Cal State L.A. Names James A. Goodrich as Dean of the College of Business and Economics
Los Angeles, CA — James A. Goodrich has been appointed dean of the College of Business and Economics (CBE) at California State University, Los Angeles. Starting his new position July 1, Goodrich’s vast leadership experience in higher education, his research, and extensive industry background will fortify the University’s already prominent business curriculum.
As dean, Goodrich will oversee the departments of Accounting, Economics and Statistics, Finance and Law, Information Systems, Management, and Marketing within the College of Business and Economics at CSULA. More than 3,000 undergraduate and 320 graduate students are enrolled in seven degree programs within this College.
“The breadth of Dr. Goodrich’s experience will be a tremendous asset to Cal State L.A. and the College of Business and Economics," said CSULA Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Ashish Vaidya. “His ability to develop and nurture international relationships in higher education, to partner with business, industry and alumni, to advance the goals of a College, and his ample knowledge of what it takes to be a dean will quickly prove valuable to the College’s faculty and staff, and the students they serve.”
Goodrich currently serves as dean and vice president for International Business Programs at Alliant International University. He also served as founding dean of the Marshall Goldsmith School of Management at Alliant, where he was the chief academic and administrative officer responsible for strategic management, internal operations, faculty, curriculum, budgets and external relations.
Just prior, Goodrich served as dean of the Atkinson Graduate School of Management at Willamette University in Oregon, and associate dean of the Graziadio School of Business at Pepperdine University.
“My vision for the CBE here at CSULA is that we should be a ‘window to the world.’ I am already impressed with some of the important things that our faculty and graduates are doing. We do need to take advantage of our location and build our connections to the community – this will enhance our visibility and reputation,” said Goodrich.
For Alliant’s San Diego campus, Goodrich created several institutional partnerships in China, Europe and Latin America to draw international students. He is also an active member of the AACSB, leading schools through initial accreditation and maintenance of accreditation, and has served on visitation teams for business schools seeking accreditation.
Goodrich’s current research centers on career transition and executive coaching in organizations. His scholarly publications span a variety of topics in leadership and international management. He has also done training and consulting for multinational corporations and governmental organizations for more than 20 years.
Goodrich noted, “I am confident that my consulting experience will help add a dimension to my leadership in this highly public position. The most critical things I have learned as an executive coach are the importance of listening and collaboration. I look forward to being a part of the team that Ashish is building here at CSULA.”
Goodrich earned his bachelor’s degree from Occidental College in Los Angeles, his master’s degree from the University of Kansas, and his Ph.D. from UCLA.
# # #
Working for California since 1947: The 175-acre hilltop campus of California State University, Los Angeles is at the heart of a major metropolitan city, just five miles from Los Angeles’ civic and cultural center. More than 20,000 students and 215,000 alumni—with a wide variety of interests, ages and backgrounds—reflect the city’s dynamic mix of populations. Six Colleges offer nationally recognized science, arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education and humanities programs, among others, led by an award-winning faculty. Cal State L.A. is home to the critically-acclaimed Luckman Jazz Orchestra and to the Honors College for high-achieving students, opening in fall 2011. Programs that provide exciting enrichment opportunities to students and community include an NEH-supported humanities center; a NASA-funded center for space research; and a growing forensic science program, housed in the Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center. www.calstatela.edu