December 1, 2025
Shawnee State University is expanding access to advanced business education in the region by offering Master of Business Administration courses at the PACCAR Medical Education Center, located on the Adena Regional Medical Center campus in Chillicothe.
The initiative is part of SSU’s commitment to bringing flexible, career-advancing opportunities directly to working professionals in southern Ohio. The MBA program features a hybrid format that blends online coursework with in-person instruction, allowing students to balance academic progress with professional and personal responsibilities. It also allows students to network with other professionals.
“In many ways our program fulfills the precise needs of prospective students,” said Dr. Terry L. Hapney Jr., professor in the C.H. Lute School of Business and director of the MBA program. “Chillicothe is a vibrant and thriving area, and there are a number of organizations with employees who could benefit from having an advanced degree.”
The MBA program is delivered in accelerated seven-week segments, with multiple entry points throughout the year. Students enrolled full time can complete their degree in as little as 12 months.
“The flexibility of the program meets students where they are,” Hapney said. “You can start the program in the fall, spring or summer. It’s about making graduate education accessible.”
Focused on entrepreneurship, leadership, and economic development in Appalachia, SSU’s MBA curriculum prepares graduates to start new ventures, strengthen local businesses, and drive regional growth. The program emphasizes problem-solving in communities that face unique economic barriers while preparing students for success anywhere.
“The focus of our program is on entrepreneurship in economically challenged regions,” Hapney said. “The projects in each course are real-world and applicable to actual business problems.”
The partnership with Adena Health allows SSU to provide accessible, hands-on graduate education for the region’s workforce, supporting the continued growth of Chillicothe and surrounding communities.
“We are committed to strengthening the region we serve, not only through health care, but by supporting opportunities that help people grow professionally and personally,” said Kathi Edrington, Adena president and CEO. “Partnering with Shawnee State to offer MBA courses at our PACCAR Medical Education Center brings high-quality education closer to home and expands pathways for our workforce and the entire community.”
SSU will offer two MBA courses in Chillicothe during spring semester, which begins in January. For more information on Shawnee State’s Master of Business Administration program, visit shawnee.edu/mba.