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Executive profile: Michael R. Cunningham

RESUME

University: San Diego State University, College of Business Administration.

Title: Dean.

No. of employees: 117 faculty, 45 staff and 4,665 students.

Year founded: 1955.

What the organization does: We educate, inspire, and motivate students to become entrepreneurial thinkers, innovative leaders and socially responsible global citizens. We celebrate research and exceptional teaching.

Education: Bachelor’s of business administration, University of Massachusetts, 1982; master’s in graphic communications, management and technology, New York University, 1995; Ph.D. in administration, leadership and technology, New York University, 2005.

Birthplace: Queens, New York.

Age: 51.

Current residence: Rancho Santa Fe.

Family: Son, Michael Jr., and daughters, Christine and Tressa.

Dr. Michael R. Cunningham became dean of the College of Business Administration at San Diego State University on June 20, 2011. An award-winning teacher, he has taught at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, SDSU and New York University.

Prior to his academic career, Dr. Cunningham was a successful entrepreneur. He founded Cunningham Graphics International in 1989, and took the company public on Nasdaq in 1998. By the time the company was sold to Automatic Data Processing in 2000, it employed 2,000 people in seven countries and had revenues of approximately $200 million.

PROFESSIONAL PHILOSOPHY

Essential professional philosophy: It takes a team.

Best way to keep a competitive edge: Become a lifelong learner.

Guiding principles: Work very hard, do what you say you are going to do, be prepared, be thankful.

Yardsticks of success: Wonderful children, creating opportunities for others to succeed, being fortunate enough to

give back.

Goals yet to be achieved: Top 50 undergraduate ranking, top 10 International Business ranking, and top 10 Entrepreneurial Management Center ranking.

JUDGMENT CALLS

Best professional decision: Taking the company (Cunningham Graphics International) public in 1998 and then selling it in early 2000.

Worst professional decision: Acquiring another company whose organizational culture was not aligned with ours.

Toughest professional decision: Downsizing after Black Monday in 2007.

Biggest missed opportunity: Move-in day for my daughter Tressa’s freshman year at college.

Mentor: Mary Brabeck, Ph.D., dean of the Steinhardt School at New York University. She inspired me to become a dean.

Word that describes you: Passionate.

TRUE CONFESSIONS

What you like best about your job: Creating opportunities for the students.

What you like least about your job: Dealing with California’s budget crisis.

Pet peeves: Myopic thinking.

Most important lesson learned: In higher education, it takes longer to get things done.

Person most interested in meeting: Jack Welch, chairman of General Electric Corp.

Three greatest passions: Hot yoga, reading, traveling.

First choice for a new career: I’m doing it now.

PREDILECTIONS

Favorite quote: “Un-told … Un-sold” — Marty Philips, former director special investments Shearson Lehman Brothers.

Most influential book: “Future Shock,” by Alvin and Heidi Toffler.

Favorite status symbol: Faculty

parking pass.

Favorite restaurant: Donovan’s Prime Seafood.

Favorite place for business meetings: The University Club.

Favorite vacation spot: Hotel Santa Caterina, Amalfi, Italy.

Favorite way to spend time: Barbecuing with family and friends.

— Steve Adamek

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