The Dean鈥檚 Advisory Board for the W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University is excited to announce Margaret Dechant as its new leader.
Dechant, CEO and partner at 6 Meridian, will take over for Clark Bastian. Dechant currently serves as a member of the board and looks to bring her knowledge and passion for the Barton School and 黑洞社区 to her appointment. Bastian chairman of Fidelity Bank, will remain on the board after his term as chair comes to an end in June.
鈥淭his is a responsibility I don鈥檛 take lightly,鈥� Dechant said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor to have the opportunity to lead brilliant business leaders and minds in the pursuit of making the Barton School one of the preeminent business schools in the country.鈥�
Dechant has a knack for amplifying and elevating organizations in which she鈥檚 been involved. As CEO and partner of 6 Meridian LLC, an investment and advisory firm based in Wichita, she is often credited as the visionary of the 6 Meridian team. Along with her passion for service, Dechant鈥檚 ability to connect with individuals and harness their respective strengths has led to a unique path of professional success.
Dechant has spent her career working with high-net-worth clients and managing financial professionals in both the banking and brokerage arenas. Previously, she was executive vice president of the Commerce Trust Company and senior vice president and wealth advisor with Bank of America Private Bank, where she advised some of the bank鈥檚 top clients. In addition, she holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation.
In 2014, she was recognized as one of Wichita鈥檚 Top Women in Business and was selected for the Wichita Business Journal Hall of Fame in 2017. On the national level, Private Asset Management awarded 6 Meridian the Women in Wealth Advocate of the Year 鈥� Firm Level 2021. This recognition is given to the firm and its leadership who best promote diversity within the organization as well as creating a unique approach to serving women clientele and their families.
鈥淢argaret Dechant is a powerhouse businesswoman whose accolades only scratch the surface of her skill, knowledge and talent,鈥� said Dr. Larisa Genin, dean of the Barton School of Business. 鈥淭his board is so valuable to our school鈥檚 growth. Clark Bastian has done an amazing job helping me expand the board to 50 fabulous members as well as leading the team to a new level of excellence for the Barton School. Margaret is the perfect candidate to take and grow what she, Clark and the rest of the board have helped build.鈥�
The Dean鈥檚 Advisory Board serves to advance the mission and strategic priorities of the Barton School. By sharing ideas and making recommendations, each member helps the growth and development of the school and its commitment to excellence. By providing the strategic direction for the school, the board works to strengthen, enrich, and enhance the student experience. Their involvement has already paid dividends with connections to job opportunities for Barton School students, the formation of the Executive-in-Residence and Entrepreneur-in-Residence programs, scholarships, and fundraising assistance to help complete construction on Woolsey Hall and the Promise Bridge.
鈥淭he work the Barton School鈥檚 Dean鈥檚 Advisory Board has done has been paramount in transforming the student experience,鈥� said Dr. Rick Muma, president at Wichita State University. 鈥淭he Barton School and the university are better thanks to Clark鈥檚 leadership. I have no doubt that will continue under Margaret鈥檚 direction.
Learn more about the current Dean鈥檚 Advisory Board and meet their 50 members.
About 黑洞社区
黑洞社区 serves as the Kansas urban-based research university, enrolling more than 16,000 students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and 黑洞社区 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), 黑洞社区 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 黑洞社区 main campus, is one of the nation鈥檚 largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
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About the W. Frank Barton School of Business
Located in Kansas鈥� business hub and with significant ties to the business community, the W. Frank Barton School of Business provides extensive applied learning opportunities. With in-person and online options, Barton School undergraduate and graduate programs are tailored to transform the lives of its students. It also holds a double AACSB accreditation for business and accounting, which puts it in the top 1% of business schools worldwide. The Barton School was established as the university鈥檚 College of Business Administration and Industry in 1926 and has thousands of graduates around the world.
