The first 50 years of the College of Business and Economics
Western Washington University’s College of Business and Economics (CBE) opened its doors on January 1, 1976, but its roots stretch back further and are interwoven with the university’s own legacy.
What we now call Western Washington University began in 1893 as the New Whatcom Normal School, with a mission to meet a growing need for teachers. In the 1930s, the school began granting bachelor’s degrees and, in 1937, was renamed Western Washington College of Education as it entered into a period of expansion signaled by the addition of programs across the academic spectrum.
Economics and business made their debut in the early 1950s, when the Social Studies Department hired two economists and several faculty members with expertise in accounting, business law, and business education.
In 1960, the Social Studies Department split, leading to the creation of the Department of Economics, Business, and Government within Western’s new College of Arts and Sciences.
A few years later, Government became Political Science and broke away, leaving the Department of Economics and Business. The new department expanded course offerings, adding two graduate programs, new majors, and courses that were integrated into the university’s general education requirements.
The university transitioned from a teacher-training institute to a liberal arts college, reflected by two name changes: in 1961, Western Washington College of Education became Western Washington State College, and in 1977, it became Western Washington University.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Western established “cluster colleges,” including the College of Business and Economics. These were smaller, decentralized, and specialized academic units organized around specific fields, themes, or interdisciplinary areas, while still sharing the parent institution’s facilities. The purpose of the cluster college concept was to foster a sense of community during a period of rapid university growth and still exist today.
The College of Business and Economics officially launched at the start of 1976 in Arntzen Hall with four departments: Accounting, Business Administration, Business Education and Office Administration, and Economics.
In 1982, the college moved into a brand-new home. Originally called the South Academic Building, Parks Hall stood on what some affectionately nicknamed “the south forty,” which included Arntzen Hall, the Environmental Studies building, and expansive open fields.
In 1990, after a multi-year effort and rigorous scrutiny, the College of Business and Economics’ bachelor’s and master’s programs in business administration received accreditation by the Accreditation Council of the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). At the time, only 255 of the roughly 1,200 undergraduate programs and only 257 of more than 600 master’s programs in the U.S. were accredited. AACSB accreditation made teaching jobs more competitive and helped students, since many large employers only recruit from accredited business schools.
The college launched its Manufacturing Management program in 1993, which evolved into the Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management (MSCM) program in 2001. The innovative program with strong industry connections continues to rank among the nation’s top undergraduate supply chain programs.
Over time, departments evolved alongside the times. In 1984, Business Administration split into Management and Finance, Marketing, and Decision Sciences (FMDS). In 1986, the Office Administration and Business Education merged with Management. In 2002, Decision Sciences became its own department covering Management Information Systems, Operations Management, and quantitative methods, while Finance and Marketing focused on their respective disciplines. Later this year, Finance and Marketing will split to become separate departments.
On Wednesday night, July 3, 2002, a student spotted smoke curling from the third floor of Parks Hall and sounded an alarm. The ensuing fire destroyed a server room and caused extensive damage, forcing offices to be inventoried, emptied, cleaned, decontaminated, and repainted. Everyone relocated for the summer. When classes returned in the fall, Parks Hall had not only been repaired and renovated — to the tune of $4 million, according to The Western Front — but was also safer, equipped with a new fire-detection system.
A 2013 pledge from the national accounting and consulting firm Moss Adams, now Baker Tilly, placed the firm’s name on the new professional readiness center. The Student Success Center has since become a vibrant hub for academic support, career preparation, and student achievement — supporting peer mentors and clubs and providing spaces and resources that help students thrive.
Also in 2013, a gift from alumni David W. and Denise Cole established the Cole Professor of Entrepreneurship. The program now offers an entrepreneurship minor and two certificate programs open to all WWU students. The Entrepreneurship and Innovation academic program began in Academic Affairs and was transferred to the College of Business and Economics in 2025.
The Merriman Financial Literacy Program (MFLP), founded in 2024 thanks to alumnus Paul Merriman, provides financial education and wellness resources to empower the Western community. Peer mentors offer one-to-one coaching, lead workshops, and represent the program at events.
As the College of Business and Economics celebrates its golden anniversary, it remains committed to the same spirit that defined its earliest days: embrace change with enthusiasm and help generations of students turn curiosity into careers, ambition into achievement, so they leave WWU with the skills and confidence to make a difference.
Here are more key moments from the past five decades:
1976
In January of 1976, the College of Business and Economics is formed under the leadership of transitional Dean Howard Mitchell. Mitchell came to Western in 1955, the second business faculty member in the Social Studies Department. Erwin Mayer, hired in 1953, was the first.
Dean Robert Collier chosen to head the new College.
The Intalco Distinguished Lecture Series is created by a gift from the Intalco Aluminum Company of Ferndale with an initial grant of $5,000 per year.
1977
A Department of Social and Health Services grant of $100,000 assisted in the planning and implementation of an MBA program.
1978
The Center for Economic Education — now the Center for Economic and Financial Education — is established with the objective of improving the quality and expanding the scope of economic education in the state of Washington.
The Center for Economic and Business Research is created and issues first two reports.
1979
The Real Estate Research Committee for Whatcom County is formed, with WWU playing a leading role.
Enrollment in the College of Business and Economics doubles, reaching 1,500 majors.
Over the last two examinations, CBE's Accounting graduates score better on the CPA exam than those from any other school in the state.
The first class of MBA students starts.
1980
The Small Business Institute begins providing analysis and consulting for small businesses.
1981
J. Ronnie Davis is named dean in July of 1981. Davis leaves after winter quarter 1983 for the University of South Alabama, returning to the Gulf Coast where he grew up.
The building that will one day be Parks Hall is under construction. Photo: Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections Campus History Collection (ID: CHC-PH_1981-0002 )
1982
CBE moves into the South Academic Building (later renamed Parks Hall). Originally, the building housed CBE and the speech pathology and audiology department.
1983
Western’s Small Business Development Center begins providing free, confidential advising, technical assistance, and research to business owners and managers in an effort to help businesses thrive.
The Winter 1983 issue of Résumé, the WWU alumni magazine, announces the renaming of South Academic Building to Parks Hall, named in honor of university benefactor Maynard Parks, a retired railroad executive, and the late M. Patricia Parks. They were owners of a valuable property on Lake Samish and were so impressed by Western’s rowing team practicing on the lake, they decided to donate the property to Western.
Dennis Murphy, a WWU alumnus becomes dean of the College of Business and Economics, a position he holds for 25 years from 1983 to 2007. Photo of Dean Murphy standing in front of photos of the first four deans of the college. Photo courtesy of Bruce Wonder.
1984
The former Department of Business Administration is divided into the departments of Management and FMDS (Finance, Marketing, and Decision Sciences). Eugene Owens chairs Management and Earl Benson chairs FMDS.
1988
The Ross Distinguished Professor of Canada-United States Business and Economics Relations is established through an endowment by the government of Canada and the state of Washington. The professorship was created in memory of G. Robert Ross, Western’s president from 1983 until his death in 1987.
1990
The Summer 1990 issue of Résumé, the WWU alumni magazine, reports: “After a three-year effort, the College of Business and Economics has gained accreditation of its bachelor’s and master’s programs from the Accreditation Council of the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business. Only 255 of the about 1,200 colleges and universities in the United States offering undergraduate business degrees and just more than a third of the 600 offering master’s degrees are AACSB accredited.”
1990-ish
CBE launches an evening MBA program.
Western launches the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, an IRS-sponsored national program that provides free tax assistance and learning for campus and community members.
1993
Professor Peter Haug and Professor Emeritus Mark Springer proposed for and ultimately launched the college’s Manufacturing Management program in 1993. It evolved into Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management (MSCM) in 2001.
1995-6
Haskell Plaza, circa 1995. Photo by Lori McGriff-Boroughs. Haskell Plaza, named for donors F. Murray and Betty Haskell, is complete. Designed by Campbell & Campbell, the plaza won a Seattle American Institute of Architects award for the landscape design which uses paving, rocks, and earthen mounds to suggest the islands and waters of the Salish Sea. Photo: Lori McGriff-Boroughs, Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections Campus History Collection (ID: CHC-AH_1995-0001 )
2002
A July 3 fire destroys a computer room on the third floor of Parks Hall. Extensive smoke and water damage meant everyone had to relocate for the rest of summer, but the building was repaired in time for fall quarter. Photo courtesy of Bruce Wonder.
The Department of Finance, Marketing, Decision Sciences splits: The Department of Decision Sciences, chaired by Floyd Lewis, offers study in Management Information Systems (MIS), Operations Management (OPS), with additional course work in quantitative methods. The Department of Finance and Marketing, chaired by Terrell Williams, offers study in several related fields of business administration relating to financial and marketing management
2004
The Western Business Summit is initiated with the goal of recognizing and promoting excellence in business education at WWU by fostering connections among business professionals, faculty, staff, and students.
2008
The Center for Economic Vitality (CEV) is founded and provides business counseling and export assistance to Washington businesses. CEV is in operation through 2012.
2009
MBA program is ranked in the top 100 (72nd) programs worldwide by the Aspen Institute.
Brian Burton is named dean of the College. In 2013, Burton leaves CBE to become associate vice president for WWU's Academic Affairs.
2010
The Small Business Development Center opens at 115 Unity St., Suite 101, in downtown Bellingham as a service for local businesses.
CBE launches an Everett-based weekend MBA program.
2012
Dean Emeritus Dennis Murphy receives the Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award. Murphy received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Western and returned in 1979 to serve more than 30 years at his alma mater.
The Center for Economic Vitality ceases operations effective Dec. 31, 2012. The CEV’s work of supporting local small businesses is continued by Western’s Small Business Development Center.
2013
A $500,000 pledge from Moss Adams puts the firm's name on the soon-to-be launched professional readiness center.
A $500,000 gift from WWU alumnus and retired Microsoft vice president David W. Cole and his wife Denise – who also attended Western – enables WWU to hire its first professor of Entrepreneurship, the David Cole Professor of Entrepreneurship, to provide leadership for and teach courses in a new Entrepreneurship minor.
2014
Craig Dunn is appointed to a two-year term as dean following a year as interim dean. Dunn began at WWU in 2005 and is currently the Emeritus Wilder Distinguished Professor of Business and Sustainability.
2016
Scott Young is selected as dean. Young serves as dean until 2023 and continues to teach in the department of Decision Sciences.
WWU graduates the first group of students in the Poulsbo-based Business Administration bachelor’s degree program at Olympic College.
The Small Business Development Center opens a satellite office in Barkley Village.
2018
The Career Closet receives its first donations. Initially the resource was to be housed in CBE, but the response is so big that CBE runs out of space, and the Career Closet is moved to the Career Center.
2019
The Small Business Development Center opens an office in Poulsbo, Kitsap County.
2022
The WWU Small Business Development Center transitions to a hybrid service provision model and closes the Cornwall office, consolidating into the Barkley office.
2023
Deanna Kennedy is chosen as dean of the College of Business and Economics.
2024
WWU launches the Merriman Financial Literacy Program. Founded through a generous commitment from alumnus and financial educator Paul Merriman ('66) and his wife Zan Merriman, the program offers free financial literacy courses and financial literacy peer mentorship.
2025
Professor of Marketing Farrokh Safavi retires. Safavi started at WWU in 1969 and is, so far, the longest-serving faculty member of CBE.
2026
CBE celebrates 50 years of educating students.
Learn more about the College of Business and Economics’ 50th Anniversary celebrations.
Jennifer Nerad covers Western's College of Business and Economics and College of the Environment for the Office of University Communications. Have a great story idea? Reach out to her at neradj@wwu.edu.