The Center for Leadership, one of the 12 Centers of Excellence housed at the CSUF College of Business and Economics, has been named after donors and longtime friends of the college: Terry Giles ’70 and his wife, Kalli O’Malley. The naming marks a new chapter for the center, which is currently preparing for a new home in a state-of-the-art building that will be built next to the existing business college building.

“I am most grateful to Terry Giles and Kalli O’Malley for naming the Giles-O’Malley Center for Leadership and investing in our students,” says Dean Sri Sundaram. “It will make a difference in the lives of all Titans and our community. As many of our students are the first generation in their families to attend college, the programs offered by the center along with the opportunities to network with local business and community leaders are critical to our students’ personal and professional growth. We take a holistic view in educating our students that focuses on both curriculum and co-curriculum offerings to help develop a complete graduate from the College of Business and Economics.”

The naming was celebrated at a March 15 event, held in the college’s courtyard and attended by college and university leadership, community leaders, donors, prominent alumni and friends of Cal State Fullerton.

Giles, a CSUF speech communications grad, was among the founding supporters of the Center for Leadership in 2009.

For more than a decade, with the support of Giles and many others, the center has expanded to include student leadership development and networking events, the Bringing Learning to Work program cultivating organizational skillsets for Southern California businesses, annual award recognitions for regional firms and organizations, and the “Leadership Voice” television show and YouTube channel.

“The Center for Leadership is proud of everything it has achieved during its first 12 years but even more excited about the opportunities that will come with this incredible sponsorship and partnership with the Giles O’Malley family,” says Jay Barbuto, the center’s director. “The opportunities for impact will be accelerated thanks to the generous work of Terry Giles and Kalli O’Malley.”

Giles established one of the largest and most successful criminal law firms on the West Coast, among other endeavors. His current company, Giles Enterprises, has diversified interests in biotech, high-end hotels and financial portfolio investments. Giles is the recipient of the prestigious Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans award and many other honors.

O’Malley has served as prosecutor in Harris County, Texas, the capstone of a legal career that has included commercial litigation at the prestigious law firm Andrews & Kurth. She is also the founder of the Houston chapter of Girls Inc. and has served on many philanthropic boards, including the Kilgore Rangerette Foundation, Giles O’Malley Foundation and Lauren E. O’Malley Foundation.

For More on the Giles-O’Malley Center for Leadership

Whether you are a student seeking to develop your personal leadership potential or a business professional wanting to bring applicational organizational practices to your company, the Giles-O’Malley Center for Leadership is here to support you as the leadership voice of Orange County.

For more information, reach out to leadership@fullerton.edu or read more of our articles on the Center for Leadership.