L.L. Bean partners with Husson to deliver on-site MBA education for employees

Courtesy / L.L. Bean Inc. The objectives for the project were heavily influenced by the Freeport Downtown Vision project, which aims to create a walkable and bikeable downtown and further embrace the outdoors, arts, culture and small businesses.

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By Staff

A new initiative by L.L.Bean Inc. and Husson University is designed to make it easier for employees to balance full-time work and their own professional education.

The program will bring professors from the Bangor-based college to Bean’s corporate headquarters in Freeport in order to make it more convenient for employees to pursue a master's degree in business administration, according to a news release. The program begins in September.

There was significant interest from Bean employees in the program, according to the release. So much, in fact, that the company had to use a lottery system to determine who would be able to participate in the first enrolled group of 22 students.

Those not selected for the first group can begin working toward a Husson MBA by completing classes online or attending classes at the university’s southern Maine campus, in Westbrook.

“Bringing graduate degree opportunities to the workplace benefits both companies and their employees,” Melissa Rosenberg, Husson director of graduate admissions, said in the release. “Education furthers employees’ careers within the organization. Simultaneously, employers get a higher quality workforce who can take the knowledge, skills and techniques they learn in class and apply them to their jobs right away.”

Courtney Fillmore, who works in Bean's human resources department, said she expects to get greater access to a network of professionals by studying at Husson.

Mark Blake, Bean’s lead logistics analyst in its customs and trade department, said he’s kept current up to now by educating himself on topics as they arose. But, he added, “As expectations for my position have grown, I need more formal and in-depth business education to continue to advance my career.”

Husson's business school is the largest in the state, according to the college’s dean, Marie Hansen.

Employers interested in learning more about how Husson can assist with workforce development can contact Melissa Rosenberg at 207.404.5660 or rosenbergm@husson.edu.