Mason School of Business

Mason School of Business is the graduate and undergraduate business school of William & Mary, a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia. Founded in 1968, it is named for benefactors Raymond A. "Chip" Mason and his wife, Nancy. The school offers a comprehensive portfolio of programs, including a highly-ranked Full-time MBA program, specialized master's degrees, and a distinctive undergraduate business curriculum, all emphasizing experiential learning and leadership development.

History

The school traces its origins to 1968 when the College of William & Mary established a Department of Business Administration. This department evolved into the School of Business Administration in 1971, offering a Master of Business Administration degree. A significant transformation occurred in 2005 following a landmark $25 million gift from Raymond A. Mason, former CEO of Legg Mason, and his wife, Nancy Mason, leading to its renaming. This philanthropic investment, one of the largest in the university's history, catalyzed the construction of a new state-of-the-art building, Alan B. Miller Hall, which opened in 2009. The school has since expanded its academic portfolio, launching programs like the Online MBA and the Master of Science in Business Analytics, while consistently earning recognition from publications such as U.S. News & World Report and The Economist.

Academics

The school provides a rigorous, integrated curriculum across its degree programs. Its flagship Full-time MBA program is known for its intensive, team-based structure and a required Field Consultancy project with real clients like Dominion Energy and Cox Communications. The undergraduate Bachelor of Business Administration program features a unique "Business Fundamentals" core and opportunities for concentrations in areas such as Finance and Marketing. Graduate offerings include an Executive MBA, an Online MBA, and specialized master's degrees in Business Analytics, Accounting, and Finance. The school's faculty are actively engaged in research published in top-tier journals like the Journal of Finance and the Academy of Management Journal, and the curriculum is heavily influenced by close advisory relationships with executives from corporations such as Altria and Capital One.

Campus and facilities

The school is primarily housed in Alan B. Miller Hall, a 166,000-square-foot facility that opened in 2009 on the university's Sunken Garden. Designed by the architectural firm Robert A.M. Stern Architects, the building features a traditional Georgian architecture style that blends with the historic Williamsburg campus. Key facilities include the Booz Allen Hamilton Collaboration Center, the Tribe Square mixed-use complex, the Huntington Ingalls Industries Auditorium, and the PwC Finance Lab. The trading floor is equipped with data feeds from Bloomberg and Refinitiv, providing students with hands-on experience in financial markets. The building also contains numerous team study rooms, case classrooms, and the Microsoft Innovation Center.

Student life and organizations

Student life is characterized by a strong culture of collaboration and professional development. The Graduate Business Student Association and the Undergraduate Business Student Association govern student activities and organize networking events. Professional clubs are highly active, including the Investment Club, the Marketing Club, and the Consulting Club, which frequently host speakers from firms like Deloitte and Goldman Sachs. The school also fields teams for major intercollegiate competitions such as the CFA Institute Research Challenge and the National Collegiate Sales Competition. Community engagement is fostered through initiatives like the Students in Free Enterprise projects and volunteer work with local organizations in the Hampton Roads region.

Notable alumni and faculty

Prominent alumni include corporate leaders like Michael D. White, former CEO of DirecTV; Anne M. Finucane, former Vice Chairman of Bank of America; and W. Taylor Reveley III, former president of William & Mary. Distinguished faculty have included scholars like Robert G. Hansen, former senior associate dean, and Paul D. Bolls, an expert in media psychology. The school's Board of Advisors has included executives such as Alan B. Miller, founder of Universal Health Services, and Thomas F. Farrell II, former chairman of Dominion Energy. Many graduates hold significant positions in government, including roles within the United States Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve System.

Category:William & Mary Category:Business schools in Virginia Category:Educational institutions established in 1968 Category:Williamsburg, Virginia