Dean's Welcome
Dr. Sridhar Sundaram
Dean
Dean's Bio
Dr. Sridhar Sundaram joined Cal State Fullerton in July of 2021 as Dean of the College of Business and Economics, the second largest business college in the nation. Dr. Sundaram's career in higher education spans more than 30 years, having most recently served as the Dean of the Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance at the University of South Florida. Dr. Sundaram has vast expertise in leadership, curriculum and new program development as well as community engagement and fundraising.
It is truly my honor and privilege to serve as the Dean and lead the College of Business and Economics here at Cal State Fullerton. The College of Business and Economics (CBE) enters a new era as we enroll more than 11,000 students in Fall 2024, becoming the largest college by major at the University. With over 40% of our students coming from a Hispanic/Latino heritage and another 30% coming from an Asian heritage we are one of most diverse business schools in the country. A third of our students are also first in the family to attend college and over 40% are Pell Grant recipients. Cal State Fullerton is ranked by U.S. News and World report as No. 6 in the nation for “social mobility,” a top performer among all national universities.
The College is anchored on three pillars: student success, thought leadership and community engagement.
Our academic mission is to “ …change the lives of our students through student-focused education grounded in academic excellence and personal development. ” CBE academic programs embrace a philosophy of providing a foundational education with relevant curriculum in each discipline, offering experiential learning opportunities to apply this knowledge and a commitment to student professional development and personal growth. Both, undergraduate and graduate programs, adopt this framework and help our graduates become career ready and as leaders in their organizations.
CBE faculty provide “thought leadership” by conducting cutting-edge research in all areas with significant impact on extant literature and the profession. They consistently publish in the top journals in the field and serve on many editorial boards of journals. Their research has been cited over 76,000 times (Google Scholar) in the past 5 years and highlighted in many national and regional media outlets. Our faculty also provide thought leadership to the region through applied research (research reports) and professional presentations (Fall and Spring Economic Forecasts) for various community stakeholders.
CBE’s community mission is to create positive “Social Impact” and “Economic Impact” in the region through intentional engagement. The College of Business and Economics is the home to nearly 20 Centers and Programs of Excellence. They play a key role in the region’s economic development and social impact through collaboration with community partners. The collective societal impact of these Centers is significant and we are proud to serve the communities we live. We also serve the region by providing the needed talent as 70% of our graduates remain in Orange County. With over 79,000 Business Titan alumni calling Southern California as home we are proud of the reach and impact they have in the region.
I invite you to engage with the College of Business and Economics as we build a lasting legacy in serving the needs of our students, businesses, and the community with the level of excellence that has come to represent Cal State University Fullerton.
Dr. Sridhar (Sri) Sundaram
Dean, College of Business and Economics
