NSS Dean's Board of Advisors

Jeffrey (Jeff) Silverman, NSS Dean's Board of Advisors chairman, retired as corporate vice president for Technical Operations at Celgene Americas in April 2018. He previously worked for Alpha Therapeutics, acquired by Grifols in 2003. Jeff received a B.S. in biochemistry in 1977 from Cal State LA and was honored as the 2010 Distinguished Alumnus of NSS. He received an MBA from Claremont Graduate University. He lives in Pasadena with his spouse and Cal State LA alumna, Amelia Perez-Silverman. Amelia received a BS in Environmental Health Science in 1976.

Silverman is a second-generation Cal State LA alum. His late father, Ron Silverman, was alumnus and faculty emeritus of Art. He taught at Cal State LA from 1955 – 1988. The elder Silverman established the Ronald Silverman Endowed Scholarship Fund, which was set up to provide financial support to art education students at Cal State LA. He passed away in October of 2017. Jeff Silverman's mother, Marilyn taught kindergarten in Montebello before focusing on raising a family. Marilyn passed away in August 2021.

Principal in Charge and CEO, Nelson Algaze, consults with clients to develop and evaluate real estate, facility development and design strategies. With over 30 years of industry experience, Nelson has made a commitment to innovation and authenticity in his approach. His personal portfolio includes corporate designs that have been described as innovative and timeless. He encourages everyone at the firm to "Design Think", which can be described as the overall vision of our company: To provide business-drive design solutions with artistry and savvy. He understands how to make a good company. He invests in our people and has a strong interest in professional development in his role. His energetic personality and down-to-earth attitude weave enthusiasm and transparency into all interactions, highlighting his passion for the company, our employees, and clients.

http://www.saaia.com/about/leadership

Gary Matus is Managing Director of RSR Partners.  He recently received the Alumnus of the Year Award in February of 2017 and received the College of NSS Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2004. 

Prior to RSR Partners, he was a managing partner of Egon Zehnder International, heading the firm’s Financial Services Practice. Before entering search, Gary held a number of senior management roles with Bank of America, including chief marketing officer. He has also served as president and chief executive officer of Iwerks Entertainment. Gary began his career as a national brands product manager with Colgate-Palmolive.

Gary graduated from California State University, Los Angeles with a degree in history. He also received an MBA from the Arizona State University/Thunderbird School of Global Management. Additionally, he has a post-graduate degree from the Anderson School of Management at UCLA in director education and certification. Gary lives in Pasadena, California and currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Thunderbird School of Global Management, where he received his MBA, on the Board of the Los Angeles YMCA, Board of the Los Angeles Ketchum-Downtown YMCA. He is also actively involved with his alma mater CSULA, serves on its President’s Council and is a member of the College of NSS Advisory Board.

http://affinityinvestment.com/gary-j-matus/

David Galaviz serves as Associate Vice President for Government and Community Partnerships with USC University Relations. David’s primary role is to create a shared vision with USC’s neighbors and develop partnerships with local elected officials, civic leaders and community-based organizations in South L.A. and the Eastside. He is also responsible for engaging USC schools and departments and facilitating their community engagement strategies.

David’s oversees an incredible team of six community organizers committed to creating partnerships that strengthen the community, civic, and cultural fabric of all neighborhoods served by USC. Over the last eighteen months, Galaviz was responsible for facilitating the university’s response to the COVID 19 pandemic.  This included working with his team to distribute over six million pounds of food to needy Angelenos, developing vaccine sites, awarding over $200 thousand from the USC COVID 19 Community Fund to local partners and co-hosting vaccine town halls featuring the Keck School of Medicine. 

Prior to this, he established the first Office of USC Local Government Relations and served as Director of Community Outreach for the USC Health Sciences Campus.  During the USC Village renovation process, David was responsible for educating local residents and generating public support for City Council approval. These multi-year efforts resulted in over one-thousand community members attending City Council hearings and speaking in support.  During the final unanimous City Council vote, over nine-hundred community members travelled to City Hall to advocate for the project.   David also played a key role in organizing support for the $374 Million Coliseum renovation, and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art located in Exposition Park. These efforts included direct engagement with community members, developing messaging and marketing materials, and establishing trusting relationships with diverse stakeholders. 

Prior to his tenure with USC, Galaviz served as Legislative Director for State Senator/Assemblymember Gilbert Cedillo and was responsible for issues including immigration, public safety, economic development and labor. Galaviz currently serves as a board member for the Central City Association of Los Angeles, Weingart ELA YMCA, Exposition Park Master Plan Community Advisory Committee, Salesian High School Strategic Planning Committee among other organizations. He is also a former member of the Cal State L.A. Alumni Association Board of Directors.  In his spare time, he is a youth soccer and basketball coach. Galaviz holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from CSULA and a master’s degree in public administration from USC.

John Chi is CEO and founder at Synova Life Sciences. At Synova, John is the inventor of the core technology, and has been issued 18 patents internationally with more pending and in the pipeline.  Before joining the University, John was CTO and co-founder of post-production company, Digital Quest, Inc. until its acquisition in 2004.  John received his BS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University and his Master’s in Biotechnology (MBt) with an emphasis in Business through an integrated Cal State consortium graduate program (LA, Pomona, Fullerton).

As the Founder and Principal of Veritas Public Affairs, Tracey Chavira brings over 20 years of extensive government and political experience to her clients. She leverages her expertise in public affairs and government relations to assist clients in engaging with elected officials and key decision-makers, navigating public agencies to overcome obstacles, buildingcoalitions to advocate for policy concerns, and enhancing brand recognition for maximum marketing exposure. Tracey is an eight-year veteran of Los Angeles City Hall, where she gained invaluable insight into the inner workings of local policy, procedures, and politics. Her federal experience includes serving as a field representative in a Congressional office, where she addressed issues related to immigration and veterans’ affairs. Additionally, she has worked on Capitol Hill at a lobbying firm and held a position focusing on campaign finance compliance.