The department of business administration was established at Youngstown Institute of Technology in 1923. As the business program grew and Youngstown College became Youngstown State University, the School of Business was formed. To strengthen its ability to serve the education needs of regional businesses, the School of Business established the MBA Program in 1971. In 1981, the school was named the Warren P. Williamson, Jr. School of Business Administration in honor of the school’s benefactor. When the Division of Academic Affairs was reorganized in 1993, all schools became colleges.

The Williamson family continues to be generous to the university and the college. In 1992, the Williamsons made a very generous gift to form the Center for International Business. Now called the Williamson Center for International Business, the Center encourages the integration of international perspectives across the undergraduate and graduate curricula of the WCBA, assists faculty development, and provides outreach services to the business community.