Group photo from Spero graduation with attendees on the social stairs..

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.

Aaron Bastian

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.”

Photo collage from the "Beyond' Hall of Fame gala on February 21, 2026.

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 W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University with an official proclamation presented on Tuesday, February 10, honoring a century of leadership, economic impact and commitment to business education.

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.”

RSVP for the J. Robert Young Executive-in-Residence Keynote of Eyal Redler and Omer Nagar as Venture Capitalists in Residence in March 2026

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.

Eyal Redler and Omer Nagar

The Barton School of Business proudly announces a Centennial Signature Initiative: the appointment of Eyal Redler and Omer Nagar as Venture Capitalists in Residence in March 2026, marking 100 years of educating business leaders while launching Barton’s next era of global innovation and entrepreneurship.

As part of their residency, Redler and Nagar will deliver an insightful keynote fireside chat titled “What Venture Capitalists Are Betting on Now: AI, Fintech, and the Future of Scalable Innovation” from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. March 12. The event will take place at the Boettger Auditorium at Woolsey Hall, with doors opening at 9:15 a.m. The keynote is expected to draw students, faculty, staff, alumni, board members and industry leaders for a timely discussion on emerging investment trends and scalable innovation.

Seth Cockrell

The Barton School of Business has officially merged its Departments of Marketing and Economics into a single, unified academic unit: the Department of Marketing and Economics. This strategic alignment, approved by the Kansas Board of Regents, is effective immediately and reflects the Barton School’s commitment to interdisciplinary innovation, academic collaboration and operational efficiency.

Dr. Seth Cockrell, who has served as chair of the marketing department since 2022, has been appointed chair of the newly merged department. With unanimous support from faculty across both disciplines, Cockrell assumes this role bringing a strong blend of industry experience, academic leadership and forward-looking vision.

“This merger represents an exciting and strategic step forward for the Barton School,” said Larisa Genin, dean of the Barton School of Business. “By uniting two disciplines that are deeply interconnected in both theory and practice, we are creating new opportunities for collaboration, innovation in teaching and research, and thoughtful resource optimization. I can’t think of a better leader to guide this transition than Dr. Cockrell.”

Dr. Silver Kung

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.”

Finalists for Prestigious Clay Barton Scholarship

The Barton School of Business has announced eight exceptional high school seniors as finalists for the 2026 Clay Barton Scholarship, one of the most prestigious business scholarships in the state of Kansas. Valued at $50,000, the scholarship is awarded annually to one student who demonstrates academic excellence, leadership and a passion for business.

The eight finalists emerged from a competitive pool of students who participated in the Allen, Gibbs and Houlik (AGH) Scholarship Competition, held on Nov. 21, 2025. This rigorous event tests candidates on their communication skills, critical thinking and problem-solving through a series of group exercises, presentations and interviews.

Finalists for the 2026 Clay Barton Scholarship are:

  • Luke Fouts, Bishop Carroll Catholic High School (Goddard, KS) – Entrepreneurship
  • Gabriel Howland, Campus High School (Wichita, KS) – Entrepreneurship
  • Adeline Lank, Kapaun Mount Carmel Catholic High School (Wichita, KS) – Entrepreneurship
  • Samantha Owens, Bluestem High School (Leon, KS) – Business Administration
  • Alyssa Pace, Belle Plaine Senior High School (Belle Plaine, KS) – Marketing
  • Gabriel Shaffer, Valley Center High School (Valley Center, KS) – Business-Undecided
  • Nathan Stigers, Shawnee Mission North High School (Shawnee, KS) – Accounting
  • Zach Tschauder, Atchison High School (Atchison, KS) – Accounting

Wichita State students have the opportunity to test their business strategy skills and compete for scholarships in the upcoming ERPsim Competition, hosted by the Barton School of Business.

The competition challenges teams to manage a virtual company using an SAP enterprise resource planning (ERP) simulation. Participants make real-time decisions related to pricing, production, inventory and finance while competing against other teams in a dynamic market environment. The experience is designed to build data-driven decision-making skills, cross-functional collaboration and resume-ready experience.

The top three performing teams will receive tuition awards, with $4,000 for first place, $2,000 for second place and $800 for third place. The top team can also advance to a national competition in March 2026.

The ERPsim Competition will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27 in the Woolsey Hall atrium. Registration is open through Feb. 15, with preparation sessions running Feb. 16-26.

Students who have completed at least one core business course or have a minimum of one year of industry experience are eligible to participate. Teams consist of three to four students, and individuals may register and be matched with a team.