DURHAM, N.H. - The University of New Hampshire's premier MBA program for seasoned professionals, the Executive MBA offered by the Whittemore School of Business and Economics, has chosen historic downtown Portsmouth for its location beginning this fall.

The only Executive MBA program north of Boston, UNH's program is targeted to mid- to senior-level professionals with multiple years of work experience who are looking for a top-level business degree and to expand their network and learn from other experienced professionals.

"The knowledge and skills gained in the program develop an immediate edge in evaluating the qualitative and quantitative pros and cons of alternative courses of action, and making optimal decisions in the face of high economic and technological uncertainty," said Christine Shea, associate dean of graduate programs and research, and associate professor of technology and operations management.

"In looking to support the highest level professionals in their pursuit of an MBA, Portsmouth, with its resources and location, was an obvious choice for us," Shea said. "We chose the Portsmouth Sheraton Harborside specifically to support our students and their goals."

Named by Forbes Traveler in 2008 and 2009 as one of America's prettiest towns, Portsmouth is centrally located on New Hampshire's Seacoast, just a one-hour drive from the greater Boston area, southern Maine/Portland, and southern New Hampshire/Nashua/Manchester. It is home to nationally acclaimed theatre and music, many historic sites and museums, and first-class dining. The National Trust for Historic Preservation called the city "one of the most culturally rich destinations in the country."

The Executive MBA is a fast-paced leadership program held on alternating weekends (Friday and Saturday) to give busy professionals time to complete their degree while balancing work and family commitments. Featuring small class sizes, top level UNH professors, and peer teamwork, the program encourages and promotes stimulating participation and excellent networking opportunities. Most students will spend Friday nights at the Sheraton, giving them time to work and study with their teams and attend occasional speaking events. Students also participate in a 10-day off-campus residency abroad in the spring as part of the International Management course.

The Whittemore School's Executive MBA program is the first of its kind in New England, AACSB accredited and the school is an active founding member of the Executive MBA Council -- the organization that unites Executive MBA programs globally in their mission, direction and quality.

Additional information on the Executive MBA program, including application information, is available at http://wsbe.unh.edu/emba.

The UNH Whittemore School of Business and Economics offers a full complement of high-quality programs in business, economics, accounting, finance, marketing, and hospitality management. Programs are offered at the undergraduate, graduate, and executive development levels. The school is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the premier accrediting agency for business schools worldwide. For more information, visit http://wsbe.unh.edu/.

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state's flagship public institution, enrolling more than 12,200 undergraduate and 2,200 graduate students.

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