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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, with diverse enrollment and strong rankings, such as being ranked No. 10 in business analytics by US News and World Report in 2023.