Douglas A. Hensler has been named dean of the W. Frank Barton School of Business, according to Gary L. Miller, provost and vice president for academic affairs and research at Wichita State University.

Hensler is dean and holder of the Sid Craig Endowed Dean’s Chair of the Craig School of Business at California State University at Fresno.

In July, John Beehler resigned as dean of the Barton School to become dean of the College of Business and associate provost for economic initiatives at Northern Kentucky University. Bart Hildreth, Regents Distinguished Professor of Public Finance at WSU, has been interim dean of the Barton School since then.

Hensler holds a Ph.D. in finance from the University of Washington, an MBA from the University of Portland and a Bachelor of Science in engineering from Princeton University. Prior to becoming dean at Cal State Fresno, he was the W. Edwards Deming Distinguished Professor of Management at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

He also has held positions at the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of Portland, along with visiting positions at the Vienna University of Technology, the Universite of Versailles and Arizona State University.

Hensler has published widely in the areas of value creation, valuation of intellectual capital, finance theory, quality, engineering economics and corporate finance.

He brings to WSU extensive international experience and experience at integrating academic business education into urban commerce. Hensler is a licensed professional engineer (California).

“It would be nearly impossible to find a professional with a record of achievement in scholarship, business, community involvement and international experience better suited to move the Barton School to a position of national prominence,” said Miller. “We are extremely excited by Dr. Hensler’s vision to work with the excellent Barton School faculty to more fully integrate it into the Wichita business community, expand programs of special importance and be the leading partner in meeting our urban serving research mission.”

“Dr. Hensler’s experience and enthusiasm will be a real asset to Wichita State University,” said WSU President Donald Beggs. “I believe he will help further enhance the university’s presence in the regional business community.”

“The opportunity to join the W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University as dean is one of the truly exceptional openings in the nation,” said Hensler. “The Barton School has outstanding faculty and staff who commit themselves every day to excellence in the classroom. Faculty research productivity is excellent, and their commitment to service exemplary. I am excited about joining my new colleagues in the Barton School and across the university. Janie (Hensler’s wife) and I are very much looking forward to moving to Wichita, strongly engaging the community and participating in the economic growth and development of the region.”

Hensler will assume his duties as dean in mid-summer.