Author: James Schisler

Join the Barton School of Business as it celebrates the Barton School’s centennial on a global stage. Faculty and staff are invited to stop by for a live watch party of the New York Stock Exchange Closing Bell ceremony. Live coverage begins at 2:55 p.m., with the bell ringing at 3 p.m., Monday, April 6 at the Woolsey Hall atrium.

This milestone event highlights 100 years of impact and leadership. You can be part of the celebration right here on campus. Enjoy a cider toast while watching the live stream with colleagues and fellow Shockers.

Come by, raise a glass, and help mark this historic moment.

The Barton School of Business at Wichita State 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.

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. May 7 in 110 Woolsey Hall, Frank A. Boettger 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. RSVP for May 7 keynote.

In the heart of New York City, where the stakes mirror the pace of global finance, a team of Barton School of Business students stood shoulder to shoulder with peers from some of the nation’s most prestigious institutions and finished at the top. By earning two first-place awards at the Global Asset Management Education (G.A.M.E.) Forum XV, Barton School students didn’t just compete. They proved the power of real-world learning on a national stage.

In a fitting moment during the Barton School’s centennial year, the team’s debut appearance at the competition marked more than a win. It established the program among the nation’s top student-managed investment funds and reflected the strength of the school’s applied learning approach.

The Barton School of Business is excited to announce that two Wichita-area students are the recipients of the 2026 Professor Fran Jabara Endowed Scholarship. The winners are Adeline Lank from Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School and Gabriel Shaffer from Valley Center High School. Each will receive $36,400 spread over four years to attend WSU and major or double-major in entrepreneurship.

The Jabara Scholarship is one of the largest of its kind nationally for entrepreneurs. To qualify, students have to complete essay questions about the importance of education in entrepreneurship and ideas that they find intellectually interesting as well as score at least a 27 on their ACT, 1260 on their SAT or achieve a 3.5 high school GPA. The selection process culminated in the AGH Scholarship Competition held in late 2025 where they were interviewed by a panel of judges.

The Barton School of Business will take part in one of Wall Street’s most iconic traditions this spring as school leaders and key stakeholders travel to New York City to ring the Closing Bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), marking a milestone moment during the Barton School’s centennial celebration.

The bell-ringing ceremony, globally recognized as a symbol of market close and financial achievement, will showcase the Barton School’s 100-year legacy of excellence in business education, leadership and impact — across Kansas and far beyond.

Barton School of Business’ Spero Program at Wichita State has reached another significant milestone with the graduation of its second class. A total of 80 alumni, including 43 students graduating in the second class, have successfully completed the world’s first TrustEd microcredential program of its kind, establishing Spero as a national model for innovative workforce development.

Launched to bridge the gap between education and employment, Spero integrates academic instruction, professional development, employer engagement and personalized coaching to prepare participants for success in both careers and entrepreneurship.

The Barton School of Business is proud to announce that Aaron Bastian, president and CEO of Fidelity Bank, has been appointed to the Dean’s Advisory Board. As the newest member, Bastian joins a distinguished group of global industry leaders committed to advancing the Barton School’s mission and strategic priorities by strengthening, enriching and elevating the student experience.

“Aaron is a dynamic and forward-thinking leader with an unwavering passion for growing and strengthening our community,” said Dr. Larisa Genin, dean of the Barton School. “His deep commitment to Wichita and to the future of business leadership makes him an outstanding addition to our Dean’s Advisory Board. I look forward to working closely with him.”

The Barton School of Business raised more than $1 million to support student success with the sold-out “Beyond” Hall of Fame gala, which officially launched the Barton School’s 100th anniversary celebration Feb. 21.

More than 300 alumni, business leaders, university officials and community partners gathered for the event, which honored three transformative leaders: Paul Allen, Dan Carney and Steve Feilmeier.

In honor of the Barton School’s centennial year, proceeds from the gala will support scholarships, applied learning opportunities, global immersion programs, career development initiatives and student support services – ensuring today’s students are equipped to lead in a rapidly changing economy for years to come.

The City of Wichita formally recognized the 100th anniversary of the Barton School of Business with an official proclamation presented on Tuesday, Feb. 10, honoring a century of leadership, economic impact and commitment to business education.

The proclamation celebrates the Barton School’s 100-year legacy of preparing business leaders who have strengthened communities across Kansas and beyond. Presented during a City of Wichita meeting, the recognition underscores the deep and enduring partnership between the Barton School and the region it has long served.

“For 100 years, the Barton School has been closely connected to the business community of Wichita,” said Dr. Larisa Genin, dean, Barton School of Business. “This proclamation from the City is a meaningful recognition of the impact our students, alumni, faculty and partners have made.”

Mark your calendars now: At 9:30 a.m. Thursday, March 12 in 110 Woolsey Hall, Frank A. Boettger Auditorium, Eyal Redler and Omer Nagar — co-founders of The Garage global venture capital platform and Barton School of Business’s Centennial Venture Capitalists in Residence — will deliver a keynote fireside chat, “What Venture Capitalists Are Betting on Now: AI, Fintech, and the Future of Scalable Innovation.”

Doors open at 9 a.m.

Redler and Nagar manage a $100 million fund investing in early-stage companies across artificial intelligence, fintech, enterprise solutions and other disruptive technologies. During this forward-looking conversation, they will share what investors are prioritizing right now, how venture capitalists evaluate opportunity in uncertain markets, and what it takes to build scalable innovation in today’s AI-driven economy.

Stick around after the keynote to connect with fellow students, faculty, entrepreneurs and business leaders who are shaping Wichita’s innovation ecosystem. The keynote event is free and open to the public. Share with your students, colleagues and networks.