After an inaugural year, Spero has secured funding for its second year, thanks to private and corporate partners and a reinvestment by the Charles Koch Foundation. Housed within the Barton School of Business, Spero — Latin for “hope” — helps individuals achieve lasting independence through skill-building and access to meaningful employment. In its first year, it became both the first microcredential program in WSU’s history and the first 1EdTech TrustEd microcredential program in the world.
“I am proud of the impact Spero has already made in helping community members who need it most,” said Dr. Larisa Genin, dean of the Barton School and executive director of Spero. “With the continued support of the Charles Koch Foundation and the commitment from new donors, we look forward to expanding the growth opportunities for our students.”
In its second year, Spero will expand the scope and course programming for both the Career Readiness and Entrepreneurship tracks.