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UNO's Executive MBA Program Celebrates 50 Years

  1. UNO
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  4. UNO's Executive MBA Program Celebrates 50 Years

Executive MBA Program Celebrates 50 Years

1908
A black and white historical photograph of a large Victorian-style mansion surrounded by tall leafless trees. The house features intricate wooden detailing, a wraparound porch with ornate trim, multiple gables, and a prominent turret with an open balcony at the top. The scene suggests an early 20th-century or late 19th-century neighborhood setting.

Founded as a private non-sectarian college in 1908, the University of Omaha became the Municipal University of Omaha in 1931. Courses were offered as part of the business degree program under the Division of Business within the College of Commerce. However, it was not until 1952 that the College of Business was voted into college status by the Board of Regents.

1968

The name and structure of the Municipal University of Omaha was changed to its current title in 1968 to the University of Nebraska at Omaha when it became part of the University of Nebraska system.

 A vintage black-and-white logo featuring a large letter "O" encircling the letters "U" and "N" with an illustration of a university tower or bell tower centered between them. The design suggests an early emblem for the University of Nebraska at Omaha or a related institution.

1975
A black and white photograph of a large multi-story building under construction. The steel framework and concrete structure are partially completed, with scaffolding and cranes visible. Construction workers and machinery, including a bulldozer and a man with a shovel, are actively working on the site. The scene captures a moment in mid-20th-century architectural development.
The Executive MBA was established in 1975 as “The Executive Program.” The 13th oldest program in the United States was founded at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with Dr. Ronald L. Smith serving as the inaugural dean and Jack Goebel as program director. At that time, the two-year, 36-hour graduate degree program cost $1,900 per year, and admission requirements included a minimum of 10 years of business experience and an undergraduate degree. Goebel served as director through 1979, calling his time with the program a “marvelous experience” and a way for the college to forge stronger connections with the community.

1976
The program was offered jointly at the Lincoln and Omaha campuses the year following its inauguration. In Omaha, Dr. William V. Muse, dean of CBA from 1973-1979, championed the program. Muse developed strong relationships with many Omaha companies and said the classes filled up quickly - evidence that the program was satisfying a need that existed in the local business community. In 1987, the program was offered solely at UNO under the leadership of Dr. David Ambrose. A color photograph of nine men in formal suits, likely from the 1970s, posing for a group portrait in front of a wood-paneled wall with a framed picture. The men are arranged in two rows, with four seated in front and five standing behind them. Their attire includes patterned blazers, wide ties, and dress shirts, reflecting the fashion of the era. The setting suggests a professional or academic gathering.

1989
A group of eight people stand smiling in front of a large graffitied section of the Berlin Wall on a sunny day. The group includes both men and women, dressed in casual jackets and clothing typical of the late 1980s or early 1990s. Shadows from surrounding trees and buildings fall across the concrete wall, which is weathered and partially cracked. The setting suggests a historical or commemorative visit to a preserved piece of the Berlin Wall. The international perspective of the program was adopted in 1989. Student groups of 3 to 6 students, supervised by a faculty member, researched and conducted international business projects as part of a capstone project generally focused on market-entry studies. This real-world experience integrated knowledge gained in the classroom with current business issues, and the projects included site visits to foreign countries.

1997

Beginning in 1997, hardwired Internet access was added to the EMBA classroom in Roskins Hall and was incorporated into the curricula of most classes. That same year, laptop computers were added as part of the entry requirements. Other developments in the following years included the addition of distance learning; the Executive MBA Boot Camp (noncredit seminars to enhance computer, research, and study skills); and a Strategic Leadership course.

A sunny campus scene showing students walking along pathways outside the University of Nebraska Omaha’s College of Business Administration building. The structure is a large red-brick building with modern glass windows on one side. The surrounding area is landscaped with trees, bushes, and open green spaces, creating a vibrant and welcoming academic environment.

2008

A classroom setting where a man stands at the front giving a presentation to a group of adults seated at desks. The presenter wears a gray polo shirt and khaki pants, while the attendees are dressed in business attire, indicating a professional or executive education session. Laptops, papers, and drinks are placed on the desks, and a ceiling-mounted projector is visible above. The room has large windows with closed blinds, contributing to a focused learning environment.

In August 2008, the program revised the format from a 24-month program to an 18-month program in order to remain a competitive force in higher education. By this time, students in the 42-credit-hour program were only required a minimum of six years of professional experience, and the total cost of the program grew to $41,650. Classes were developed and revised significantly to provide the latest technological tools and to accommodate advancements in business, management, and leadership.

2010

One of the most significant transformations in the life of the Executive MBA program occurred in August 2010 when the College of Business Administration moved from Roskins Hall on Dodge campus to Mammel Hall on Pacific campus. Thanks to the generosity of Carl and Joyce Mammel and Bill and Ruth Scott families, Mammel Hall offered facilities for business students including stat-of-the-art digital technology displays, a two-story 190 auditorium, and new offices, study spaces, and classrooms for th EMBA faculty, staff, and students. Contribuors to named areas in the Executive MBA Suite 100 include Lou Jr. and Kathleen Rotella, Dr. Robert and JoAnn Mathis, and Valmont Industries, Inc.

 A modern academic building identified as Mammel Hall, College of Business Administration, at the University of Nebraska Omaha. The structure features large glass windows, sleek architectural lines, and a mix of brick and metal panels. A student with a backpack walks toward the entrance on a sunny day with a clear blue sky. Trees and landscaped areas surround the building, contributing to a vibrant campus atmosphere.

2012
A group of professionally dressed faculty or business professionals pose together outside Mammel Hall at the University of Nebraska Omaha. The individuals, arranged in a semicircle, are smiling and facing the camera, standing on a concrete plaza with the modern exterior of the College of Business Administration building in the background. The diverse group represents a formal, academic, or corporate setting. Alumni of the program have played a significantly increased role throughout the past 50 years. In 2012, the UNO Executive MBA Alumni Association was officially created, and a board of directors and executive committee were formed. The objectives of the organization are to increase the value of the program beyond graduation. Alumni also play a large role in the recruiting process.

2021
The 44,000 square-foot Rod Rhoden Business Innovation Center addition was completed at Mammel Hall. The new addition serves as a central hub for applied learning, community engagement and cutting-edge research that reimagines business education. Mammel Hall Expansion

2023

Executive graduate certificates

The EMBA program underwent a redesign changing the structure of the program and moving it to an online format. The program also began to offer all new exectutive graduate certificates as well as new concentration areas.

2025
UNO's EMBA program celebrates 50 years! A celebratory graphic for the University of Nebraska at Omaha Executive MBA program’s 50th anniversary. Large gold balloon-style numbers display “50” with a red ribbon beneath reading “Years 1975–2025.” The graphic includes the text “Celebrating,” “Class of 2025,” and “Be a part of history!” against a black background with gold confetti and spotlight effects.

Contact Us

  • 100 Mammel Hall
  • 6708 Pine Street
  • Omaha, Nebraska 68182
  • 402.554.2448
  • 402.554.2298
  • unoexecutivemba@unomaha.edu

Executive MBA

Contact Us
  • Executive MBA
  • College of Business Administration
  • Suite 100 Mammel Hall
  • 6708 Pine Street
  • Omaha, NE 68182   map
  • 402.554.2448
  • unoexecutivemba@unomaha.edu
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