New Watson Graduate School of Management Brings Together Top Business Programs at Oklahoma State University

STILLWATER, Okla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oklahoma State University’s business graduate programs, which have received national and international acclaim for nearly 60 years, are poised for even greater success with the establishment of the Watson Graduate School of Management in the Spears School of Business.

“Thanks to the generosity of Chuck and Kim, the Spears School is able to enhance an already excellent educational experience for our graduate students”

The Watson Graduate School of Management will house interdisciplinary programs such as the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and the Ph.D. in Business for Executives, and it will serve a coordinating role with respect to discipline-specific programs. The school’s online master’s programs were recently ranked No. 37 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.

“The new Watson Graduate School of Management allows us to create brand recognition for the outstanding graduate education that has been synonymous with the Spears School for years. It provides an opportunity to position and promote the name, concept and programs nationally and internationally while raising the Spears School’s and Oklahoma State University’s global reputation,” said Larry Crosby, dean of the Spears School.

The school is named for Chuck and Kim Watson, OSU alums and longtime supporters who made the addition possible through a gift of cash, pledges and an estate commitment. The gift will establish the creation of the school while also assisting in the construction of a new business building.

The Watson Graduate School of Management will benefit current and future graduate students. It will help with the recruitment and retention of graduate students and help assure the quality of their educational experience. It will also have responsibilities for stimulating high-impact research through various centers, seed funds, incentive awards, and external grants.

“Thanks to the generosity of Chuck and Kim, the Spears School is able to enhance an already excellent educational experience for our graduate students,” said Crosby. “We truly thank Chuck and Kim for their leadership and the guidance they have provided and for their financial support of our programs.”

The school will absorb the existing functions of the Graduate Programs Office of the Spears School, and all personnel and activities will now be housed in the Watson Graduate School of Management.

The school will also collaborate with the University Graduate College to help localize the policies and programs of the graduate college, assist in the pilot rollout of new initiatives, and identify and flag emerging issues in graduate education.

The Spears School’s graduate programs are recognized as some of the nation’s best, including the Online Master’s in Entrepreneurship which was recently selected number one in the nation in rankings of the 10 Best Online MBA Entrepreneurship Programs by TheBestSchools.org.

Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant system that cuts across disciplines to better prepare students for success. Oklahoma’s only university with a statewide presence, OSU improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation, and the world. The Spears School of Business is dedicated to the original land-grant vision of integrated, high-quality teaching, research and outreach. For more information, call 405-744-5064 or visit spears.okstate.edu. To learn more about the Spears School of Business, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.