Author: James Schisler

What does it take to become a better leader? And why does great leadership begin with understanding yourself?

The Barton School of Business welcomes Margaret Andrews, a Harvard leadership educator, author and executive, for an interactive keynote exploring leadership, creativity, emotional intelligence and the skills that help us lead ourselves and others more effectively at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27 in 141 Woolsey Hall, Fidelity Bank Ballroom.

Whether you’re leading a team, preparing for your career or simply looking to grow personally and professionally, this is a conversation worth being part of.

Doors open at 9 a.m., and networking and book signing to follow. The event is free and open to the entire WSU community.

The Barton School of Business is looking for a motivated, people-focused professional to join its Student Success Center as a recruitment and scholarship coordinator.

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the next generation of business leaders by helping prospective students discover their potential and take the first steps toward their future.

The coordinator will lead and support student recruitment initiatives, build relationships with prospective students and families, coordinate campus visits and outreach activities, and connect students with scholarship opportunities. The role also includes planning and executing signature recruitment events, including the annual AGH Scholarship Competition.

The Barton School is looking for someone who brings energy, creativity and strong organizational skills to their work, enjoys connecting with people and is passionate about creating experiences that make a lasting impression.

The Barton School of Business has named Tanner Gegen as its director of finance, HR and administration. Gegen, a two-time Wichita State graduate with more than nine years of experience in finance, operations and facilities management. In this role, Gegen will oversee key financial and administrative operations for the Barton School, supporting the school’s budgeting, financial planning and operational needs.

Gegen most recently served as a financial analyst and business planner at Boeing in Wichita. In that role, he supported risk assessments and recovery planning, developed and maintained budgets, and presented operating budgets to corporate leadership.

The Barton School of Business is accepting nominations for its 2028 “Beyond” Hall of Fame class. The Hall of Fame recognizes and celebrates industry executives, business leaders, alumni and supporters whose leadership, achievements and contributions have made a lasting impact on the Barton School, Wichita State University and the broader community.

Nominations will be accepted through Oct. 19. Individuals may nominate candidates by emailing bartonbeyond@wichita.edu with the nominee’s name, title and company affiliation; a brief rationale describing the nominee’s contributions and impact; and the nominator’s name and contact information.

The 2028 inductees will join six distinguished members of the Barton School “Beyond” Hall of Fame. The inaugural class in 2024 honored W. Frank Barton, Clark Bastian and Fran Jabara. Paul Allen, Dan Carney and Steve Feilmeier joined the Hall of Fame in 2026 during the Barton School’s centennial year.

The Barton School of Business has named Shawn and Shawna Lancelot co-chairs of its 2028 “Beyond” Hall of Fame celebration. The Lancelots will help lead preparations for the Barton School’s third Hall of Fame gala, which recognizes individuals whose leadership, achievements and contributions have made a lasting impact on the Barton School, Wichita State and the broader community.

The 2028 “Beyond” Hall of Fame gala will take place at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19 at Mark Arts, which also hosted the event in 2024 and 2026.

Nominations for the 2028 “Beyond” Hall of Fame class will open soon, with additional details to be announced by the Barton School. Organizations and individuals interested in sponsorship opportunities for the 2028 “Beyond” Hall of Fame celebration may contact Corey Saleh, interim associate vice president of development at WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement, at 316-978-4483 or corey.saleh@wichita.edu.

Before Margaret joins an interactive conversation with the Barton School of Business on Oct. 27, the Barton School wanted to introduce you to the person behind the keynote. Her career has taken her from the business world to leadership roles at some of the world’s best-known academic institutions, and into classrooms and organizations around the globe.

Margaret began her career as a CPA with Deloitte & Touche in San Francisco before moving into strategy consulting with Mercer Management Consulting, now Oliver Wyman. She later served as vice president of marketing at Putnam Investments. Then came higher education.

Join Margaret and the Barton School for an interactive conversation about leadership, creativity, emotional intelligence and what it takes to become the leader you want to be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27 in 141 Woolsey Hall, Fidelity Bank Ballroom. Doors open at 9 a.m.

Seating is extremely limited. RSVP at wichita.edu/there

The Barton School of Business will welcome leadership expert, educator, executive and author Margaret Andrews as its next distinguished speaker as part of the school’s centennial celebration. An interactive keynote will take place at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 27 in 141 Woolsey Hall, Fidelity Bank Ballroom. Doors will open at 9 a.m.

Andrews will bring decades of experience spanning business and higher education to the Barton School for conversations focused on leadership, creativity, emotional intelligence and the skills professionals need to lead themselves and others effectively.

Following the program, attendees are invited to remain in Woolsey Hall for networking and a book signing with Andrews featuring “Manage Yourself to Lead Others.” The event is free and open to the public. Seating is extremely limited, and advance registration is strongly encouraged. To RSVP, visit wichita.edu/there.

What does it really take to build better businesses, lead through adversity and turn setbacks into opportunities?

As part of its centennial celebration, the Barton School of Business is bringing a new live conversation experience to campus featuring Entrepreneur-in-Residence Bill Poston and Barton alumnus and entrepreneur Jacob O’Connor, host of the “Built for More” podcast.

Rather than a traditional keynote, “Building Better Businesses and Leaders: Lessons from Adversity and Success” will feature an unscripted conversation exploring the stories, decisions and lessons behind Poston’s career. The conversation will be recorded live for “Built for More.”

The conversation will begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2 in 110 Woolsey Hall, Frank A. Boettger Auditorium.

Get closer to the stories, decisions and lessons behind the success. Registration is encouraged.

Don’t just hear about the event afterward. Be in the room. Bring your questions and join the conversation.

Today, the Barton School of Business celebrates a century of business education, innovation and community with its Centennial Bash at Woolsey Hall (find directions to Woolsey Hall).

Students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the Wichita community are invited to join throughout the day for free activities, food, interactive experiences and plenty of opportunities to celebrate 100 remarkable years of the Barton School.

The celebration begins at 8 a.m. with Morning Wellness on the Woolsey Hall lawn and continues throughout the day with activities including the Centennial Museum, food and refreshments, interactive experiences and the Community 5K/Fun Run and Walk.

Stop by for one activity or spend the day celebrating with us. The Centennial Bash is free and open to the public.

A Wichita attorney’s lifelong commitment to education, service and community will live on through a new generation of Wichita State University students. Harvey Najim, a 1964 Wichita State graduate and nationally recognized business leader and philanthropist, has established two scholarships in memory of his brother, Harry Louis Najim. At the heart of the gift is the Harry Najim Business Scholarship, which will provide significant support to a Kansas student pursuing a degree through Wichita State’s Barton School of Business.

The Harry Najim Business Scholarship will provide $40,000 to an incoming Kansas freshman enrolled full time in the Barton School. Selection will consider academic achievement, community service and financial need. Recipients also must participate in the annual Allen, Gibbs & Houlik L.C. Scholarship Competition.

Prospective students interested in scholarship opportunities at the Barton School can learn more about academic programs, student resources and the admissions process at wichita.edu/barton. The application deadline for the 2026 AGH Scholarship competition is Nov. 8, 2026, and more information is available at wichita.edu/agh.