Willamette University MBA

08/28/2026

Strong leadership in Oregon’s public sector has never been more important. 🏛️

Fall Executive Education classes are officially underway at Willamette University’s Atkinson Graduate School of Management, and there’s still time to register for upcoming Fall modules in our Certificate in Public Management (CPM) program.

Designed specifically for public sector professionals, these flexible 3- to 4-day intensives provide practical strategies you can immediately bring back to your organization:

▪️Institutional Leadership - Build stronger partnerships, public trust, and strategic governance skills
▪️Data Storytelling - Turn complex data into clear, actionable insights
▪️ Follow the Money - Strengthen your understanding of public finance, budgets, revenue, and ethical decision-making
▪️ Policy and Politics - Navigate political dynamics and policy-making environments with greater confidence

Ready to invest in your leadership skills this fall? Learn more and register, or contact [email protected] with questions.

https://willamette.edu/academics/special-programs/executive-development/public-management

08/27/2026

We are excited to introduce the Commencement Speaker for the Atkinson Graduate School of Management MBA for Professionals.

Find out important details about the 2026 Atkinson Graduate School of Management Commencement Speaker at Willamette University's Commencement in Salem Oregon.

08/26/2026

It’s almost time to celebrate our MBA for Professionals graduates!

This Saturday, we’re excited to recognize the hard work, dedication, and accomplishments of our MBA for Professionals Class of 2026 at Commencement!

Balancing graduate school with careers, families, and everything else life brings is no small accomplishment, and we’re incredibly proud of all our graduates have achieved throughout their time at Willamette.

MBA for Professionals Commencement
Saturday, August 29, 2026
9:30-10:30 a.m.
Hudson Hall, Mary Stuart Rogers Music Center

https://willamette.edu/life-on-campus/commencement/agsm/mbap

08/25/2026

Across North America, energy utilities are navigating rapid transformation, from AI integration and grid reliability to evolving regulatory demands.

For more than 20 years, Willamette University’s Utility Management Certificate (UMC) has helped utility professionals bridge technical expertise with the strategic leadership skills needed to navigate a changing industry.

The Fall 2026 cohort offers a 10-day hybrid curriculum covering:
▪️Energy markets, resource planning & utility governance
▪️AI integration, leadership, negotiation & communication
▪️ Utility finance, ratemaking & fiscal responsibility
▪️ Stakeholder relations, customer engagement & policy
▪️A real-world mock utility board presentation evaluated by industry leaders

And the results speak for themselves: 100% of recent graduates reported high satisfaction, with 98% saying the program strengthened their strategic and technical skills.

Portland, OR + virtual half-day sessions
October 5-30, 2026

Ready to strengthen your leadership skills and prepare for the future of the utility industry?

Learn more and register, or contact [email protected] with questions about group rates or graduate credit options.

https://willamette.edu/academics/special-programs/executive-development/utility-management

08/24/2026

After a great Compass Week last week, we’re excited to officially kick off a new semester at the Atkinson Graduate School of Management!

Our newest graduate students spent the week getting oriented, meeting their classmates, connecting with faculty and staff, and learning about the resources and opportunities that will support them throughout their time at Willamette.

Compass Week is all about building the foundation for a successful graduate experience and it was wonderful to see our newest students already making connections.

Now it’s time to put it all into action. 📚

Welcome back to all of our Atkinson students, and a special welcome to our newest cohort. Here’s to a great semester ahead!

08/12/2026

The Atkinson Perspective | Featuring Professor Tim Johnson 🎓

Hear directly from the faculty shaping tomorrow’s leaders.

What makes the Atkinson Graduate School of Management different?

We asked Tim Johnson, Grace & Elmer Goudy Associate Professor of Public Management, Applied Artificial Intelligence, and Quantitative Methods, to share his perspective.

Professor Johnson’s research spans artificial intelligence, public management, cooperation, and decision-making, with work published in journals including Nature and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. An award-winning educator, he’s also been recognized as one of Poets & Quants’ World’s Best 40 Under 40 MBA Professors.

Watch as Professor Johnson shares what makes the Atkinson experience so unique.

08/11/2026

One week until Compass Week! We can't wait to welcome our newest Early Career MBA, Career Change MBA, 1-Year MBA, and MS in Accounting & Finance students to campus!

Compass Week is designed to help you start your graduate journey with confidence by preparing you for academic success, professional growth, and meaningful community connections.

Compass Week is more than orientation, it's the beginning of your journey as part of the Atkinson community.

We can't wait to meet our newest cohort and kick off an incredible year together. See you in one week!

https://willamette.edu/admissions/orientation/full-time-mba

08/10/2026

The Pacific Northwest—with its burgeoning tech scene, entrepreneurial spirit, and socially conscious ethos—is an incredible place to start or grow your career in business, not-for-profit, and government management.

Atkinson Graduate School of Management offers flexible MBA pathways for professionals at every stage. Our newly redesigned MBA for Professionals is a hybrid, part-time program that lets you lead with confidence and apply what you learn immediately.

Recognized among Oregon’s leading business schools, Atkinson combines hands-on learning, world-class faculty, and a supportive network to prepare graduates for real-world impact and lifelong success. Graduates can also take advantage of our MBA for Life program, which allows alumni to enroll in select courses tuition-free. Explore our Salem MBA programs, Portland MBA programs, or discover additional certificates and programs to advance your career.

https://willamette.edu/academics/mba/

08/05/2026

Summer Internship Spotlight: Alexa de Crinis BS'27 MBA'27

This summer, Alexa de Crinis is gaining hands-on leadership experience as a Project Management Intern with Concora Credit, where she's helping drive innovation through artificial intelligence while growing into a project management role.

As part of her internship, Alexa is leading an AI implementation project designed to help her organization's project management team work more efficiently and effectively. In addition to managing her own initiative, she's had the opportunity to shadow Senior Project Managers, learning firsthand how experienced leaders navigate complex projects. Now, she's taking the next step by transitioning into the role of Project Manager for one of the organization's active projects.

Alexa also credits the Willamette Career Development team for supporting her professional journey.

"The Career Development team provided me with the resume template I still use today, helping me present my experience with confidence throughout my internship search."

Reflecting on her experience, Alexa shared:

"Leading an AI implementation project for our PM team has been such a rewarding way to see new technology make a real difference in how people work. Shadowing Senior PMs in their meetings gave me an inside look at different project management styles, and now that I'm stepping into the Project Manager role myself, I feel excited to take on the challenge."

And one unexpected perk?

"We have a dog-friendly office, and it's amazing!" 🐶

Experiences like these give our MBA students the opportunity to apply what they're learning in the classroom to real-world challenges while developing leadership, technology, and project management skills that will serve them throughout their careers.

We're proud to see Alexa embracing new challenges this summer and can't wait to see where her career takes her next!

08/03/2026

As the energy landscape continues to evolve, strong leaders are more important than ever. Willamette University's Utility Management Certificate (UMC) equips utility professionals with the knowledge and leadership skills to navigate today's biggest challenges, from regulatory change and AI integration to resource planning and strategic decision-making.

Designed for working professionals, this hybrid program combines online learning with immersive, in-person sessions in Portland.

Fall 2026 Cohort
• In-person: Oct. 5-9 & Oct. 26-30
• Online: Oct. 14, 15, 20 & 21

Register early to take advantage of exclusive travel and lodging discounts for incoming students.

Learn more and reserve your spot: https://willamette.edu/academics/special-programs/executive-development/utility-management