MAGAZINE FALL 2025
By Carole Reinert
We are excited to announce that our new formal name is the University of Pittsburgh School of Business, home to the undergraduate program and the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business. As we eagerly anticipate what the future holds, it’s essential to pause, look back, and reflect on all the milestones and people who have brought us this far.
In 1987, Joseph M. Katz, founder of the Papercraft Corporation, and his wife, Agnes, made a generous $10 million donation to name the business school the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business. They desired to support efforts that would instill “a sense of the entrepreneurial spirit” in students. It’s a name we are proud to carry, and his legacy remains a guiding force.
Using the name School of Business provides a unified identity for both undergraduate and graduate programs, which in turn raises our visibility and strengthens our competitive standing, ultimately benefiting our graduates.
A Bright, Bold Future
Our name, the University of Pittsburgh School of Business, allows us to unify our branding under a single, cohesive identity—one in which we can confidently invest and build long-term brand equity. By aligning more directly with the growing strength of the University of Pittsburgh brand, we not only amplify our visibility but also clarify who we are to the world.
In addition, this name reduces confusion among key audiences—from prospective students and recruiters to alumni and peer institutions—by crystallizing our identity. This also enables us to market more efficiently, making better use of limited resources by promoting one strong, integrated brand instead of two. Most importantly, it reinforces our commitment to advancing as One Pitt Business—a unified community with a shared vision, system, and purpose.
To prepare our students for the future, new certificates and a new major are in the approval process.
An AI and Business certificate is being developed for undergraduate business students, and non-business students can take the required courses to earn a certificate in Fundamentals of Business. At the graduate level, the dual degree MS Biotech/MBA has recently been approved.
Our series of Pitt Business Impact Conferences was well-received last year, and we are building on that success.
We are committed to providing our students and the community with the business information they need to stay relevant and be one step ahead of the constantly changing business environment.
The History of Business Education at Pitt
Our lives have changed drastically since the University began educating business professionals in 1908. In every era of change—from market upheavals to technological breakthroughs—our business offerings have evolved to meet the moment and lead the future.