History
From a modest opening enrollment of 438 in 1958, the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics is today one of the largest accredited business schools in the country with more than 6,700 students enrolled annually.
Nazarian College focuses on business-related academic programs, including accounting, business law, economics, finance, management, marketing, and systems and operations management, as well as professional certifications from industry and government partners.
The school is one of nine colleges at California State University, Northridge, the fourth-largest university in California.
Highlights:
- Nazarian College was originally part of San Fernando Valley State College, which was a satellite campus of Los Angeles State College.
- The college has produced more than 50,000 alumni who have made an impact on the local, national and global economies.
- In 2014, entrepreneur David Nazarian ('82) donated $10 million to the college, which was renamed in his honor.
- In 2017, alumni Harvey ('70, Hon. D. '16) and Harriet Bookstein donated $5 million to the college, which led to the renaming of the building that houses the college to Bookstein Hall.
- Nazarian College received prestigious dual AACSB accreditation for business and accounting in 2025.
Milestones, Moments and Leadership Through the Years
"By the time its first catalog appeared in 1958, diminutive Valley State had already mounted a program in business, and it flourished. Eventually, major accounting firms would be heavily staffed by its alumni, and the campus would have one of the largest departments of business law in the country."
Source: The San Fernando Valley: then and now: an illustrated history / by Charles A. Bearchell and Larry D. Fried; Partners in progress by Robert J. Kelly. Page 38
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Chandra Subramaniam |
2018 - Present |
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Deborah Cour (interim) |
2017-2018 |
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Kenneth Lord |
2013 - 2017 |
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Judith Hennessey (Acting) |
2012 - 2013 |
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William Jennings, Jr. |
2006 - 2012 |
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Fred Evans |
2003-2006 |
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Michael P. Fronmueller |
2003 - 2004 |
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William R. Hosek |
1987 - 2002 |
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James Manos (Acting) |
1985 - 1987 |
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James W. Robertson |
1984 - 1985 |
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Donald Lyden (Acting) |
1983 - 1984 |
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James W. Robertson |
1975 - 1983 |
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Paul B. Blomgren |
1965 - 1975 |
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Paul Lazarony |
2016 - Present |
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Christopher Jones |
2012 - 2016 |
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Judith Hennessey |
2007-2012 |
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Earl Weiss |
2004 - 2007 |
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William W. Roberts |
1994 - 2004 |
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Sahab Dayal |
1990-1994 |
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William Jennings, Jr. |
1987-1990 |
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Shirley Teeter |
1985-1987 |
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James Manos |
1978-1985 |
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Baechtold (Acting) |
1977-1978 |
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Charles A. Bearchell |
1972-1977 |
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James C. Bennett |
1968-1972 |
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Clayton Summers |
1965-1968 |
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Donald L. Raun |
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Maurice E. Dance |
1958-1965 |
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Floyd R. Simpson |
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1956-1958 |
Fifty years ago, in academic year 1965-1966, business and economics education found its home at San Fernando Valley State College, as the department of business became the School of Business Administration and Economics. Programmatic and administrative changes have led us to what is now the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics, with alumnus David Nazarian's ('82) gift. Through the years, more than 50,000 David Nazarian College of Business and Economics alumni have made their mark on the local, national and global economies. The college has grown to become one of the 10 largest accredited business schools in the nation and consistently ranks among the most prestigious in the world. Nazarian College current and former faculty and staff celebrated this milestone. Watch the video of the 50th anniversary celebration here.
Faculty Members from the 1958 Year Book - Professors: Al Leininger, Maurice Dance, Rodney Luther, Dorthea Extence, Donald Raun, Reuben Krolick, Seymour S. Phillips
Faculty Member from the 1984 Year Book - (Front row L-R) Gordon johnson, Benedict Pedrotti, Dean Donald Lyden, Associate Dean James Manos, Ron Clouse. (Back row L-R) Don Kirchner, Richard Strayer, Michael Dunn, Robert Hanna, Thomas Shannon, William Roberts, George Watto.
Faculty Member from the 1964 Year Book
Faculty and Student Members from the 1968 Year Book
School of Business Administration and Economics Building from the 1969 Year Book
Faculty Members from the 1957 Year Book