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Sponsored by: University of New England
August 29, 2024

UNE’s new College of Business

A doctor of marketing who has literally written the book on sports sponsorships (and many other topics), Norm O’Reilly is busy with his first semester as the inaugural Dean of UNE’s new College of Business. With his substantial background in marketing, sports business, and education, he’s working with his team to launch truly innovative business programs that deliver job-ready graduates to the business world. We sat down with him for a brief conversation.

Q: Why is UNE starting a College of Business now?

Great question! Disruption characterizes the business world today, more than in any period since the end of World War II. In response, organizations are forced to change rapidly. These disruptions range from teleworking to AI to changing consumer preferences. As a result, the demand is significant for a new breed of professionals who are skilled and ready to drive impact from day one. In our region, the need is above average, due to our demographics, with new and existing ventures actively seeking young talent ready to work in such a challenging environment.

To meet this need, UNE is launching a College of Business, unifying new and existing programs — and leveraging new technologies. Led by industry veterans and academic experts from across the country, the college will offer degrees in sought-after business specializations like marketing, finance, and accounting, as well as in niche areas such as sports management, sustainable business, and marine entrepreneurship.

Q: You mentioned an evolving business world. What are some trends that are shaping your degrees?

It’s an interesting time! Unprecedented opportunity and volatility are reshaping the business landscape, fueled by emerging technologies as well as economic change. We’re developing niche programs in high-demand areas, offering deep experiential learning through internships and skills training, and empowering productive relationships to newer tech like AI. We’re committed to preparing graduates to lead in this dynamic environment.

Q: Tell me more about how the College is preparing students for all this change?

We think of it this way — that students should begin their professional journeys while earning their degrees. Our students gain practical experience while attending school, and we intend to increase that going forward.

Perfect examples of this are the two new industry-focused hubs — the Center for Sales Excellence and the Center for Sport and Business Innovation. These centers are guided by industry leaders and structured around student experiences, to provide students with specialized skills and industry connections. By bridging theory and practice, we’ll train sought-after candidates who are ready to work on day one.

Q: How does the College of Business align with UNE’s mission?

UNE’s mission is to support the health of people, communities, and the planet. We believe that strong business can be beneficial. After all, a healthy economy leads to healthy towns and people.

Beyond that, we champion the triple bottom line, teaching students to drive economic prosperity while supporting community and environmental health. Plus, our students work on interdisciplinary projects with students in other programs — from health to analytics to environmental science — to further integrate us with UNE’s role in New England.

Q: What’s your ideal vision for graduates of the College of Business?

Our vision is that you’ll be highly employable, now and into the future. You’ll land ready to make an impact, and have a set of transferable skills that allow you to adapt. You’ll also have an ethical base to make good decisions that’ll make your community and world better, even as you help your organization generate resources. We’re proud of who our students are, and of who they will become. 

About the Author

Norm O’Reilly, the inaugural Dean of UNE’s College of Business, is a successful author of 20 books and more than 160 management journal publications. A prolific researcher and career educator, he has an accounting designation and a Ph.D. in marketing.