Author: James Schisler

After an inaugural year, Spero has secured funding for its second year, thanks to private and corporate partners and a reinvestment by the Charles Koch Foundation. Housed within the Barton School of Business, Spero — Latin for “hope” — helps individuals achieve lasting independence through skill-building and access to meaningful employment. In its first year, it became both the first microcredential program in WSU’s history and the first 1EdTech TrustEd microcredential program in the world.

“I am proud of the impact Spero has already made in helping community members who need it most,” said Dr. Larisa Genin, dean of the Barton School and executive director of Spero. “With the continued support of the Charles Koch Foundation and the commitment from new donors, we look forward to expanding the growth opportunities for our students.”

In its second year, Spero will expand the scope and course programming for both the Career Readiness and Entrepreneurship tracks.

The Barton School of Business is excited to announce the addition of Valerie Corradini to its Dean’s Advisory Board. Corradini is a financial services executive with expertise in investment management, wealth advisory, institutional consulting and fintech. As a Graystone consultant at Morgan Stanley, her team advises roughly 50 non-profit, foundation and endowment clients. Hers is one of fewer than 60 teams accredited to specialize in the fiduciary management of discretionary and advisory portfolios on behalf of hospitals, faith-based organizations, universities, non-profits and complex ultra-high net worth families. As a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board, Corradini will join other industry leaders from around the world to advance the mission and strategic priorities of the Barton School through strengthening, enriching and enhancing the student experience.

“It’s a wonderfully exciting time to join the Dean’s Advisory Board, with its momentum of growth and innovation,” said Corradini. “I look forward to advancing key initiatives and creating new ones with a combination of perspective, creative energy and work ethic.”

The Barton School of Business welcomes Kevin Turpin to the Dean’s Advisory Board. Turpin is the founder and CEO of weavix, a pioneering frontline technology company. As a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board, he will work with other leaders from around the world to advance the mission and strategic priorities of the Barton School through strengthening, enriching and enhancing the student experience.

“Kevin is a visionary entrepreneur who built his success on his ability to identify opportunities and drive innovation,” said Dr. Larisa Genin, dean of the Barton School. “As a member of our Dean’s Advisory Board, I am excited for him to bring that same forward-thinking approach and expertise to help the Barton School reach new heights of excellence.”

The Collegiate DECA chapter at Wichita State brought home some serious hardware from the DECA’s 2025 International Career Development Conference (ICDC) Competitive Events Program. The conference, which took place April 5-8 in San Francisco, California, is a culmination of the DECA year where more than 1,200 members engage in competition, professional development academies and networking.

Ten members of the Wichita State DECA chapter were named competition finalists. Of those 10, Manas Madanambedu placed second in Entrepreneurship – Growing Your Business, the team of Michael Goldberg and Shawn Hulen placed second in Sports Marketing, and the team of Maley Hansen and Ronish Rasaily placed first overall in Business Ethics. This is the first time students from Wichita State have placed first in the competition. Of the ten finalists, seven were competing for the first time.

Wichita State DECA finalists:

Team competition:

• Maley Hansen and Ronish Rasaily – Business Ethics – First place
• Michael Goldberg* and Shawn Hulen* – Sports Marketing – Second place
• Hailee Hamilton* and Kamryn Nash* – Marketing Communications

Prepared business presentations:

• Manas Madanambedu* – Entrepreneurship, Growing Your Business – Second place
• Grace Skelton – Advertising Campaign

Individual competition & testing:

• Vivian Chau* – Travel and Tourism
• Allison Hipp* – Restaurant and Food Service Management
• Manas Madanambedu* – Restaurant and Food Service Management

*Denotes first-time competitors

The Barton School of Business is pleased to announce that Meritrust Credit Union has generously donated $570,000 to support the mission and ongoing initiatives of the Office of Career & Professional Development (OCPD) at the Barton School of Business. This contribution marks an increase from their previous 2022 gift, bringing Meritrust’s total investment in OCPD to $1.1 million.

“The Office of Career & Professional Development at the Barton School is an essential resource that helps students explore career paths, engage confidently with industry professionals, and develop key skills such as networking, resume building, communication etiquette, and financial literacy,” said James Nastars, president and CEO of Meritrust Credit Union and member of the Barton School Dean’s Advisory Board. “We are excited to continue supporting this vital mission and assist WSU students in laying the foundation for successful futures.”

Eight students from the Erin and Kyle Cummings Student Managed Investment Fund (CSMIF) at the Barton School of Business recently traveled to New York City for a transformative learning experience. Representing Wichita State University at Quinnipiac University’s Global Asset Management Education (GAME) Forum — the world’s largest student-run financial conference — students engaged directly with global finance leaders, explored top investment firms and strengthened their understanding of capital markets through immersive, real-world exposure.

“This opportunity was incredible,” said Adam Key, student president of CSMIF and GAME Forum attendee. “It allowed us to take what we’ve learned in the classroom and through managing our fund and apply it in a real-world context. We toured world-class financial institutions, met inspiring professionals, and got a behind-the-scenes look at the world of investment banking.”

Effective July 1, 2025, Richard Dinkel, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Koch, Inc., will assume the role of chair of the Dean’s Advisory Board for the Barton School of Business. Dinkel has served as chair-elect since August 2024 and member at-large since 2022.

He will succeed Margaret Dechant, CEO and partner at 6 Meridian, who is completing a successful three-year term as chair. Dechant will continue her involvement as an active member of the board.

“I would first like to thank Margaret for her leadership and guidance to me and the rest of the board,” said Dinkel. “I hope to continue her work as we look to position the Barton School as one of the top business schools in the nation.”

The Barton School of Business has named Tina Khan as the new executive director of the college’s Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD). Khan most recently served as a faculty member at the Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) and is also the founder and CEO of Launch, LLC.

“Creating spaces where young adults are seen and belong are core values connected to my purpose,” said Khan. “There’s a great opportunity to influence and partner with college students in their lives beyond the degree. Working alongside students as they think about their careers and next steps is what drew me to this position.”

At KLC, Khan was a member of both the core pathway and field teams, delivering leadership development programs across three communities. Through Launch, she leads strategic initiatives for organizations, including multiple county nonprofits involved in rural food systems.

Mark your calendars now: At 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 30 in 110 Woolsey Hall, Frank A. Boettger Auditorium, Chase Koch — executive vice president of Koch, and the spring 2025 entrepreneur-in-residence at the Barton School of Business — will deliver a keynote presentation, “The Sound of Change: Music as a Catalyst for Social Impact,” as part of the prestigious James Schwartz Lecture Series.

Doors open at 5 p.m. Stick around after the keynote for networking and reception in 141 Woolsey Hall, Fidelity Bank Ballroom. The event will provide attendees with a unique opportunity to hear firsthand the vision behind Somewhere Fest & Conference — a community-driven music festival that combines entertainment with social impact. Chase will share how the festival, now in its second year, has evolved into a movement that blends culture, artists and social change to bring people together and create value for local communities.

The upcoming keynote event is free and open to public. Share with your students, colleagues and networks.

The Barton School of Business has appointed Erin Cummings to its Dean’s Advisory Board. Cummings is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor and the author of “The Possibility Project: A Guided Journal for Creating What’s Possible.” She recently launched Armine + Ambrose, a semi-fine jewelry brand.

“Erin is an unwavering force for positive change and has already played a pivotal role in shaping key programs and organizations within the Barton School,” said Dr. Larisa Genin, dean of the Barton School. “Her addition to the board will greatly contribute to strengthening the student experience, fostering student success, promoting entrepreneurship, and enhancing alumni engagement. This will significantly deepen the connection between students and the wealth of opportunities available to them both during their time at Barton and beyond.”

Erin Cummings is an accomplished entrepreneur, angel investor, author and dedicated advocate for empowering future leaders. A proud alumna of Wichita State, Erin, with her husband Kyle, created the Cummings Student Managed Investment Fund, providing students with hands-on experience in managing investment portfolios. She also launched the Mentor Pilot Program, fostering meaningful connections between students and industry professionals, and currently serves as the President of the Dean’s Alumni Advisory Board, contributing her insights to shape the Barton School of Business’s strategic direction.