Barton School News - All Stories

The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University announces the launch of SPERO, an organization aimed at unlocking the potential of Wichita and its citizens. SPERO, which is Latin for “hope,” has a dual focus: preparing individuals to transform their lives through meaningful employment and guiding the efforts of citizens and organizations acting to advance Wichita’s prosperity. For its inaugural year, SPERO will benefit from a $400,000 contribution from the Charles Koch Foundation.

The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University is pleased to announce that accomplished entrepreneur Chris Wright will serve as its Entrepreneur-in-Residence for the Fall 2024 semester. Wright, the founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board of Liberty Energy (NYSE: LBRT), based in Denver, Colorado, brings a wealth of experience and dedication to the role.

The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University has named Christopher Stone as the new Chair of the Management Department. Dr. Stone, a faculty member since 2018, has served as an Associate Clinical Professor of Management at the Barton School. He succeeds Gery Markova, who has served as Chair since 2021 and has been instrumental in leading the department and initiating new programs, among other achievements.

The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Siyu Wang as the new chair of the Department of Economics. Dr. Wang, a professor at the Barton School since August 2020 and head of the Behavioral Economics Lab, succeeds Jen-Chi Cheng, who has expertly led the department for more than 20 years.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Dinkel, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Koch, Inc., as the new Chair-Elect of the Barton School Dean’s “Fabulous 50” Advisory Board, effective July 1, 2024. He will succeed Margaret Dechant and will begin his three-year term as Board Chair on July 1, 2025, serving through June 30, 2028.

Jeremy Hill who has worked at the W. Frank Barton School of Business’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research (CEDBR) as the director since 2009, will step down from his role at Wichita State University effective June 30 to pursue a new career opporunity. Dr. Chris Broberg, associate dean faculty & research in the Barton School, will serve as interim director while a search for a permanent successor is conducted.

May 1, 2024 — Iris Okere joined Wichita State University for its affordability and distance to her home in Texas. Here, she found WSU to be a place full of opportunities for her, including a chance grow her own confidence and independence through the challenges she faced, and in her final year, she was elected to the position of student body president in the Student Government Association.

The Barton School of Business at Wichita State University is poised to host its esteemed “Beyond” Hall of Fame 2026, dedicated to recognizing, honoring, and celebrating industry executives and business leaders who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to their communities and the advancement of the Barton School. The illustrious inductees of the inaugural Hall of Fame in 2024 were Frank Barton, Clark Bastian, and Fran Jabara. Nominations for this prestigious event's next group of inductees are being welcomed until Friday, May 10, 2024.

The Global Workplace MBA Initiative, a collaborative effort between the Barton School of Business at Wichita State University and the Berlin School of Economics and Law, proudly celebrates its 20th year of partnership. Launched in 2004, this initiative is designed to offer U.S. and German MBA students immersive real-world international collaboration teams and intercultural communication experiences. Widely acclaimed, it stands as one of the most distinctive international MBA programs in the United States.

The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University is pleased to announce that Gene Camarena is joining the Dean’s Advisory Board. He currently serves as the president and CEO of La Raza Pizza, Inc. As a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board, Camarena will help advance the mission and strategic priorities of the Barton School by strengthening, enriching, and enhancing programming, impact, and the student experience.