The University of Southern Maine’s School of Business will kick off its year-long centennial celebration with an online showcase Oct. 16.
The online event will run from 12 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. and will include a talk by current and former deans, a showcase of faculty work, a look at the student experience, and a discussion by recent alumni about the current job market. Attendees can register here: 100 Year Celebration Webinar Registration.
“This 100-year milestone offers the opportunity for us to recognize the contributions of all stakeholders in USM’s School of Business, past and present,” said Dean Joanne Williams. “Faculty, students, alumni, and community partners have worked together for a century to forge a legacy of excellence that will continue to shape the future of Southern Maine and its people.”
In the early 20th century, Portland-area accounting and law firms approached Portland University about their need for more well-trained professionals. The university founded the College of Business Administration in 1921 and its first class of 30 full-time students graduated in 1924. Coursework included business English, business math, economics, shorthand and typewriting, business spelling, Spanish, and French.
While the university changed — eventually combining with Gorham State College to become the University of Southern Maine — the business school has remained in continuous operation for 100 years. Now known as the USM School of Business, it offers the MaineMBA Accelerated Graduate Pathway and seven undergraduate majors, including marketing, operations and supply chain management, sport and esport management, and business analytics.
The year-long centennial celebration will also include an in-person event on April 19 to recognize notable alumni from each decade of the school’s history.