A time comes in every person’s life when opportunity knocks and presents them with an offer they can’t pass by.

Douglas Hensler is the former dean of the W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State. He received an offer for a provost position at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, Calif.

Dr. Cindy Claycomb will replace him this summer as interim director.

Hensler recently announced that he will leave Wichita State to take the second-in-command position at the NPS. He will be responsible for all academic activities at the institution.

Hensler said the school has about 3,000 students, and spends an estimated $180 million on research every year.

“It was just a fabulous opportunity to not only work at a profoundly important institution, but also serve in a role supporting our national defense,” Hensler said.

Hensler became Dean of the Barton School 2008. He said he oversaw improvements in the school both in community relationships and the quality of graduates.

Hensler said the quality of both faculty and students at Barton make the parting difficult.

“It is a remarkable group of people,” Hensler said. “It is a group that any business (school) dean in this country would be very proud to work with.”

Hensler said he sees work remains to be done to further his initiatives at Barton. This includes the expansion and advancement of the Barton International Group through more inclusion of all business school members.

These tasks will be left to Claycomb, the new interim dean.

“I expect (Dr. Claycomb) to be very successful in that position,” Hensler said. “She has an excellent supporting cast.”

Claycomb is one of the co-chairs on the steering committee for the university’s new strategic plan.

“Working on that process, and getting to understand a little more about how the university works has helped prepare me a little bit,” Claycomb said. “I know this is at first going to be pretty overwhelming.”

Claycomb has taught in the Barton School since 1994. She was a Barton Fellow for four non-consecutive years, the last being 2012.

Claycomb has already begun the transition to taking the helm at Barton. She is currently meeting with Hensler and other staff members regarding the responsibilities of her new position.

As the interim dean, she will have all of the authority that come with the dean title through the 2013-2014 academic year. A long-term dean is expected to be found with that time.

Claycomb will assume her new position at the Barton School on June 2, 2013.