The W. Frank Barton School of Business is the home of real and applied learning. A
place where students apply knowledge gained from faculty and business leaders while
developing professional and life skills. The Barton School is among the top 1% of
business schools worldwide due to its double AACSB accreditation in business and accounting.
Housed in the award-winning building, Woolsey Hall, features artwork, sculptures,
gardens, and The Promise Bridge – a 300-foot-long pedestrian bridge over the water
in front of the building.
After an inaugural year, Spero has secured funding for its second year, thanks to private and corporate partners
and a reinvestment by the Charles Koch Foundation. Housed within the W. Frank Barton
School of Business at Wichita State University, Spero—Latin for ‘hope’—helps individuals
achieve lasting independence through skill-building and access to meaningful employment.
In its first year, it became both the first micro-credential program in WSU’s history
and the first 1EdTech TrustEd Micro-credential program in the world.
“I am proud of the impact Spero has already made in helping community members who
need it most,” said Dr. Larisa Genin, Dean of the Barton School and Executive Director
of Spero. “With the continued support of the Charles Koch Foundation and the commitment from new donors, we look forward to expanding the growth opportunities
for our students.”
In its second year, Spero will expand the scope and course programming for both the
Career Readiness and Entrepreneurship tracks.
Focused on building the skills, confidence, and professional development necessary
to succeed in the workplace, the Career Readiness track will expand its cohort to
additional applicants and feature a Career Advancement Program (CAP). The CAP will
provide graduates with ongoing support for continued job placement and career progression.
This will increase opportunities to expand their skill sets, meet with Spero employers,
participate in additional interviews, and land full-time jobs with these organizations.
FALL 2025 SPERO EMPLOYERS:
Bank of America
Berry Companies
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas
Building Controls and Services, Inc.
Cargill
Cocoa Dolce
Cox Communications
EmberHope
Emprise Bank
Equity Bank
Evergy
Fidelity Bank
Hall’s Culligan
Hutton
IMA Financial Group
INTRUST Bank
Koch
Max Aerostructures
Meritrust Credit Union
B. Hoidale
PrairieFire Coffee Roasters
Star Lumber
Textron Aviation Inc.
weavix, Inc.
The Entrepreneurship track, aimed at providing practical training for those looking
to start or grow their businesses, will expand to include a Venture Advancement Program
(VAP), where participants will be supported with market research and consulting services,
gain privileged access to resources, and jointly develop their ventures via hands-on
activities with field experts.
Spero is also launching an Alumni group for graduates to remain engaged and capitalize
on a wide range of relationship networks with former and current participants, faculty,
business leaders, and members of Barton School advisory board.
“The Spero program has become a magnet for talented individuals committed to shaping
their own futures,” said Genin. “The interest in Spero has been remarkable, and we
believe that expanding our offerings will be met with continued enthusiasm from the
community.”
Applications for both micro-credential programs, offered complimentary to qualified
participants, are open and interviews will be conducted in July.
Interested individuals can apply through the following links:
Career Readiness Micro-Credential Program Application: Apply Here
Entrepreneurship Micro-Credential Program Application: Apply Here
