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.
The Cummings Student-Managed Investment Fund (CSMIF) at Wichita State University’s
W. Frank Barton School of Business opened the 2025-26 academic year with serious momentum,
announcing a 20% portfolio increase over the previous year — one of the most successful
periods in the fund’s history. The news was shared during CSMIF’s annual fall kick-off
event, where students and mentors also introduced the fund’s dynamic new leadership
team and outlined their vision for the year ahead.
Housed within the Barton School, CSMIF provides students with real-time experience
managing an investment portfolio backed by actual capital. The fund is designed to
offer practical, real-world learning that supports a variety of career paths while
fostering both personal and professional growth.
The fund was established through a generous gift from Erin and Kyle Cummings, Barton School alumni and longtime supporters of student success. In recognition
of their contribution, the Barton School named the fund in their honor. Kyle is a
Senior Trader at Vitol, which is a leading energy and commodities company. Erin is
a serial entrepreneur, author, and angel investor. She also serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board and is president of the Barton School’s Alumni Council.
“Kyle and I couldn’t be more excited about the growth of CSMIF,” said Erin. “Our goal
was to give students the kind of experience that bridges the gap between classroom
theory and real financial decision-making. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see the
students not only grow the portfolio, but grow as professionals and leaders.”
Setting a New Standard for Student-Led Investment Funds
To put the performance in context, U.S. stock markets typically deliver long-term
average annual returns of 7–10%. Many university-managed funds aim simply to match
those benchmarks. That makes CSMIF’s 20% single-year return an exceptional result
that reflects not only favorable market conditions but the effectiveness of its analytical
processes, risk discipline, and leadership.
“CSMIF continues to prove the power of student-led, experiential learning,” said Dr.
Larisa Genin, Dean of the Barton School. “A 20% growth in portfolio value is not just
impressive given the market conditions. It reflects the discipline, insight, and collaboration
of our students and mentors alike. These students aren’t just managing a portfolio
of assets. They’re building the mindset, judgment, creativity and discipline that
defines great investors.”
Meet the 2025-26 Cummings Student Managed Investment Fund Leadership Team
Ellie Stringer – President Major: Marketing/Economics Year: Junior
Coen Key – Vice President Major: Finance/Economics Year: Sophomore
Jeremy Johnson – VP of Recruitment & Membership Major: Finance/Economics Year: Sophomore
Simon Deaver – Team Lead: Asset Allocation Major: Finance Year: Senior
Michael Goldberg – Team Lead: Fund Selection Major: Finance/Economics Year: Senior
CSMIF's structure includes three core research teams: asset allocation, fund selection,
and stock selection. Each team is composed of students from a variety of academic
backgrounds including accounting, marketing, management information systems, economics,
international business and more.
“I’ve always considered CSMIF a ‘skyrocket to success,’ connecting student’s education
with real, professional experiences,” said Stringer. “We’re going in to this year
with great momentum and even greater ambition.”
The program is also supported by an experienced internal advisory team:
Paul Attwater III– Industry Advisor
Jenn Lopez– Program Director
Brett Lukert– Program Coordinator
“The work happening inside CSMIF is transformative,” added Dr. Genin. “It’s a model
of what business education should be: hands-on, high-impact, and student-led.”
