USF Muma College of Business Launches School of Management This Fall, Classes Across Three Campuses
The University of South Florida's Muma College of Business will inaugurate its School of Management this fall, naming Professor Ed Tomlinson interim director. The initiative brings together management faculty and programs under a unified structure to enhance student career outcomes.
Management majors within the college have surged by 44% since 2020, rising from 799 to 1,147 students—driving demand for more focused leadership education. The new school will encompass undergraduate degrees in management, global business, and entrepreneurship; master’s programs in management and entrepreneurship; and the Nault Center for Entrepreneurship. Future growth plans include expanding human resource management at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Academic offerings will be distributed across USF’s three campuses: Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota–Manatee. Faculty such as Lisa Penney in Sarasota–Manatee will teach courses on leadership and organizational behavior, underlining the school’s multi-campus reach (University of South Florida).
The creation of a stand‑alone School of Management aligns with the college’s strategic plan, Powering Dreams: 2025–2035. The plan aims to enhance student learning, expand the impact of research, foster community partnerships, and elevate the college’s profile. It highlights the benefit of unified governance in enhancing collaboration among faculty, industry partners, and alumni.
Ed Tomlinson, a specialist in organizational behavior and human resources with leadership roles in Muma’s School of Information Systems and Management, brings decades of experience to the interim director role. The new school’s structure is designed to enhance visibility, facilitate advisory councils and conferences, and ensure that students graduate with the skills and support necessary to thrive in competitive job markets.
As USF Muma’s seventh school, the School of Management adds to existing units in accountancy, finance, hospitality and sport management, risk management, marketing and innovation, and information systems. By uniting programs across all campuses, university officials say the initiative will foster greater cohesion and opportunities for students pursuing leadership careers in diverse industries.
Campus leadership anticipates that the new school will launch this fall, offering classes from all three Sarasota-Manatee, St. Petersburg, and Tampa campuses and fostering an inclusive network for students and faculty.