Register Here by November 2nd, 2026.
Sponsorship
BECOME A SPONSOR!
Women in Public Service Conference 2026
Rhatigan Student Center | Wichita, KS
Women in Public Service (WPS) is an association of public service professionals created to inspire past, current, and future generations by addressing topics relevant to those in public service, while instilling knowledge through education, networking and professional development that strengthens the leadership in our local government and communities.
Along with several luncheons throughout the year we host an annual conference and a give-back event. These are open to anyone in the public service fields.
For 2026 we want to expand our reach and are seeking sponsorship for the Annual Conference and Evening Give Back event.
Please review the sponsorship levels, we welcome support of all amounts. If you would like to sponsor at a different level, please contact us.
Click image to download .pdf
Qualified sponsored gifts will be publicly recognized to show appreciation for your support.
Contact Laura laura.baxter@wichita.edu or Jamie jamie.buster@wichita.edu with your choice.