Building for the Future: Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Business School Prepares Students for a Growing Global Market

Nestled in the center of PBA's flagship West Palm Beach campus is a major construction project that will enhance elite business education in South Florida.

Slated for completion in spring 2026, the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Business Hall at PBA is a state-of-the-art facility that will offer a place for collaboration and innovation between students and business leaders.

Housing the university's Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. School of Business, the new facility will feature a stock trading room with professional terminals and a stock ticker, giving students access to real-time market data. A dramatic, two-story atrium will welcome visitors into the building, and a 300-plus-seat tiered lecture hall offers more space for PBA faculty, guest speakers and business leaders to mentor students and share insights.

The innovative facility will also include expanded space for three of PBA's seven Centers of Excellence: The Titus Center for Franchising, the LeMieux Center for Public Policy and the new Center for Financial Literacy, which gives students and the public critical tools and insights to become financially literate.

The 125,000-square-foot business hall, on which PBA broke ground in January 2024, is funded through the university's God Sized-Dreams campaign. The late John J. Rinker, his wife Sheila Rinker, and the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Foundation, of which Rinker was the president, inspired the campaign's launch after an historic $26 million gift.

Creating Space for Innovation

The new facility will complement elite programs within the Rinker School of Business, which received Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation in May 2023. This places PBA in the top 6 percent of business schools around the globe. PBA is one of only 10 Christian institutions in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) to receive this accreditation.

The new facility complements PBA's elite programs -- including its business curricula, which blends rigorous academics, elite accreditation and highly seasoned faculty who teach from a biblical worldview. The Rinker School of Business, which offers 14 undergraduate and graduate programs -- including international business, finance, marketing and more -- prepare students to enter a dynamic, global business environment.

The school also recently launched five new degree programs. Undergraduate additions include business and law -- in collaboration with PBA's School of Liberal Arts and Sciences--and the groundbreaking Entrepreneurship and Franchising program, developed with the Titus Center for Franchising, the only franchising center of excellence in the state of Florida.

New graduate additions include a Master of Business Data Analytics, a Master of Business Administration and Analytics and a Master of Accountancy and Analytics, equipping students with critical skills to effectively leverage Big Data.

As leading companies use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to unlock critical market insights, there is a need for higher education institutions to embrace innovation and empower students to leverage AI/ML responsibly. The Rinker School of Business is leading the way, ensuring students are prepared for today's competitive business landscape. PBA's data analytics program currently incorporates AI tools and machine learning into the curriculum. In 2025, the university will offer an MBA course on AI in business.

Strategically Positioned

PBA is growing -- celebrating its third consecutive year of record-breaking enrollment -- alongside the booming development taking place in the city of West Palm Beach, which has earned the nickname "Wall Street South" due to the hundreds of businesses moving to the area.

PBA's location in the heart of Wall Street South and its programs give students direct access to internship and job opportunities at Fortune 500 companies just minutes from campus. Not only do students enjoy a world-class education, but they can also connect with business leaders in the community, setting them up for success even before graduation.

Further strengthening this connection, PBA collaborates with the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce as an educational partner. Through this partnership, each month, 50 students attend the chamber breakfast, networking with professionals and gleaning valuable insight from industry leaders.

PBA's commitment to fostering strong community partnerships -- and focus on whole-person education - helps students enhance academic learnings and gain practical tools to thrive in today's market and make an impact throughout their career.

To learn more about the PBA Rinker School of Business, visit pba.edu/academics/schools/rinker-business.

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