The Cal State Fullerton College of Business and Economics is expanding its footprint with the addition of a new building focused on the Center for Leadership.
Thanks to the support of entrepreneur and Titan alumnus Terry Giles ’70 and Pick Up Stix founder and real estate developer Charlie Zhang, the Center for Leadership is planning a new 21,392-square-foot home located on Folino Drive east of the business college building.
The proposed ultramodern tri-level structure is to feature an auditorium, library, conference room, and faculty and staff offices accommodating center initiatives, including visiting speakers, awards ceremonies and professional consulting, part of a broader vision for the next chapter of the College of Business and Economics as it continues to serve the community through transformative education, research and engagement.
This new direction for the Center for Leadership was announced at a Dec. 3, 2021, fundraising dinner at Newport Beach’s Balboa Bay Club. The event celebrated 10 years of outreach to Cal State Fullerton students and the Orange County business community and looked forward to expanded impact and connection with the Titan network and beyond.
Preparing the Next Generation for Leadership
Giles and Zhang have helped spearhead the campaign for the new building.
Giles earned his undergraduate degree in speech communication at Cal State Fullerton and is an acclaimed trial lawyer and owner and president of Houston-based Giles Enterprises. He has been an active member and supporter of the Center for Leadership since preparation for the center began in 2009. As a mentor and donor, Giles’ involvement has been integral to the growth of the center, including his interest in the Leadership Scholars program, which develops a cohort of Titan students with the leadership acumen they need to thrive. In 2021, Giles generously provided a $1 million gift to further the Center for Leadership’s mission and activities.
A Taiwanese immigrant to the U.S., Zhang founded and sold the Pick Up Stix Chinese restaurant chain. He is currently a prominent Orange County real estate developer focused on revitalizing communities and a strong supporter of the OC Music & Dance arts school, which makes music and art education accessible to Orange County youth. For many years, he has been actively involved in the Center for Leadership as a donor, mentor, speaker and member of the center’s board of directors.
At the event, Zhang committed to a matching gift of $250,000, challenging his fellow supporters to give to the center’s future. Donors enthusiastically met the challenge, matching the full amount committed by Zhang. Furthering the impact was a 50% match from funds donated to CSUF by philanthropists Mackenzie Scott and Dan Jewett.
Nexus of Leadership Development for the Region
The expansion of the Center for Leadership further solidifies the CSUF College of Business and Economics’ commitment to social and economic impact. “This new facility will open doors and readily expand access to valuable opportunities for students and the business community,” says Sridhar Sundaram, dean of the College of Business and Economics. “This useful resource is exactly what this region needs and deserves.”
With award-winning research, the Center for Leadership is at the forefront of thought leadership. Affiliated faculty members are exploring the future of the post-COVID workplace, informing policy for numerous public- and private-sector organizations across Orange County and at Cal State Fullerton itself.
Titan students of all majors gain from networking, mentoring and personal development available through the Leadership Scholars Program, which has helped hundreds of business Titans achieve rewarding careers post-graduation.
With the addition of a new building, the center will help the college and university expand its footprint as a repository for the works of internationally acclaimed leadership scholars and a venue for guest speakers across all industries to speak on organizational behavior and the latest business trends.
For More on the Center for Leadership
From an organizational leadership MBA concentration and the Bringing Learning to Work professional consulting program to Leadership Scholars and the Leadership Voice, Cal State Fullerton’s Center for Leadership is the leadership hub of Southern California.
To get involved in the center as a student, alumnus, mentor, donor or business professional, reach out to the center at leadership@fullerton.edu.
