Smeal Executive MBA Program Welcomes Record Class

PHILADELPHIA (October 31, 2006) –The Smeal College of Business Executive MBA Program in Philadelphia recently welcomed the class of 2008, which is the largest class in the four-year history of the program and is more than twice the size of previous classes. Fifty-five professionals from Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia have entered the Smeal Executive MBA Program, a 130 percent increase over last year when 24 students entered the program.

"We knew it would take a few years to establish ourselves in Philadelphia," said Smeal Dean James Thomas.  "While the Smeal College of Business is a terrific brand and a highly ranked MBA program, most professionals in this region do not realize the EMBA program here is the exact same curriculum and taught by the same world-class faculty as offered at our University Park campus."

The Smeal MBA is one of only two programs offered in the Philadelphia area by a school ranked among the best in the world by the Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, U.S. News and World Report, and the Financial Times, among others.

Dean Thomas added that the Smeal College sees a great opportunity in Philadelphia.  "Philadelphia is the largest economic region in Pennsylvania, and the Executive MBA is a great way for us to share with professionals in that city the resources and faculty expertise available at Smeal College."

Because the class size jumped from 24 to 55 students, the Smeal program decided to split the class into two cohorts, maintaining the small classroom learning environment and ensuring each student would receive personal attention.

"Our students get the best of both worlds," Dean Thomas said.  "They have access to the vast resources and alumni network of Penn State, while enjoying a small, intimate classroom setting of 25 to 30 students."

About the Penn State Smeal College of Business EMBA

Penn State's Smeal College of Business offers an Executive MBA program using faculty from its University Park campus.  Delivered every other weekend over a 21-month period in an executive format, the Smeal Executive MBA is one of only two programs in the Philadelphia area offered by a business school that is ranked among the best in the world by the Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, U.S. News and World Report, the Financial Times, and many others.  The program attracts students throughout the region from Connecticut, south to Virginia and west to Pittsburgh. Designed to help managers and professionals develop as leaders as part of an intimate learning community, the Smeal EMBA includes a yearlong course in leadership communication skills and one-on-one executive coaching. More about the program at www.smeal.psu.edu/execmba.