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

Jim Hamerly thought the first time he retired from Cal State San Marcos would be the last

Hamerly was the director of business community relations, responsible for leading the College of Business Administration’s (CoBA)Senior Experience program, for nearly seven years when he decided to retire in 2013 to spend time working with alumni start-up businesses.

It turned out to be a short-lived departure. About a year later, Hamerly was coaxed out of retirement to serve as CoBA’s interim dean.

“When they initially asked me, I think I turned down the provost three times,” Hamerly said.

Encouragement from Ron Gerevas, a member of the CSUSM Foundation Board and the CoBA Advisory Board, helped change Hamerly’s mind. And it wasn’t long before that interim title was removed for a more permanent one.

“I fell in love with the place again,” Hamerly said.

After nearly seven years as dean, Hamerly decided to retire from CSUSM for a second time. He stepped down at the end of June, with longtime professor of management and entrepreneurship Bennett Cherry stepping into the role of interim dean on July 1.

“We have great faculty and staff, and the best thing you can leave on is full confidence that they will carry the college strongly forward,” Hamerly said.

Hamerly has always had a wide array of interests, which kept him moving throughout his career. A glance at his résumé shows that he rarely remains in a position more than five years. Notably, both of his CSUSM stints lasted longer than that.

But Hamerly said the time was right this time around because the college achieved two important goals:

• Receiving accreditation from the prestigious global organization Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB); and
• Improving the college culture.

CoBA received word of its AACSB accreditation in April, putting the college among the top 5% of business schools in the world.

Changing the culture in CoBA was something that Hamerly knew was necessary when he accepted the position as interim dean. It’s something he has done at every company he has run or started. It’s never a quick fix, but it’s one he knew was necessary to put the college on a strong path forward.

CoBA has implemented training on communication and behavioral styles while utilizing tools such as CliftonStrengths assessments and 360-degree reviews, among others, to improve collegiality throughout the college.

Hamerly also is proud of CoBA’s focus on student personal and professional success. He noted that the college has recruited more than three dozen professionals who volunteer as Executives in Residence, helping to guide students through the Business Professional Development program and develop the professional skills they’ll need in their careers. That external community engagement has been a boon to the college and its students.

And though Hamerly is retiring as dean, he will be staying busy. He serves on advisory boards of four alumni startups and he has dozens of hobbies, including participating in triathlons, hiking and growing the largest sequoia grove in Southern California.

As Hamerly prepares for the next chapter, he does so knowing that CoBA is in position to continue to thrive.

“We have people who know how to do it and they’re good at it,” Hamerly said. “They might need me as a cheerleader, but I’ve contributed the best of what I can and they’re ready to move forward, which is great.”