Six student leaders from the Barton School of Business’s Cummings Student Managed Investment Fund (CSMIF) recently traveled to Chicago for the 2025 Student Managed Investment Fund Consortium (SMIFC) Conference, where they engaged with industry leaders, expanded their professional networks, and explored new strategies to strengthen the fund.

“These types of experiences go far beyond the classroom — they’re transformational,” said Dr. Larisa Genin, Dean of the Barton School. “They provide our students with unique access to the financial world and allow them to represent the Barton School on a national stage with confidence and professionalism.”

Held October 9–10 and hosted by Indiana State University, SMIFC 2025 brought together student-managed investment funds from across North America for two days of interactive workshops, keynote addresses, and peer collaboration. Topics ranged from macroeconomic forecasting and portfolio optimization to ethics in investing and leadership in asset management.

“Our team came back energized and full of new ideas,” said Jenn Lopez, CSMIF Program Director. “From refining our research approach to strengthening collaboration within the fund, our student leaders are already putting what they learned into action.”

Speakers at SMIFC 2025 reflected a broad spectrum of leadership across finance and economics. Featured voices included Frederick J. Crawford, former President and COO of Aflac Incorporated, Daniel G. Sullivan, Executive Vice President at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Lauren Henderson, Senior Economist at Stifel Financial, Fatimah Hijjawi, Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley, and many more. Each speaker shared unique perspectives, giving students a multifaceted view of today’s evolving financial landscape.

“Being surrounded by passionate peers and respected professionals was inspiring,” said Jeremy Johnson, a sophomore majoring in finance and economics who serves as CSMIF’s vice president of recruitment and membership. “It reaffirmed my commitment to making the most of every opportunity.”

In addition to hearing from respected leaders, students participated in breakout sessions on alternative investments, ESG strategy, and tools for effective fund governance. The team also collaborated with student peers from other universities to benchmark ideas and share best practices.

“This conference really helped us understand how other funds approach competitions at events like these,” said Ellie Stringer, a junior majoring in marketing and economics who serves as CSMIF president. “From preparation to performance, we saw how we can raise our own competitive edge. We are now taking those insights and directly translating them into our fund's operations.”

Beyond the conference, the group visited financial powerhouses including UBS, Bank of America, the Zell Family Office, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. These opportunities were made possible through connections facilitated by the Barton School’s Dean’s Advisory Board. They offered a rare behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of global finance and helped reinforce concepts explored at SMIFC.

“These visits gave us a much broader perspective of what it means to work in finance at a high level,” said Coen Key, a sophomore finance and economics major and the fund’s vice president. “We were able to ask deeper questions and build relationships that could shape our careers.”

Support from Erin and Kyle Cummings, whose vision and philanthropy established CSMIF as a premier experiential learning program at Wichita State, was critical in making this opportunity possible. Their continued investment in student experience ensures that emerging leaders gain the exposure and confidence needed to excel in competitive careers.

“Our students are gaining real and applied learning in action,” added Dean Genin. “It’s thanks to generous partners like the Cummings family that we’re able to give them experiences that shape both their skillsets and their ambitions.”

Now back on campus, the fund’s student leadership team is implementing ideas gathered in Chicago. From sharing insights with fellow fund members to leading improvements in fund operations, they are ensuring the benefits of the trip extend well beyond the conference.

“Experiences like this do more than build skills - they expand perspective,” said Lopez. “They remind our students that leadership is about growth, connection, and paying that forward to others.”

To learn more about the Cummings Student-Managed Investment Fund, visit wichita.edu/csmif or follow the fund on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/w-frank-barton-school-of-business-student-managed-investment-fund/.