The Barton School of Business has received a $300,000 transformational gift from Dr. Silver Kung, a globally recognized investment leader, distinguished member of the Dean’s Advisory Board, Wichita State alumnus and founder of Siegfried Capital Group, and his wife, Doriya Li. The gift establishes the Dr. Silver Kung and Doriya Li Student Experience and Success Fund, a forward-looking initiative designed to significantly expand real-world learning, professional development and entrepreneurial opportunities for Barton School students.
As part of Wichita State’s strategic plan, every degree-seeking student at WSU is guaranteed an applied learning or research experience before graduation. That commitment has established WSU as a national model for career preparation and collaboration. To accelerate this work, the fund will support a set of high-impact priorities, which includes immersive experiential learning opportunities, including exposure to leading innovation ecosystems such as San Francisco and Silicon Valley, where students engage directly with venture capital firms, startups and industry leaders.
“As a proud Wichita State alumnus and internationally respected leader, Dr. Kung embodies the global mindset, intellectual curiosity, and entrepreneurial spirit we strive to instill in our students,” said Dr. Larisa Genin, dean of the Barton School of Business. “This generous investment by Dr. Kung and Ms. Li will meaningfully elevate the student experience — preparing our students to secure outstanding internships and full-time roles, and to launch bold, high-impact entrepreneurial ventures, while connecting classroom learning with real-world application in a rapidly evolving global economy.”