Vanderbilt University: Owen

Founded in 1969, the Vanderbilt University - Owen Graduate School of Management is the graduate business school of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, US. It was named after Ralph “Peck” Owen, a Vanderbilt alumnus, founder of Equitable Securities Corporation in Nashville, and chairman of the American Express Company.

The school offers its 577 students a standard two-year master of business administration (MBA), highly ranked by Bloomberg Businessweek. It also offers an executive MBA; an Americas executive MBA; a master of finance (fast-tracking students to careers in investment banking and wealth management over nine months); a master of accountancy (offering new and recent college graduates an accelerated path to positions with Deloitte, Ernst and Young, KPMG and PwC); a master of accountancy-valuation; a health care MBA; a master of management in health care, as well as a large variety of joint professional and MBA degree programs.

Owen’s research centres of excellence include the Financial Markets Research Center (FMRC) that brings together researchers, government regulators and leaders of industry; the Turner Family Center for Social Ventures loops in the schools of divinity, education, law, management, medical and nursing, all galvanised to look at ways to tackle poverty; the Owen Entrepreneurship Center, which also involves the law, medical, and engineering schools; the Cal Turner Program for Moral Leadership in the Professions; Vanderbilt Center for Environmental Management Studies and the recent Center for Healthcare Markets Innovation.

The Financial Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, and the Economist have all ranked Owen’s MBA and EMBA within their respective top 50s.

Students at Owen have can experience an active social scene, with various socials and black-tie events as well as facilities including a recreation centre (for squash, racquetball and indoor swimming) and outdoor pursuits including tennis and running. Owen students also spend a lot of time on community projects. Nashville itself is, of course, a feted and vibrant city with a particular emphasis on the arts.

Notable alumni include: David Farr, CEO of Emerson Electric; Adena Friedman, CEO of American stock exchange NASDAQ; Paul Jacobson, CFO of Delta Air Lines; Doug Parker, CEO of American Airlines Group; Shep Rose, reality star on Bravo's Southern Charm; Sarah Trahern, CEO of Country Music Association.