Mission and History
As a dynamic, research-driven and student-centered business school, we’ve achieved a remarkable reputation in just 30 years that continues to grow.
Our History and Values
Poole College of Management is rooted in NC State University’s historic strengths as a flagship R1 public university that excels at science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and has been at the forefront of innovation for 125 years. We saw an opportunity to expand even further and established the College of Management at NC State in 1992.
The strength and relevancy of the college’s programs led to two naming gifts, with the Jenkins Graduate Programs being named in 2007 and the college as a whole being named the Lonnie C. Poole, Jr. College of Management in December 2010.
An AACSB-accredited organization, the Poole College of Management is led by Frank Buckless, Dean and Stephen P. Zelnak, Jr. Chair.
Jenkins MBA Timeline
The Jenkins MBA program, formerly known as the Master of Science in Management, has evolved significantly since its inception in 1993.
Over the years, we introduced concentrations, expanded its offerings to include online and professional programs, and received various accolades, including being ranked No. 1 in online MBA program delivery by Financial Times in 2018. In recent years, the program has continued to grow and garner strong rankings, such as being ranked No. 10 in business analytics by US News and World Report in 2023.
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1993
Master of Science in Management is created.
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1995
TEC (Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization) concentration is launched.
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1999
Innovation Management concentration is launched.
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2002
• Steve Allen transforms the MSM curriculum into a world-class MBA curriculum, paving the way for a successful rollout of the new MBA program.
• Overall enrollment reaches 200 students. -
2006
Satellite location is created at RTP for part-time evening classes.
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2007
• MBA program is named the Jenkins MBA after a generous donation from Ben Jenkins.
• One-credit hour courses are offered on the weekend to augment elective choices and allow students to accelerate to graduation. -
2009
TEC Certificate is launched.
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2010
New study abroad programs are made available for all MBA students.
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2011
Online MBA program is launched with 31 students, becoming the first program in the college that can be completed online.
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2015
• Introduces the ability to customize a Working Professional MBA program by blending face-to-face and online courses.
• Raleigh Residencies are offered for the first time in an executive education model. -
2016
• The first cohort of McLauchlan Leadership Fellows is selected.
• Certificates in finance, marketing and supply chain are launched.
• A new curriculum with compressed core plus analytics and practicum requirements is implemented. -
2018
• Ranked no. 1 in online MBA program delivery by Financial Times.
• Ranked no. 8 in MBA programs with the best ROI by Poets & Quants. -
2020
• Leadership and business analytics certificates are launched.
• The MBA program receives its STEM designation.
• The program is ranked No. 10 Among Supply Chain Graduate Programs in the U.S. by Gartner.
• The program is designated a Military Friendly School with Gold Distinction among Tier 1 Research Institutions by Military Friendly Schools. -
2021
• Vikas Anand becomes the college’s first associate dean for academic programs, overseeing the MBA program after Steve Allen stepped down from his role.
• 700 students are enrolled across all three platforms (Full-Time, Evening and Online).
• The program is ranked no. 1 in the inaugural B-school diversity index by Bloomberg Businessweek. -
2022
• The Online MBA program is ranked No. 13 by Poets & Quants.
• The part-time Evening MBA platform is sunset. -
2023
• Don Warsing is named MBA faculty director.
• The program launches optional hybrid courses for Online MBA students.
• The Online MBA program is ranked No. 10 overall and No. 3 in employment in the U.S. and Canada by QS World University Rankings.