News

This fall, Portland State's School of Business Administration introduces a significantly revised MBA program that focuses on three themes—leadership, innovation, and the regional economy.

The program has an increased emphasis on teaching "soft skill" managerial competencies (areas such as leadership, communications, and interpersonal relations) in addition to the existing hard-skill technical courses. The curricular revisions respond to a school task force that found nationally prevalent concerns that traditional business programs do not adequately prepare students for the current and future needs of business and industry.

The school has hired Carolyn McKnight as the director of its MBA program. McKnight brings over 25 years of public and private sector experience in leadership and organizational development. She was most recently vice president of Organizational and Personal Development at Planar Systems of Beaverton, Ore., where she directed human resources and leadership development.