Overview
Tanner Williams is an accounting student who approaches college with intention and a plan. He chose Wichita State for its strong programs and active student community and quickly found his footing through coursework and leadership experiences that push him to grow. Encouraged by his high school accounting teacher, Mrs. Fuller, and by his father, Tanner committed to business after considering engineering. The choice has allowed him to pair natural strengths in numbers with an interest in real organizations and real outcomes.
On campus, Tanner serves as Vice President of Risk Management and Vice President of Alumni Relations for Beta Theta Pi, and he has also taken on House Manager responsibilities. These roles have sharpened his judgment, communication, and reliability while giving him a front row seat to chapter operations and culture. He treats leadership as an exercise in daily consistency, which mirrors the mindset he brings to academics and to work.
Financial responsibility is central to Tanner’s college story. He is proud of paying down his student debt while still in school, a goal that has required discipline, careful planning, and a willingness to make tradeoffs. The experience has reinforced his respect for accountability and long range thinking, two qualities that guided him toward the profession he intends to join.
After graduation, Tanner plans to earn the CPA and then pursue either the CGMA or a pathway in public accounting. He is attracted to the rigor of the work and to the opportunity to help clients navigate complex decisions. He believes that discomfort is often a sign of growth, a lesson he credits to his dad, who has always challenged him to step into new situations and learn.
Outside of class, Tanner relaxes by following the Detroit Pistons, a reminder that patience and perseverance matter in sports and in life. Recognized among Barton’s 25 Under 25, he sees the honor as validation of steady effort and as motivation to keep raising his standards. His favorite advice to new students is simple. Get ready, make a plan, and know when you want to start your internships. That mindset captures Tanner’s approach to college and to the profession he is preparing to enter. It reflects a spirit that is organized, committed, and focused on earning trust through work.