Barton School News - All Stories

Feb. 14, 2024 — The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University awarded Faith Swart, a Maize High School senior, the 2024 Clay Barton Scholarship. The $50,000 scholarship is one of the largest business scholarships in Kansas.

On Wednesday, February 7, members of the W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University stopped by Maize High School to award senior Faith Swart the 2024 Clay Barton Scholarship. The surprise, coordinated between the Barton School and Maize High School officials, included an announcement and presentation of a ceremonial check to Swart during one of her classes. The $50,000 scholarship is one of the largest business scholarships in Kansas.

The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University has announced that Dr. Seth Cockrell will serve as the next Chair of the Marketing Department. Cockrell, who has been working at the Barton School for more than five years as a faculty member, will take over from Duane Nagel, recently appointed as the Barton School’s Senior Associate Dean.

The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University has finalized the inaugural group for the Erin and Kyle Cummings $500,000 Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF). The class consists of 30 students from across the world representing 10 majors.

The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Duane Nagel as its Senior Associate Dean. In this role, Nagel will oversee the successful implementation of the school’s strategic plan and related key initiatives, manage undergraduate and graduate programs, lead efforts to maximize on our enrollments, advance faculty and research affairs, among other key areas. His collaborative efforts with Dr. Larisa Genin, Dean of the Barton School, and other key leaders will focus on identifying areas for enhancement and innovation across these domains.

The W. Frank Barton School of Business proudly welcomes Gene and Yolanda Camarena as its dynamic Entrepreneurs-in-Residence duo for the Spring 2024 semester. Gene, serving as the President and CEO of La Raza Pizza, Inc., brings unparalleled expertise in the business realm. Complementing his prowess, Yolanda, a dedicated leader with a significant career as a social justice and equity advocate in education, enriches our community with her invaluable insights. Together, they form an exceptional team poised to inspire and elevate our academic and entrepreneurial landscape.

Barton School of Business is delighted to announce that Tom Gentile, the inaugural Executive-in-Residence back in 2021, will now serve as the Executive Advisor to the Dean. Mr. Gentile, a distinguished global leader with a background in top executive roles at Spirit AeroSystems, GE Capital, and other esteemed organizations, has also been an engaged member of the School's Dean's "Fabulous 50" Advisory Board for the past two years. His commitment extends to lending invaluable expertise and insight, significantly elevating the collaborative endeavors of the board.    Mr. Gentile earned his bachelor’s degree in economics magna cum laude and MBA from Harvard University and studied international relations at the London School of Economics.

Dec. 11, 2023 — Mariann Kurosu worked as a graduate research assistant for the Center for Real Estate while working towards her master’s in economics and quantitative analysis, which she will graduate with this December. She encourages her classmates to embrace the opportunity to learn and build their critical thinking skills and network by getting to know their peers.

Dec. 08, 2023 — Mariana Vazquez Serna got involved at Wichita State’s and made connections with her peers and professors by joining clubs and attending events on campus, something she advises other students to do as well during their time at WSU. She will work as an associate for an accounting firm after graduating with her BBA in accounting.

The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University is excited to announce a $100,000 commitment from T. Michael Young, a retired managing partner at The CapStreet Group, to create a new Barton School scholarship for business students with financial needs. Young was a first-generation college student who graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from WSU while married and working full-time.