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Executive-in-Residence

The objective of our Executive-in-Residence Program is to enrich the learning environment in the College of Business and Public Administration for both undergraduate and graduate students. The program is also intended to provide faculty and staff involved in outreach activities with new ideas and perspectives on how to serve the public and private sectors. Increasing the exposure of our students to business and governmental leaders is a benefit to the college, and may result in increased internships as well as help increase opportunities for graduates to consider regional employment opportunities.

Senior-level executives are invited to reside on campus for periods varying from several days, or to team teach courses for a quarter. Participating executives may guest lecture in undergraduate classes, conduct graduate seminars, participate in Friday Faculty Forums when new research is discussed, present an open forum to the university community, or meet with alumni. Executives may propose any additional activities of interest to the individual, such as meeting with student organizations, holding office hours for students, or collaborating with faculty on research. Benefits of this program to the College are many, but the Executive benefits as well:

  • To have time away from the workplace in an academic setting to organize new insights about business and the public sector
  • To regain an appreciation for higher education today
  • To become acquainted with CSUSB faculty and students
  • To explore greater use of internships

If you are interested in serving as a future Executive-in-Residence, or wish to nominate another qualified executive, please contact Dean Karen Dill Bowerman.


D. Linn Wiley Executive-in-Residence
D. Linn Wiley was our 2007-08 Executive-in-Residence. In this video, he shares his perspectives on the importance of being an excellent writer. He is currently Vice President of the Board of Directors of Citizens Business Bank, Linn Wiley earned his MBA in the CSU system, and then completed Harvard's Graduate School of Credit and Financial Management. He served as President and CEO of CVB Financial Corp.and Citizens Business Bank from 1991 to August 2006. At the time he left the presidency, Citizens Business Bank was the 11th largest commercial bank in California and the largest bank headquartered in the Inland Empire, with 39 offices and over $6B in assets. As Executive-in-Residence, he presented discussions for students and faculty on the importance of student writing. A DVD was produced at a Faculty Forum that will be shown to in our business writing classes for years to come. He talked with students about leadership and gave a presentation for the College’s Career Expo on professionalism. He presented an Executive Briefing sponsored by Business Alliance on executive leadership. With classes of non-accounting students, he discussed the importance of understanding accounting.

Ramon Alvarez Executive in Residence 2006 Ramon Alvarez was our 2006 Executive-in-Residence. The Latino Business Student Association hosted him on February 21, 2007. When Mr. Alvarez met in October with Dr. Newman's Marketing class, the students reported, "Mr. Alvarez focused on the need to build relationships for success and to follow your heart for your career. He also discussed with us the importance of being involved with your community because that's your neighbors and customers." He held office hours with marketing and management students to discuss careers in those fields. He spoke in the new course in Executive Leadership. Mr. Ramón Alvarez C. was born San Diego and raised in Tijuana and is actively involved in the Hispanic community. The Alvarez Lincoln Mercury Dealership, located in the Riverside Auto Center, was founded by Mr. Alvarez in October 1995. In October 2001, Mr. Alvarez added the prestigious name of Jaguar to his successful dealership – not only was it the first Hispanic Jaguar dealership in California, but the first in the Western United States.


Dick Zeigler Executive in Residence 2005 SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – The College of Business and Public Administration at California State University, San Bernardino, announced today that Garth Richard (Dick) Zeigler will be the college’s first executive-in-residence.

Zeigler will be on campus during the spring quarter to talk with students and faculty about business and finance issues. In addition, he will team-teach a course in managerial leadership with the dean of the college, Karen Dill Bowerman. Students may now enroll for the two-unit course, which will focus on leadership, with an emphasis on ethical leadership. The course will be from 6 to 7:50 p.m. on Thursdays beginning April 7.

Bowerman said that the college’s new executive-in-residence program is being launched to further help connect students with business leaders in the global community.

“Sixty-two percent of our business and public administration graduates remain in the two-county area of San Bernardino and Riverside counties,” Bowerman said. “It is our obligation to provide programs that engage both undergraduate and graduate students with business executives in order to enhance students’ readiness for leadership in our community."

Zeilger said he was excited to be on campus and looked forward to meeting with students and faculty to talk his life experiences and most importantly about ethical standards. “In my life experiences I find that if you take the straight and narrow path and follow high ethical standards, your whole life is changed,” Ziegler said. “I’m looking forward to the ability to sharing with students the same feelings I have for high ethical standards.”

He said while team teaching with Dean Bowerman, he wants to help students develop their own inner code of ethics in life and in their dealings with others. “In my life experiences it is important to have a reputation to be honest and trusted in what you do,” he said.

Zeigler graduated in the top five percent of his class from the School of Law at the University of South Dakota, and was chosen the Outstanding Law Student by the faculty of the university. He served as editor-in-chief of the school’s Law Review, and later was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Zeigler’s career spans work as an estate and business planning attorney, realtor broker, and financial consultant. Since 1995 he has been a senior financial adviser in Indian Wells, where he utilizes the financial planning process to deliver trust mortgages, insurance products and managed money.

He is a member of the planned giving committees for the Desert Healthcare Foundation in Palm Springs, the YMCA in Palm Desert, American Cancer Society of the Desert, Boys and Girls Club of Coachella Valley, Riverside Community Foundation, the Desert Museum, Cal State San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus and the Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage.

For more information on the College of Business and Public Administration’s executive-in-residence program, please contact Karen Dill Bowerman at (909) 537-5700 or the university’s public affairs office at (909) 537-5007.