College History
Texas A&M University's Mays Business School educates more than 5,000 undergraduate, master's and doctoral students in accounting, finance, management of information systems, management, marketing, and supply chain management.. The school consistently ranks among the top public business schools.
Mays partners with national and regional business executives to deliver relevant education shaped by industry expectations and insights. Mays' home in the Wehner Building offers a dynamic learning environment for faculty and students, featuring interactive teaching tools, wireless Internet throughout the building and multiple computer labs.
Mays is accredited by AACSB-International, the premier accrediting agency and service organization for business schools. Our mission is creating knowledge and developing ethical leaders for a global society. To see how we are progressing toward these goals, review our recent achievements.
Milestones in Mays history
1876-1920
- Business education intermingled with mechanical and agricultural programs. Courses included single and double-entry bookkeeping and creamery management.
1920
- Department of Economics offers business courses.
1921
- Agricultural Administration programs offers business courses.
1926
- Formation of accounting and statistics, farm and ranch management, marketing and finance departments.
1946
- Department of Business and Accounting formed in School of Arts & Sciences. Thomas W. Leland named department head.
- First master's degree awarded in accounting and statistics.
1951
- General MBA degree is offered.
- Department moves from temporary structure into Francis Hall.
1953
- Center for Executive Development established.
1961
- School of Business Administration formed. John E. Pearson becomes head after the retirement of Thomas W. Leland.
1965
- School of Business departmentalized into programs of study in accounting, business analysis and research, finance, marketing and management.
1966
- Implementation of the MBA degree.
1968
- College of Business Administration formed. John E. Pearson named dean.
1972
- College accredited by American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business.
- First PhD awarded.
1978
- William V. Muse appointed dean upon the retirement of John E. Pearson.
1980
- First business career fair held.
1981
- College moves to the Blocker Building
1983
- William H. Mobley appointed dean, succeeding Clinton A. Phillips who served as interim dean for one year.
- Center for Retailing Studies established.
- Fellows Program created.
1985
- Center for International Business Studies created.
1987
- A. Benton Cocanougher appointed dean after interim dean Don Hellriegel serves for one year.
- Texas Real Estate Center moves to college from College of Agriculture.
- Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship created.
1989
- Center for the Management of Information Systems created.
1990
- Center for Human Resource Management established.
- Center for International Business funded as a Center for International Business Education and Research.
1991
- Implementation of the bachelor's degree in agribusiness.
1992
- Professional Program in Accounting formed.
- Outstanding Alumni Awards established.
1994
- Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade created.
1995
- College moves to the Wehner Building.
- Graduate Business Career Services center created.
1996
- College endowed by Mr. Lowry Mays '57, founder and CEO of Clear Channel Communications. In honor of this $15 million gift, the college is renamed the Lowry Mays College & Graduate School of Business.
1998
- Implementation of master's degree in agribusiness.
1999
- Executive MBA Program accepts first class.
- Reliant Energy Trading Center founded.
- College adopts enrollment management for the undergraduate program.
2001
- Jerry R. Strawser '83 becomes dean upon the retirement of A. Benton Cocanougher.
2002
- College renamed to Mays Business School
2003
- State-of-the-art Jerry and Kay Cox Hall opens, adding classroom and office space, as well as permanent space for the trading center and the Cocanougher Special Events Center.
2007
- Ricky W. Griffin serves as interim dean for one year during Jerry R. Strawser's tenure as interim Executive Vice President and Provost of Texas A&M University.