Barton In the News

Wichita State University’s Spero program housed and led by the Barton School of Business is entering its third year after graduating 80 participants across its Career Readiness and Entrepreneurship pathways. Early outcomes indicate that more than 75% of Career Readiness graduates report being employed, while 3 out of 4 Entrepreneurship graduates are operating ventures currently generating revenue.

Thirty-six years after sitting in the crowd as a Wichita State graduate uncertain about what came next, Koch executive and Barton School alumnus Richard Dinkel returned to Charles Koch Arena with a message for the Class of 2026: uncertainty is not something to fear; It is where growth begins.

The Barton School of Business at Wichita State University has received a $500,000 commitment from Vicki Decarsky via Derby Community Foundation in support of Spero, a workforce and entrepreneurship initiative designed to expand opportunity across Wichita.

The Graduate Programs in Business at Wichita State University’s Barton School of Business recently brought undergraduate and graduate students together for the Barton School’s Business Challenge. This event was an immersive, interdisciplinary case competition designed to strengthen collaboration, analytical thinking and real-world problem solving.

The Barton School of Business at Wichita State University has appointed Dr. Smita Srivastava as associate dean for faculty and research, reinforcing its commitment to advancing faculty excellence across teaching, research and external engagement.

The Wichita State University Center for Entrepreneurship invites students, faculty, business leaders, and community members to attend the 2026 Shocker New Venture Competition (SNVC)—a high-energy showcase of emerging startups and student innovation.

Taking place on Friday, May 1 in Woolsey Hall, this annual competition highlights the most promising new ventures from students across Kansas as they compete for funding to bring their ideas to life.

Erin Cummings is not your typical fashion founder. That is exactly the point and it’s exactly why her brand is gaining attention. A 2009 alumna of the Barton School of Business, Cummings is a serial entrepreneur, investor and member of the Dean’s Advisory Board. Her latest venture, Armine + Ambrose, is a semi-fine jewelry brand rooted in intention, identity and storytelling. The brand recently reached a major milestone with a showcase during New York Fashion Week. 

The Barton School of Business at Wichita State University has launched its Hospitality Advisory Board, bringing together accomplished leaders from across the industry to help shape and elevate its undergraduate hospitality program and build a strong talent pipeline.

The Barton School of Business at Wichita State University has named Lauren Dunford—one of the leading voices at the intersection of artificial intelligence, manufacturing, and sustainability—as Entrepreneur-in-Residence as part of its Centennial celebration. Her appointment signals the School’s continued commitment to connecting students and industry with transformative leaders shaping the future of the global economy.

In the heart of New York City, where the stakes mirror the pace of global finance, a team of Barton School of Business students stood shoulder to shoulder with peers from some of the nation’s most prestigious institutions and finished at the top. By earning two first-place awards at the Global Asset Management Education (G.A.M.E.) Forum XV, Barton School students didn’t just compete. They proved the power of real-world learning on a national stage.