David Nazarian History College of Business and Economics History

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.

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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. 听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
听	Deborah Cour (interim)	2017-2018
	Kenneth Lord	2013 - 2017
	Judith Hennessey (Acting)	2012 - 2013
	William Jennings,听Jr.	2006 - 2012
	Fred Evans	2003-2006
	Michael P.听Fronmueller	2003 - 2004
	William R.听Hosek	1987 - 2002
听	James听Manos听(Acting)	1985 - 1987
听	James W. Robertson	1984 - 1985
听	Donald听Lyden听(Acting)	1983 - 1984
听	James W. Robertson	1975 - 1983
听	Paul B.听Blomgren	1965 - 1975

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	Paul Lazarony	2016 - Present听
	Christopher Jones	2012 - 2016
	Judith Hennessey	2007-2012
	Earl Weiss	2004 - 2007
	William W. Roberts	1994 - 2004
	Sahab听Dayal	1990-1994
	William Jennings,听Jr.	1987-1990
听	Shirley Teeter	1985-1987
听	James听Manos	1978-1985
听	Baechtold (Acting)	1977-1978
听	Charles A.听Bearchell	1972-1977
听	James C. Bennett	1968-1972
听	听Clayton Summers	1965-1968

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	Donald L.听Raun		Maurice E. Dance	1958-1965
	Floyd R. Simpson		听	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听听

Faculty Members from the 1958 Year Book - Professors:听 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.听 (Back row L-R) Don Kirchner, Richard Strayer, Michael Dunn, Robert Hanna, Thomas Shannon, William Roberts, George Watto.