Author: James Schisler

The Barton School of Business has announced the newest members of its 25 Under 25 class, an annual recognition program honoring exceptional Barton School students who are making a difference through academic excellence, leadership and community involvement.

“When the 25 Under 25 initiative was developed, our goal was simple: to spotlight the talent, drive and leadership already thriving within the Barton School,” said Cassandra Stevens, director of marketing and communications at the Barton School of Business. “I saw an opportunity, so the program is designed to elevate students’ stories so industry partners, the campus community and future Shockers can see the caliber of innovators being prepared here. Our students accomplish extraordinary things, often before they graduate, and 25 Under 25 helps shine a well-deserved light on their achievements.”

The Barton School of Business at Wichita State University has launched IMPACT — Innovative Mentored Projects for Applied Career Training, a program that provides students with paid, career-relevant project experiences while supporting meaningful work across the Wichita community and beyond.

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 Barton School received Applied Learning Fund support from Wichita State University to underwrite student wages this academic year. These university funds — allocated to WSU through state appropriations — are designed to expand experiential learning opportunities campus-wide.

The Widener Global Leaders Program (WGLP)— recognized by the Wichita Business Journal with its Innovation Award—celebrated the launch of its fifth cohort during a dynamic welcome event at Wichita State University. The new class features 12 exceptional students representing the Barton School of Business, the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the College of Fine Arts.

This year’s group marks a new era for WGLP — the first cohort under its expanded mission to provide students with a transformational, multidisciplinary educational experience that empowers them to thrive as the next generation of global leaders.

A team of five undergraduate students from the Barton School of Business earned finalist recognition at the Cornhusker Business Case Competition, a prestigious national event hosted by the Nebraska Business Honors Academy at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Representing Wichita State’s newly launched Consulting Club, the team included Abrielle Zuniga, Isabella Evans, Isabel Fulkerson, Rene Luna-Reyes and Scott Recheck. After two rounds of rigorous presentations and Q&A sessions judged by industry professionals and academic leaders, the Barton School team was named one of only four finalists — out of 14 teams representing 13 leading universities, including the University of Maryland, Texas A&M, Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Vermont, Kansas State University and Texas Christian University. 

Six student leaders from the Barton School of Business’s Cummings Student Managed Investment Fund (CSMIF) recently traveled to Chicago for the 2025 Student Managed Investment Fund Consortium (SMIFC) Conference, where they engaged with industry leaders, expanded their professional networks and explored new strategies to strengthen the fund.

“These types of experiences go far beyond the classroom — they’re transformational,” said Dr. Larisa Genin, dean of the Barton School. “They provide our students with unique access to the financial world and allow them to represent the Barton School on a national stage with confidence and professionalism.”

The Cummings Student-Managed Investment Fund (CSMIF) at the Barton School of Business opened the 2025-26 academic year with serious momentum, announcing a 20% portfolio increase over the previous year — one of the most successful periods in the fund’s history. The news was shared during CSMIF’s annual fall kick-off event, where students and mentors also introduced the fund’s dynamic new leadership team and outlined their vision for the year ahead.

Housed within the Barton School, CSMIF provides students with real-time experience managing an investment portfolio backed by actual capital. The fund is designed to offer practical, real-world learning that supports a variety of career paths while fostering both personal and professional growth.

Maggie Topping, senior vice president of Human Resources & Communications at Textron Aviation and the Barton School of Business fall 2025 J. Robert Young Executive-in-Residence, will lead a keynote fireside chat alongside Luke Pankey, chief information officer at Textron Aviation, as part of the James Schwartz Distinguished Speaker Series.

Their presentation, “Driving Innovation Forward: Textron Aviation’s Balanced Approach to AI, Talent, and the Transformation of Work,” will explore how the company is navigating workforce, technology and organizational change at a global scale.

The keynote event is at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7 in 110 Woolsey Hall, Frank A. Boettger Auditorium.

Doors open at 9 a.m. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP at wichita.edu/executive-in-residence-keynote.

The Barton School of Business proudly welcomes Lynda Jackson, an England-based communications expert, as its fall 2025 J. Robert Young Executive-in-Residence. Jackson is a distinguished communications specialist and strategist, organizational psychologist, global speechwriter and public speaking coach. She brings a wealth of global experience to her clients and has advised presidents, prime ministers and Fortune 500 executives.

“I love working with others and helping people of all ages gain confidence as communicators and leaders,” said Jackson. “I am honored and excited to work with Barton School students, faculty, staff, and the local community as the newest Executive-in-Residence.”

In this role, Jackson will engage students through mentoring and networking sessions, while also collaborating with the Barton School’s leadership team and faculty throughout the semester. Her residency will culminate in a public keynote address as part of the James Schwartz Distinguished Speaker Series during the fall 2025 semester titled: “Leading with Impact: The Power of Communication to Connect, Inspire, and Transform.” This dynamic presentation will explore the power of effective communication in leadership — highlighting strategies for driving change, inspiring teams and leading with purpose. The keynote will take place at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 29 in 110 Woolsey Hall, Frank A. Boettger Auditorium. RSVP to the keynote.

The Barton School of Business today launches “Barton Foresight: AI Outlook,” a new publication exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping business, education and society. As the first in a series of Barton Foresight initiatives, “AI Outlook” underscores the school’s commitment to equipping its community — and the wider region — with tools to anticipate change and act on it.

In 2022, the Barton School introduced the Bloom Plan, a living framework designed to accelerate enrollment growth, improve retention, raise the school’s profile and expand its impact across research, fundraising and workforce development. With the Bloom Plan in place, the school established Barton Foresight to extend this momentum by helping organizations anticipate future trends and prepare practical responses. Barton Foresight also works inwardly, supporting Barton’s faculty, staff and students in developing the capacity to navigate and shape emerging market shifts.

The Barton School of Business has taken a bold step to amplify the student voice by merging its Undergraduate and Graduate Student Advisory Boards into a single, unified body. Representing more than 2,500 business students, the newly established Barton School Dean’s Student Advisory Board will serve as a catalyst for strategic guidance, enhanced programming and an enriched student experience — all contributing to the Barton School’s advancement and its positioning among the top business schools in the nation.

Leading the board is Maley Hansen, a Wichita native and accomplished junior double-majoring in economics and data-driven marketing & intelligence, with minors in business analytics and political science. A recipient of the prestigious Harry Gore Memorial Scholarship, Hansen has distinguished herself through academic excellence, campus leadership and a dedication to student success.

“I am deeply honored to serve as president of this transformative new board,” Hansen said. “By bringing together both undergraduate and graduate perspectives, we can unify our voices, champion meaningful change, and ensure that every student feels empowered to shape their Barton School experience.”