Willamette University’s MBA for Professionals program, designed for working professionals with full-time jobs, is expanding into a larger space in downtown Portland to help meet the growing demand for continuing education in the state’s business hub.
The program will move on June 15 from its previous location in the Pearl District to a new space in the 200 Market Building in downtown Portland, which has twice as much classroom space and additional meeting and breakout rooms for students. The additional square footage will allow the program to offer more classes simultaneously and to expand opportunities for collaborative work.
“Moving to 200 Market is an important demonstration of our commitment to the greater business community by reinvesting in its core, downtown Portland,” said Will Fruhwirth, assistant dean and director of admission for the program. “This new location is really perfect for the Atkinson School’s mission of cross-sectoral management education, as the building literally stands at the intersection of commerce, government and not-for-profit organizations in the city.”
Growth in Willamette’s Atkinson Graduate School of Management programming — including its master's in data science and experiential classes in the Early Career and Career Change MBA program — made it clear that the program had outgrown its previous location. About 100 students are enrolled at the MBA-P program’s Portland location, and students in Willamette’s new experiential MBA and master’s of data science programs will also be able to use the new space. Alumni will be able to take elective courses at the new location through Willamette’s MBA for Life program, as well.
“We’re really expanding our footprint in Portland,” said Alex Subert, senior associate dean for the Atkinson Graduate School of Management. He added that the program will continue to grow along with the demand for part-time MBA education especially after the pandemic’s effect on lower-wage jobs and as unemployment continues to decrease. “The best and brightest tend to have significant obligations outside of school, making the part-time program very appealing,” Subert said.
Ample parking, a fitness center, secure bike parking and an outdoor plaza with bocce ball courts will be available to students in the new building, as well as transit lines and additional dining options nearby.
