USF to launch new Center for Executive and Leadership Education

Business professionals looking to advance in their careers will soon be able to go back to school for specialized courses at the University of South Florida.

On Thursday, USF President Rhea Law and local business leaders formally announced that USF’s Muma College of Business is launching a new Center for Executive and Leadership Education.

The new center will be based on USF’s St. Petersburg campus out of the Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance, offering training courses to corporate leaders, executives and professionals looking to grow their skills and advance their careers.

The university anticipates that open enrollment in the new center’s custom corporate learning programs will begin in 2026, with courses tailored to mid-level, senior and executive employees.

“The USF Center for Executive and Leadership Education is built for what’s next – helping leaders anticipate change, seize opportunity and drive impact that lasts,” Jon Kaupla, associate dean and executive director of executive and leadership education at the Muma College of Business, says in the statement.

According to the university, spending for global corporate training is surpassing $360 billion annually and leadership development is routinely ranked as a top organizational priority for businesses of all sizes.

The center is meant to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world application in business, the university says. It’s also another step forward for the college of business’ growing reputation and recognition on the global stage. In recent months, USF and its executive education program was offered membership into the University Consortium for Executive Education (UNICON), joining such institutions as the Harvard Business School, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the London Business School.