Our History
For nearly a century, Adelphi University has been at the forefront of business education.
Thanks to the support of Robert B. Willumstad, former Chairman and CEO of the American International Group (AIG), we have become the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business — a School that proudly upholds a long legacy of excellence.
Our mission is to shape future business leaders who make a powerful impact on our world.
1964
Adelphi has been offering business degrees since 1934, but it wasn’t until the 1960s that the School of Business Administration took form and began to gain substantial momentum — receiving its charter from the State of New York as a recognized degree-granting school.
1968
The School of Business Administration building was completed in January 1968.
1971
MBA students in 1971 were able to take for-credit classes while they rode the LIRR. Adelphi got national recognition for this innovative Adelphi-on-Wheels MBA program—the first commuting classroom.
2003
The building that houses Adelphi’s School of Business was dedicated as the Hagedorn Hall of Enterprise after philanthropist and co-founder of the Miracle-Gro brand Horace Hagedorn.
2012
Philanthropic leader, Robert B. Willumstad ’05 (Hon.), gave $9.5 million to support the Adelphi University School of Business, which is now named in his honor.
2022
MaryAnne Hyland, PhD, an esteemed member of the Adelphi community for over 20 years, was appointed as the dean of the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business. With a research emphasis on work-life balance and flexible work arrangements, her contributions drive academic excellence and innovation within the School.