The Barton School of Business at Wichita State University has named Lauren Dunford — one of the leading voices at the intersection of artificial intelligence, manufacturing, and sustainability — as Entrepreneur-in-Residence as part of its centennial celebration. Her appointment signals the school’s continued commitment to connecting students and industry with transformative leaders shaping the future of the global economy.
During her residency, Dunford will engage with students, faculty, and industry leaders through a series of high-impact events focused on artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and the future of energy—bringing real-time insights from the front lines of innovation into the Barton School community.
Lauren Dunford is the Co-Founder and CEO of Guidewheel, an AI-powered, real-time operating platform for physical operations. A World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer, TED speaker and frequent speaker at Davos and Stanford—as well as a Truman, Udall, and Fulbright Scholar—she has emerged as a leading voice on physical AI, bringing intelligence to the machines that power the real economy. Guided by her belief that how we make things matters, Dunford is driving innovation at the intersection of manufacturing, productivity, and sustainability.
As part of her visit, Dunford will deliver a keynote presentation titled “The New Wave of Innovation: AI, Robotics, Manufacturing, and the Future of Energy” from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 7 in Woolsey Auditorium with doors opening at 9 a.m. The keynote will highlight breakthroughs at the intersection of artificial intelligence, robotics, manufacturing, and energy and is expected to attract students, faculty, alumni, and industry leaders for a timely and forward-looking discussion on technologies reshaping the global economy.