RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS
Annual Report | 2026-27
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Dr. Suzanne Zivnuska, College of Business Dean
Dean's Message
Dean's Message
Dear College of Business Community,
The 2025–26 academic year was a year of significant progress, growth, and accomplishment for the College of Business. As I reflect on my first year as Dean, having joined the College in August 2025, I am deeply grateful for the dedication of our faculty, staff, students, alumni, advisory council members, and community partners. Together, we have continued to advance our mission of preparing responsible business leaders while strengthening the College’s impact throughout the region and beyond.
A major milestone this year was completing and submitting our AACSB Self-Evaluation Report and successfully hosting our AACSB Mock Visit. The visit provided valuable feedback, reinforced our many strengths, and identified opportunities for continued improvement as we prepare for the Peer Review Team Visit in October 2026. This accomplishment reflects the collective effort and commitment of our entire College community.
This year also brought exciting innovation and growth. We welcomed new colleagues Jason Lambert, Sorour Fatemi, Lizeth Munoz, and Lawrence Henrard, launched new degree programs in Agribusiness Supply Chain Management and Accounting, completed Year 2 of the Pebble Beach Scholars Program, and celebrated the 10th anniversary of our Sustainable Hospitality & Tourism Management program at the Making Waves event. We also completed a successful tenure-track faculty search in Marketing, secured funding to modernize classrooms, and finalized a new business plan for the Institute for Innovation and Economic Development (iiED) with a renewed focus on entrepreneurship and innovation.
Student success remained at the heart of our efforts. We celebrated outstanding students and community partners at the annual Business Showcase, expanded professional development opportunities, and strengthened connections with industry through internships, mentoring, and experiential learning. We also renewed Advisory Council bylaws, strengthened committee structures, and increased engagement within both the hospitality and agricultural communities.
Beyond these accomplishments, I am especially proud of the strong sense of community we have cultivated. Through collaborative initiatives and programs such as Friends of Froshman, we continue to build meaningful connections that support student success and enrich the College experience.
While we have much to celebrate, important work remains ahead. We will continue building faculty and administrative capacity, strengthening programs, expanding financial literacy initiatives, pursuing new opportunities, and preparing for our AACSB accreditation review in October 2026.
Thank you for your contributions to this exceptional year. The achievements highlighted throughout this report reflect the talent, commitment, and passion of the College of Business community, and I look forward to building on this momentum together.
Dr. Suzanne Zivnuska, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Business
Cal State Monterey Bay
Feature Story
Feature Story
College of Business-hosted Career Fairs Prepare Students for Professional Success
College of Business-hosted Career Fairs Prepare Students for Professional Success
Preparing career-ready graduates is central to the mission of the CSUMB College of Business. Each year, the College hosts three signature career fairs that connect students with employers, alumni, and industry leaders while helping them build the professional skills and confidence needed for career success. Open to students from all majors, these events provide opportunities to explore careers, expand professional networks, and engage directly with potential employers.
The College's commitment extends well beyond the career fair itself. Before each event, students receive personalized coaching to strengthen resumes, refine 30-second elevator pitches, and practice interviewing skills. They also have access to free professional attire through the Student Center and complimentary professional headshots sponsored by the College of Business, ensuring they can present themselves confidently to employers.
The 2025 Accounting Networking Event demonstrated the impact of this preparation. Held on September 24, the event connected more than 130 students with 75 professionals from 33 organizations, including accounting firms, government agencies, financial institutions, agribusinesses, and nonprofit organizations. Employer feedback highlighted the exceptional preparation of CSUMB students.
"This year was the most active in terms of student interaction," said Michael Arensdorf, partner at Scholl & Arensdorf. "The students were extremely well prepared." James Koller of the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration added, "The attendees were terrific, super engaged… This was one of the best events I've attended this year."
The event's success reflected a strong partnership among faculty, alumni, and employer volunteers. Alumni Kim Said ('10), Nadia Vargas, Laura Armbruster, and faculty Gary Schneider, Maj-Britt Kimm, and Susan Harker coached 128 accounting students on networking and elevator pitches. Faculty also reviewed more than 130 resumes and advised students on CPA licensure. Employers received access to an online resume book before and after the event, resulting in many students being contacted for interviews.
Career exploration extends across industries. The 19th Annual Ag Jobs: Bringing a Greater Vision—Harvesting Data: Careers in Agriculture welcomed more than 300 students and agricultural professionals for networking and panel discussions with leaders from organizations such as Driscoll's, Church Brothers Farms, Naturipe, and Western Growers. The Hospitality and Tourism Career Fair connected students with regional employers including Pebble Beach Company, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Carmel Valley Ranch, Bernardus Lodge & Spa, WeatherTech Raceway, and See Monterey.
Together, these career fairs exemplify the College's mission of preparing graduates for meaningful careers by combining classroom learning with professional development, industry engagement, and real-world networking opportunities that help students transition successfully from college to the workforce.
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