History

A Powerful Force for More than 80 Years

In the 86 years that the business school has been in existence, it has emerged as a powerful force in South Texas, educating some of the finest business leaders in the state and instilling a sense of ethical values that have shaped their lives and our economy.

The business school began (in 1923) offering courses in accounting and economics. From a college with its first graduation class of two, it has grown to a business school that has more than 5,700 BBA graduates and 1,100 MBA graduates. About 750 undergraduates and 175 MBA students are enrolled in the school and it now offers nine undergraduate majors, a master's of accounting degree, the MBA degree, and the joint MBA/JD and MACC/JD degrees.

Clearly one of the things that has helped the overall maturation of the business school and University is the foresight of Bro. Paul Goelz, S.M. and others to start the Advisory Council of Executives. This group of entrepreneurs and company executives gave the School a strong foothold in the regional business community, served as a sounding board for change and became an advocate for high quality business and management education in San Antonio.

During the same period that the school was building strong community relationships, alumni were establishing themselves as prominent corporate and community leaders. Their rise to positions were important to the overall quality of the school and continues to be an important measure of our success. Indeed, the success of our alumni was accompanied by major increases in the school's endowment for scholarships, professorships and chairs, and specialized centers. The Albert B. Alkek Business Building (1982) is named for the primary donor of the building and later additions, Albert B. Alkek (CL ’32). A gift of almost $1 million from the Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation enabled the school to add 7,000 square feet onto the Alkek Building, bringing the total area to slightly more than 50,000 square feet of classrooms, seminar space, conference rooms, faculty and staff offices and space for centers in entrepreneurship and global business studies.

In 2005, alumnus and Valero Energy Corporation Chairman of the Board Bill Greehey (B.B.A. '60) made a personal gift of $25 million to St. Mary's University to endow the business school. Establishing the Bill Greehey School of Business honors his extraordinary leadership and benevolence and fulfills a long-held dream of the Marianists and the University to propel St. Mary's and the business school to national prominence.

Finally, the reputation of the Bill Greehey School of Business hinges on the relevancy of curricula and the high quality of faculty. We are fortunate to have added new curricula and changed existing offerings as business demands changed, and to have assembled a team of faculty who are committed to creating a challenging learning experience. St. Mary's University undergraduate and graduate business programs signal to students, employers and the public that they prepare leaders for the future; thus, the Bill Greehey School of Business's commitment to improvement is evidenced by its peer recognition through the accreditation by the AACSB -- International. Regardless of your role -- student, parent, employer, alumnus - We invite you to join us in the exciting adventure of helping to prepare leaders for the coming decades.