From the Dean: Classroom to Career

At Poole College of Management, we are committed to more than just awarding diplomas – we are dedicated to launching careers. Our students don’t just graduate with a degree; they leave with experience, connections and the confidence to make an immediate impact in the workplace right here in North Carolina and around the world.

That’s why we’ve made strategic enhancements to career preparedness at Poole, including the recent unification of our undergraduate and graduate career services into a single, comprehensive Career Center. This move strengthens our ability to provide seamless support at every stage of a student’s professional journey – whether they are seeking their first internship or negotiating a leadership role post-MBA.

“We are committed to more than just awarding diplomas – we are dedicated to launching careers.”

Poole’s approach has always been to provide hands-on opportunities and experiences. Our students gain real-world experience through programs like the business analytics practicum, enterprise risk management practicum, supply chain practicums, the Entrepreneurship Clinic and internships. These opportunities allow them to apply classroom learning to actual business challenges, giving our students dynamic experiences they can showcase to future employers.

And the results speak for themselves. Our undergraduate starting salaries have risen by 28% in the last five years, reaching $68,000. Our MBA graduates now command an average starting salary of $135,000. We rank second on campus in job placements and salaries, just behind the College of Engineering. Deloitte’s recent study for the UNC System confirmed what we’ve long known – Poole College leads the way in incremental lifetime earnings impact, contributing $1.2 billion to the state of North Carolina annually.

But we’re not stopping here. We are shifting from an activity-based approach to an outcomes-driven model – analyzing what makes our graduates more employable, what skills lead to higher salaries, and how we can strengthen our relationships with top employers. Companies like Cisco, IBM, Bank of America, First Citizens Bank, Lowe’s, Toshiba, Amazon, Deloitte, EY, Forvis, KPMG and PwC actively seek Poole talent, and we are working to expand these partnerships to create even more opportunities for our students.

Beyond technical expertise, we know today’s professionals need strong communication, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills. Through our formalized mentoring program and industry engagement, we enable every student to have access to guidance and experiences that will shape their long-term success.

“We believe in empowering students for a lifetime of success and impact.

At Poole, we believe in empowering students for a lifetime of success and impact. Every decision we make here is to strengthen that commitment.

Always looking forward,

Frank Buckless
Stephen P. Zelnak Jr. Dean 
Poole College of Management

More from Poole Business: Spring 2025

At Poole College, we are committed to more than just awarding diplomas — we are dedicated to launching careers.

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The Luxury of Choice

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