The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University has launched its
Executive-in-Residence program. This program will provide Barton School students,
faculty and the Wichita community with vital perspectives and knowledge from industry
leaders. Tom Gentile, president and CEO of Spirit AeroSystems, will serve as the program’s
first resident for the fall 2021 semester.
“The wisdom of industry leaders is so vast and inspirational,” said Dr. Larisa Genin,
dean of the Barton School of Business at Wichita State. “This program will tap into
that knowledge. We’re honored to have Spirit AeroSystems CEO Tom Gentile as our first
resident. His insights will be an unprecedented and valuable resource to our students
and faculty.”
Gentile was appointed president and chief executive officer of Spirit AeroSystems
in 2016. Prior to Spirit, he served as president and chief operating officer of GE
Capital. Before that role, Gentile was president and CEO of GE Healthcare Systems,
a $14 billion diagnostic imaging and medical device business. He also served as president
and CEO of GE Aviation Services, a $7 billion global enterprise providing maintenance,
repair, and overhaul as well as spare parts to GE Aviation’s global fleet of jet engines
for commercial airlines. Gentile began his career at GE in 1998, holding a succession
of leadership roles in the U.S., France and Australia. He 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.
“For the past five years, I’ve seen how important Wichita State University and the
Barton School is to the Wichita community and the region,” said Gentile. “It’s important
to continue to amplify their educational offerings. I look forward to strengthening
Spirit’s partnership with WSU and supporting the university’s important mission to
serve the Wichita community.”
Each Executive-in-Residence will provide mentorship opportunities to students, exchange
ideas with Barton School faculty and work with business leaders to shape the future
of business education in alignment with the future of work.
“Tom is the leader of the largest first-tier aerostructures manufacturer in the world,”
said Clark Bastian, chairman of the Barton School Dean’s Advisory Board and chairman
of Fidelity Bank. “This is a rare opportunity for students, faculty and our community
to collaborate with a global visionary.”
This program, along with the recently announced Entrepreneur-in-Residence program,
are a few of the many initiatives the Barton School has launched to become one of
the premier business schools in the world. It also aligns with the vision of the university
as a whole.
“We are an applied learning university. The Executive-in-Residence program at the
Barton School is the perfect mix of academia and application,” said Dr. Rick Muma,
interim president of Wichita State. “It will help create a stronger connection between
us and the outside business world. And by learning from these leaders, our students
will be better prepared to enter the workforce and eventually become leaders themselves.”
“I believe that the Barton School’s Executive-in-Residence and Entrepreneur-in-Residence
programs are not only going to shape our students’ lives, but will also positively
impact our community,” said Shirley Lefever, interim executive vice president and provost at Wichita State. “The
businesses in Wichita and around the world will see long-term benefits from our students
because of opportunities like this.”
About the W. Frank Barton School of Business: The Barton School of Business has been the undergraduate and graduate college at Wichita
State University since its founding in 1926. Located in Kansas’ business hub, the
college continues to transform with extensive applied learning opportunities and majors
for students. The Barton School currently offers more undergraduate business majors
than any other institution in Kansas. It also holds a double AACSB accreditation for
business and accounting, which puts it in the top 1% of business schools worldwide.
Wichita State University serves as the Kansas urban-based research university, enrolling
more than 15,000 students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries.
Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation
driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in
the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM),
Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of
applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one
of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing
over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
