CSUSM names new Dean for College of Business Administration

Dr. Patricia Prado-Olmos
Vice President of Community Engagement
California State University, San Marcos

Cal State San Marcos has announced the appointment of Dr. Ronald Ramirez as the next dean of the College of Business Administration (CoBA).

Ramirez will start in his position on July 1. He will take over from Dr. Ben Cherry, who has served as interim dean since August 2021.

Ramirez began his career in private industry, working in the telecommunications, semiconductor and oil industries. He started as a faculty member in 2003 at the University of Colorado Denver (UCD). Currently, Ramirez serves as the associate dean of programs at the UCD Business School. He is also the BSBA program director and has served as faculty director of the Professional MBA and Information Systems programs.

“Dr. Ramirez’ substantial industry background combined with academic experience as faculty and administrator will allow him to draw on the best of both worlds, continuing our work to shape CoBA as a welcoming destination for business education in our region and beyond,” said Carl Kemnitz, CSUSM’s provost and vice president of Academic Affairs. “Thanks to his collaborate leadership style and focus, Dr. Ramirez is well positioned to take CoBA to new heights, building on the college’s commitment and legacy of innovation, diversity and inclusion, student experience and community engagement.”

Ronald Ramirez comes to CSUSM from the University of Colorado Denver, where he serves as associate dean of programs at the UCD Business School.

“I am honored to have been selected as the new dean of the College of Business Administration at Cal State San Marcos,” Ramirez said. “The College of Business Administration is exceptionally well positioned to build upon its foundation of excellence and become a higher education leader in the Southern California region. Our agility and entrepreneurial spirit will enable new strategic programs and services that will continue to improve the success of our graduates, our communities and the state of California. I look forward to meeting CoBA’s students, faculty, staff and community partners and to embark upon our journey of success together.”

Ramirez earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Fresno State and his MBA in finance from USC’s Marshall School of Business. He also received a Ph.D. in management information systems from UC Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business.