Willamette University MBA

09/28/2026

Whether you’re just starting your career or ready to make a change, Willamette University’s Early Career & Career Change MBA can help you build the skills, experience, and confidence to take your next step.

With a curriculum centered around hands-on learning and real-world experience, you’ll develop practical skills you can put on your resume and talk about in interviews - preparing you to make an impact from day one.

Whether your future takes you to an industry-leading brand, start-up, nonprofit organization, government agency, or an entirely new field, the Willamette MBA gives you opportunities to explore where your interests can take you while building the professional network to help you get there.

https://willamette.edu/academics/mba/full-time/

09/25/2026

Career development is about more than submitting applications. Sometimes, it starts with being in the right room. This fall, Papa Amelemah MBA’26, JD’29 joined industry leaders from finance and accounting for the inaugural event in Willamette’s new Career Symposium series.

The smaller, curated format gave Papa and other students an opportunity to go beyond a quick resume exchange and have meaningful conversations with professionals working across the industry.

“What stood out to me was that even though the panelists had very different careers and ways of contributing to their organizations and communities, skills like interpreting data and translating it into something meaningful were fundamental across the board.”

Papa also walked away with new professional connections and insights from industry leaders at organizations including Intel - conversations that can help inform his next chapter as he transitions from his Willamette MBA into his first year at the Willamette University College of Law.

It’s exactly what the Career Symposium series is designed to create: meaningful connections, exposure to different career paths, and opportunities for students to build their professional networks before graduation.

Because sometimes the most valuable career opportunity starts with a conversation.

https://news.willamette.edu/library/2026/09/career-symposium-series.html

09/21/2026

Ready to take your career to the next level without putting it on pause? 🎓

Willamette University’s MBA for Professionals is designed for working professionals who want to build new skills, expand their network, and prepare for what’s next while continuing to work full time.

With a curriculum centered around hands-on learning and real-world application, you’ll develop practical skills and gain experience you can bring back to work the very next day. Whether your goals take you to an industry-leading brand, a start-up, nonprofit organization, government agency, or somewhere entirely new, you’ll build the confidence and business knowledge to keep moving forward.

And because your career isn’t stopping while you earn your MBA, the program is designed around your schedule. Our evening format allows you to continue working while completing your MBA in just two years.

https://willamette.edu/academics/mba/part-time/

09/14/2026

From floating candles in the Mill Stream to jump starting careers, Willamette’s newest students kicked off the academic year with a week of tradition and community.

From floating candles in the Mill Stream to jump starting careers, Willamette's newest students kicked off the academic year with a week of tradition and community.

09/14/2026

Building connections from the very beginning.

As we look back on Compass Week, two of the highlights for our new full-time MBA students were opportunities to hear directly from Atkinson alumni and local employers about their experiences, careers, and advice for what comes next.

During our Alumni Panel, students heard from:

-Minda Seibert MBA-P’08
- Bob Seibert MBA-P’08
- Sweta Kakadi ECCC MBA’25
- Noah Dantes 3+2 MBA’23

Our Employer Panel brought another perspective into the conversation, giving students the opportunity to connect with professionals and learn more about organizations in our community:

-Karla Eaglesmith ECCC MBA’25 - MAPS Credit Union
- Kenny Wright BA’24 - Rhythm and Flow
- Albert Ramon Jr. 3+2 MBA’23 - Rhythm and Flow
- Joe Mason - The Northwest Hub

These conversations are an important part of the Atkinson experience. From the very beginning of the program, our students have opportunities to learn from alumni, connect with employers, ask questions, and start building the professional network that will support them throughout their MBA journey and beyond.

Thank you to everyone who joined us during Compass Week and helped welcome the newest members of the Atkinson community!

09/09/2026

Thinking about graduate school? Let’s talk about your next step over coffee. ☕🎓

Willamette University is hitting the road this fall! Join us for a Graduate Programs Coffee Chat in your city to learn more about graduate study at Willamette and find the program that aligns with your goals.

Come chat with us about:

💻 Master of Data Science through the School of Computing & Information Sciences
📈 Early Career & Career Change MBA
📊 Master’s in Accounting & Finance

Whether you’re finishing your undergraduate degree, looking to build specialized skills, or thinking about where you want your career to go next, this is a casual opportunity to ask questions and learn about program curriculum, career opportunities, the application process, and the Willamette graduate experience.

We’re visiting Salem, Portland, Corvallis, Newberg, Monmouth, and Eugene, and we can’t wait to meet you! ☕

Even better? Each attendee will receive a complimentary drink and Willamette-branded swag.

Can’t make one of the locations or times? Let us know, and we can find a time to connect virtually.

Find a Coffee Chat near you via the link below. We look forward to meeting you and enjoying a local cup of coffee together! ☕

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe-y7FUOpqLtpfG6Q1BYkx_aPaoyDG9K54YaxvHgmVegjj1xA/viewform

09/08/2026

Let your career reach its potential. 🎓

Whether you’re just starting out in your career or you’re ready to make a change, Willamette’s Early Career & Career Change MBA can help prepare you for your next chapter.

We know your goal is to have an impact and reach your potential, whether you plan to work with industry-leading brands, start-ups, nonprofit organizations, or government.

With a curriculum that emphasizes hands-on learning, you’ll build practical skills and gain experience you can reference on your resume, all while developing the confidence you need to succeed in the modern workplace.

Willamette University’s top-ranked MBA can be the first step toward becoming the leader you were meant to be. 📈

Ready for what’s next? Learn more about our Early Career & Career Change MBA: https://willamette.edu/academics/mba/full-time/

09/01/2026

Willamette University’s Executive Development Center is now accepting registrations for the Healthcare Leadership Certificate Program, designed for clinical managers, department heads, allied health leaders, and administrative professionals ready to take the next step in their leadership journey.

As healthcare organizations navigate increasing complexity, workforce retention challenges, new technologies, and operational change, leaders need the skills to move beyond day-to-day management and think strategically.

Choose the format that works for you with in-person sessions in Portland or an interactive virtual cohort.

Ready to strengthen your leadership skills or invest in the rising leaders on your team?

Learn more and register. Questions? Contact Program Director Kennedy Hawkins at [email protected].

https://willamette.edu/academics/special-programs/executive-development/healthcare-leadership

08/31/2026

Earlier this month, Gary Knight, Professor and Helen Simpson Jackson Chair of International Management at Willamette University, was an invited speaker at the 18th Vaasa International Business Conference at the University of Vaasa in Finland.

During the conference’s plenary session on August 19, Knight presented “Turbulent Geopolitical Landscape and the International SME: Research and Managerial Implications,” exploring the challenges and opportunities facing small and medium-sized enterprises as they navigate an increasingly complex global business environment.

An internationally recognized scholar in global business and international management, Knight has been invited to share his expertise at institutions around the world.

We’re proud to see Atkinson faculty contributing their research and perspectives to important global conversations and bringing those insights back to our Willamette community.

08/28/2026

Strong leadership in Oregon’s public sector has never been more important. 🏛️

Fall Executive Education classes are officially underway at Willamette University’s Atkinson Graduate School of Management, and there’s still time to register for upcoming Fall modules in our Certificate in Public Management (CPM) program.

Designed specifically for public sector professionals, these flexible 3- to 4-day intensives provide practical strategies you can immediately bring back to your organization:

▪️Institutional Leadership - Build stronger partnerships, public trust, and strategic governance skills
▪️Data Storytelling - Turn complex data into clear, actionable insights
▪️ Follow the Money - Strengthen your understanding of public finance, budgets, revenue, and ethical decision-making
▪️ Policy and Politics - Navigate political dynamics and policy-making environments with greater confidence

Ready to invest in your leadership skills this fall? Learn more and register, or contact [email protected] with questions.

https://willamette.edu/academics/special-programs/executive-development/public-management