Tobin Launches the Wirth Center for Professional Development

The Peter J. Tobin College of Business is proud to announce the launch of the Wirth Center for Professional Development, a transformative initiative designed to ensure that every business student graduates not only with strong analytical expertise, but also with the professional mindset, presence, and integrity demanded by today’s employers. Made possible through a generous gift from alumnus Paul Wirth ‘79CBA, the Center represents a defining step in Tobin’s commitment to preparing students for meaningful and lasting careers.

“Throughout my career, I’ve seen that technical skills may open doors, but professionalism, character, attitude, and how you present yourself determine how far you go,” said Paul Wirth. “I wanted to support an initiative that gives every Tobin student the preparation and tools to succeed in any professional environment with confidence.”

Driven by a vision to position Tobin as a national leader in developing career-ready graduates, the Wirth Center introduces a structured, developmental approach to professional growth. Through required milestones, experiential learning, and individualized coaching, students will build essential competencies over time, reinforcing behaviors that employers consistently identify as decisive factors in hiring, promotion, and long-term success. While traditional business education has long emphasized analytical and strategic thinking, today’s workplace demands a broader set of skills, including executive presence, communication mastery, adaptability, and professional judgment.

“The launch of the Wirth Center reflects our belief that professional excellence is not an add-on to a business education, it is foundational to it,” said Dean Maciek Nowak, Ph.D. “We are embedding professionalism into the very fabric of the Tobin experience so that our graduates stand out not only for what they know, but for how they lead, communicate, and represent themselves in the world.”

At the heart of the Center is the Professional Engagement Program (PEP), a multi-year initiative integrated into every undergraduate business degree. Created in partnership with Career Services and designed to evolve alongside students’ academic journeys, PEP blends workshops, real-world simulations, mentorship, and assessment milestones to ensure consistent and measurable development. Rather than relying on optional programming, the Wirth Center establishes professionalism as a shared expectation and a defining element of the Tobin undergraduate experience. 

“Our goal is to make professional development intentional, developmental, and accessible to every student,” said Elisa Zervos, Director of Career & Professional Development and ICF Professional Certified Coach, who will serve as Director of the Wirth Center for Professional Development. “Professionalism is learned through practice and reflection. By creating structured opportunities for students to build confidence, refine their communication, and engage with mentors, we are helping them transition from students into professionals with clarity and purpose.”

The Center’s programming is grounded in several key pillars: 

• Professional etiquette and presence, 

• Confident communication and compelling presentations; 

• Purposeful leadership,

• Synergistic connections and cultural fluency,

• and MentorPlace, a structured alumni mentorship initiative that connects students with experienced professionals across industries. 

Through MentorPlace, alumni will play an active role in shaping the next generation of business leaders, offering guidance, perspective, and real-world insight at critical stages of students’ development. The initiative strengthens the lifelong connection between Tobin and its graduates while expanding networks and opportunities for current students.

The launch of the Wirth Center for Professional Development marks a new chapter for the Tobin College of Business, redefining what it means to be a Tobin graduate. As the Center evolves, its impact will extend far beyond campus, shaping boardrooms, startups, nonprofits, and communities through graduates who lead with confidence, integrity, and professional distinction. Through this initiative, Tobin affirms its enduring mission to prepare students not only for their first job, but for a lifetime of purposeful leadership.