October 31, 2022 – Marist College’s internationally accredited Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is celebrating its 50th anniversary as it continues to innovate and provide students with exceptional learning experiences. Housed within the School of Management, Marist’s program has long been considered among the best in the country, featuring a high-quality and accessible education that provides students with valuable tools to thrive in some of the world’s most demanding professional settings.

The program began in 1972 and was guided by a focus on professional training that remains a hallmark of a Marist education today. Options were limited in the early 70s in the Mid-Hudson Valley for those seeking a graduate degree in business. With a growing number of professionals pouring into the area at that time, Marist College jumped in to fill an important workforce need.

Conceived and developed by Professor Emeritus Theodore (Ted) Prenting, the beginnings of the program came in part from Prenting’s realization that the large presence of IBM might generate a willing pool of potential applicants.

“The concept for the program started with the very nature of the MBA, which traditionally was designed to help engineers to move into management positions,” said Prenting. “From its beginnings, this program was very popular at Marist. With an initial pool of approximately 100 students, that pool doubled within just a few years. The admission and gradual increase of female students was an important factor that grew the number of students in the program.”

The program has evolved over time and is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

A rendering of the new Dyson Center, future home of the School of Management. Rendering courtesy of Ann Beha Architects / Annum.

“Since its cutting-edge transition to offering the first completely online MBA in the state of New York, the Marist MBA program has consistently been among the best in the country,” said James D. Phillips, Senior Associate Dean of Marist’s School of Management. “These recurring accolades demonstrate the continuing high quality and distinctiveness of our program.”

Dean of Marist’s School of Management, Will Lamb, and MBA Program Director Jay Pantaleo tout “the four C’s” at the core of the ever-evolving program: Curriculum, Career, Connections, and Character.

“It is critical that we make our offerings as accessible as possible for our students, while putting a focus on career building and career coaching,” said Lamb. “Recently, we have introduced an accelerated 14-month MBA for qualified candidates and restructured courses from 15-weeks to 8-weeks in length, allowing greater flexibility for part-time students. Our faculty also ensure that our core courses are contemporary and relevant in today’s business environment,” he said.

“This academic year, we created a Marist MBA Student Advisory Group, comprised of current and recent graduates of the program, which partners with me to review current and future strategies,” said Pantaleo. “The program is developing in-person events to give students opportunities to network with their classmates, professors, and school leadership. We are also recognizing students who serve their communities.”

Graduates of Marist’s MBA program have gone on to impressive careers in business, with many thriving in careers within companies featuring a global reach. The program has been cited repeatedly among the best in the country, ranked in publications such as Fortune, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Princeton Review and U.S. News and World