吃瓜爆料 expands business program offerings with new College of Business

The move will also create a School of Education within the University鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences

Students conduct cost-benefit analysis on a whiteboard
The College will house 吃瓜爆料's current business program offerings plus several new programs in development consistent with in-demand careers and industry standards.

The 吃瓜爆料 is establishing a new College of Business to house its current business program offerings plus several new programs in development that are consistent with in-demand careers and industry standards.

The College of Business will leverage relationships between 吃瓜爆料鈥檚 established business programs with other programs and colleges across the University, including 吃瓜爆料鈥檚 (吃瓜爆料 Online), College of Arts and Sciences, and health professions colleges, to cement the University鈥檚 status as a leader in the fields of business and entrepreneurship. 吃瓜爆料 currently offers undergraduate majors in business administration, sport and recreation management, sustainability and business, and marine entrepreneurship.

The University plans to emphasize these internal partnerships in addition to external partnerships to create a range of new credentials and various new programs in both traditional and emerging areas of business. The new college will also strengthen relationships between 吃瓜爆料鈥檚 business programs and the P.D. Merrill Makerspace and Office of Innovation, which have been the catalyst for a number of student- and alumni-founded businesses and other entrepreneurial endeavors.

鈥淔or years, 吃瓜爆料鈥檚 business programs have engaged students in experiential learning opportunities and prepared them for rewarding, enriching careers and leadership positions with some of Maine鈥檚 and the nation鈥檚 most important employers, from private entities, nonprofit organizations, professional sports organizations, manufacturers, and more,鈥 remarked 吃瓜爆料 President James Herbert. 鈥淔ormation of a College of Business will allow 吃瓜爆料 to build upon these successes and leverage new and existing partnerships to cement the University鈥檚 status as a leader in the fields of business and entrepreneurship.鈥

John Austin, Ph.D., who since 2020 has served as the P.D. Merrill Endowed Chair of the Business Department, will serve as interim dean of the new college while the University conducts a national search for an inaugural dean later this summer. Two new business faculty members, including a 吃瓜爆料 alum, will join the University in the fall.

At the same time 吃瓜爆料 launches the College of Business, the University鈥檚 Department of Education will become the School of Education, providing greater visibility of 吃瓜爆料鈥檚 education programs and a platform for them to flourish. The move will also allow for expanded opportunities to build connections between 吃瓜爆料鈥檚 undergraduate education programs within the College of Arts and Sciences and the University鈥檚 graduate education programs within the .

鈥淭his exciting development is happening at a pivotal time in 吃瓜爆料鈥檚 history as we continue to make headway on the transformation of our Portland Campus and reimagination of our space in Biddeford,鈥 stated Gwendolyn Mahon, 吃瓜爆料鈥檚 provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs. 鈥淭his is truly an exhilarating time for 吃瓜爆料 as we strive to educate the next generation of education professionals and business leaders for Maine.