— 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.
— The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University is excited to announce the addition of Valerie Corradini to its Dean’s Advisory Board. Corradini is a financial services executive with expertise in investment management, wealth advisory, institutional consulting and fintech. As a Graystone consultant at Morgan Stanley, her team advises roughly 50 non-profit, foundation and endowment clients. Hers is one of fewer than 60 teams accredited to specialize in the fiduciary management of discretionary and advisory portfolios on behalf of hospitals, faith-based organizations, universities, non-profits and complex ultra-high net worth families. As a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board, Corradini will join other industry leaders from around the world to advance the mission and strategic priorities of the Barton School through strengthening, enriching and enhancing the student experience.
— The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University welcomes Kevin Turpin to the Dean’s Advisory Board. Turpin is the founder and CEO of weavix, a pioneering frontline technology company. As a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board, he will work with other leaders from around the world to advance the mission and strategic priorities of the Barton School through strengthening, enriching and enhancing the student experience.
— The Collegiate DECA chapter at Wichita State University brought home some serious hardware from the DECA’s 2025 International Career Development Conference (ICDC) Competitive Events Program. The conference, which took place April 5-8 in San Francisco, Calif., is a culmination of the DECA year where more than 1,200 members engage in competition, professional development academies and networking.
— Eight students from the Erin and Kyle Cummings Student Managed Investment Fund (CSMIF) at the Barton School of Business recently traveled to New York City for a transformative learning experience. Representing Wichita State University at Quinnipiac University’s Global Asset Management Education (GAME) Forum—the world’s largest student-run financial conference—students engaged directly with global finance leaders, explored top investment firms, and strengthened their understanding of capital markets through immersive, real-world exposure.
— Effective July 1, 2025, Richard Dinkel, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Koch, Inc., will assume the role of Chair of the Dean’s Advisory Board for the Barton School of Business at Wichita State University. Dinkel has served as Chair-Elect since August 2024 and Member At-Large since 2022.
— The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University has named Tina Khan as the new Executive Director of the college’s Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD). Khan most recently served as a faculty member at the Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) and is also the founder and CEO of Launch, LLC.
— The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University has appointed Erin Cummings to its Dean’s Advisory Board. Cummings is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and the author of The Possibility Project: A Guided Journal for Creating What’s Possible. She recently launched Armine + Ambrose, a semi-fine jewelry brand.
