Author: James Schisler

The Graduate Programs in Business at the Barton School of Business recently brought undergraduate and graduate students together for the Barton School’s Business Challenge. This event was an immersive, interdisciplinary case competition designed to strengthen collaboration, analytical thinking and real-world problem solving.

Open to all Barton School majors and minors, the competition drew 48 students across 12 teams. Participants were given one week to independently analyze and develop solutions to a complex business case without the support of faculty or outside advisors. The case, centered on a fictitious Riverfest scenario, was written by Barton School faculty member Justin Keeler.

Meet the teams that placed:

First place team:

• Julia Stark
• Don Philips
• Mikhail Lindsay
• Robert Lang

Second place team:

• Megana Paramal Viswanathan
• Takudzwa Nhamo
• Teseandre Hamilton

Third place team:

• Marysol Montiel
• Justin Van
• Ashira Kelly

Mark your calendars now: At 9:30 a.m. Thursday, May 7 in 110 Woolsey Hall, Frank A. Boettger Auditorium, Lauren Dunford — co-founder and CEO of Guidewheel and the Barton School of Business’s Centennial Entrepreneur-in-Residence — will deliver a keynote presentation, “The New Wave of Innovation: AI, Robotics, Manufacturing, and the Future of Energy.” Doors open at 9 a.m.

Dunford leads Guidewheel, an AI-powered platform transforming physical operations across more than 400 manufacturers worldwide, including Johnson & Johnson, Hershey and Cargill. A World Economic Forum technology pioneer, TED speaker and Stanford scholar, she is a leading voice in “physical AI,” applying intelligence to the machines that power the global economy.

During this forward-looking keynote, Dunford will share how artificial intelligence is reshaping manufacturing, unlocking new levels of efficiency, sustainability and resilience. She will explore the convergence of AI, robotics and energy systems — and what it means for the future of industry and innovation.

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

The Barton School of Business has appointed Dr. Smita Srivastava as associate dean for faculty and research, reinforcing its commitment to advancing faculty excellence across teaching, research and external engagement.

Srivastava, an associate professor of entrepreneurship and strategy, brings a distinguished record of scholarly achievement and academic leadership focused on innovation, entrepreneurship and strategy. Her research has been published in leading journals, including the Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, and reflects a strong trajectory toward high-impact scholarship.

The Center for Entrepreneurship invites students, faculty, business leaders and community members to attend the 2026 Shocker New Venture Competition (SNVC) — a high-energy showcase of emerging startups and student innovation.

Taking place on Friday, May 1 in Woolsey Hall, this annual competition highlights the most promising new ventures from students across Kansas as they compete for funding to bring their ideas to life.

The Barton School of Business has launched its Hospitality Advisory Board, bringing together accomplished leaders from across the industry to help shape and elevate its undergraduate hospitality program and build a strong talent pipeline.

Chaired by Nikki Beyrle, Hospitality Executive-in-Residence and chief human resources officer at LDF Companies, the board represents a strategic step in advancing the Barton School’s vision through industry insight, mentorship and applied learning opportunities.

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.