JHBC's Dean Lawrence C. Rose is retiring after 36 years in higher education, including serving as a finance professor, department chair, two-time college head and global business education advocate. Rose received his doctorate from Texas A&M University and taught in San Jose and Toledo prior to spending 17 years at Massey University in New Zealand where he eventually became a pro vice-chancellor (executive dean). He joined our CSUSB pack in 2011. Beyond his permanent posts, Rose provided mentorship and contributions to dozens of Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) universities and industry boards during his tenure. 

“He has led college initiatives in areas critical to the university’s mission and strategic plan, and enhanced the college’s culture of excellence, collaboration and innovation both across our campus and in the larger community,” wrote Shari McMahan, Ph.D., provost and vice president of CSUSB’s Academic Affairs in a campus email. “Under his leadership, the college has received numerous top rankings and earned accreditation from the AACSB, the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide. Please join me in thanking Dean Rose for his service to CSUSB and the community at large, and in wishing him the best in retirement.”

Rose plans to spend his retirement enjoying the Washington sea and mountain views, reading, kayaking and walks with his wife, Ellen, and their border collies.

Below, is a version of his farewell message to the community:

Dear JHBC Friends, Colleagues and Students,

This is my last message to THE Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration community as your dean. I want to thank you all for your incredible support, innovation, engagement, resilience and partnerships - everything that has contributed to enhanced programs, thought leadership, increased student success and a foundation for future growth. You have had a huge impact on all our stakeholders and it has been a privilege and honor to serve as dean these past 10 years. Together, we have more than met my initial vision of becoming a college with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, led by programs and centers of excellence, transforming lives in our stakeholder communities by providing more than a degree as we define the future.  

Today, we are recognized as thought leaders in a variety of areas including entrepreneurship, cybersecurity, transportation logistics, public administration and more. We work across disciplines and boundaries on campus and throughout the world with individuals, businesses, governments and institutions, creating enriching educational opportunities to showcase student talent, improve education access and develop solutions to business and societal challenges. 

I am proud of our nationally ranked and internationally recognized offerings. Accredited by the prestigious AACSB and NASPAA, the college has a diverse selection of traditional and online programs to accommodate a variety of specializations with 19 concentrations including hospitality management now offered at our Palm Desert Campus and a variety of certificates most recently in cybersecurity, analytics and digital marketing. Our MBA and MPA programs are consistently among the top in the annual U.S. News & World Report, Princeton Review and CEO Magazine rankings. Meanwhile, demand for our specialized graduate degree programs in accountancy, finance, entrepreneurship & innovation and information systems technology continues to grow and offer lifetime learning opportunities. 

We are also striving to reduce equity gaps in graduation by support offered by our JHBC Office of Academic Equity and by increasing access by use of virtual learning experiences through online offerings, research experiences and other high impact practices like internships and study abroad. This fall, we’re launching a new online bachelor’s in administration degree completion program with concentrations in management, and entrepreneurship, along with graduate degrees in accounting; cybersecurity and analytics; and logistics and e-commerce. 

As I continue to reflect, I am happy to report that faculty and staff efforts have helped increase the rate of freshmen graduating in four years from the JHBC from 12 to 28 percent since 2011. The rate of transfer students graduating in two years increased from 29 to 62 percent during the same period. The college is also in a fiscally sound position with departments and centers working hard to secure support for more self-sufficient programs. In 2011, the college had approximately $2.1 million in its endowment, but now our endowment is just over $20 million. These funds and current fundraising efforts support services, existing and new programming, student scholarships and faculty and staff recruitment and success. A significant driver of our endowment growth was Jack H. Brown’s endowment gift to the college in 2016.  We are certainly proud to align ourselves with Jack’s values and vision for the IE. 

Finally, I want to acknowledge the thousands of students that have chosen the JHBC to continue their studies over the years, many of whom have become leaders at CSUSB and in a variety of industries and organizations around the world.  From first generation students and veterans to adults returning to school, single mothers and others juggling a variety of life challenges, those student’s determination, contributions and input continue to shape the JHBC’s reputation as a college which delivers on the promise of an affordable quality education.       

I have been so fortunate to end my 36 years in higher education amongst countless colleagues and mentors with the innate ability to turn ideas into success. I have valued their guidance, inspiration and collaboration. If not for the present circumstances, I would have hoped to personally thank everyone that made my tenure here so worthwhile. So, if I do not get a chance to speak with you personally, please know I am forever grateful for the opportunity to work with and get to know you all. 

My last full day of work at JHBC will be July 1, 2021, after which I will begin my pre-retirement leave. A national search for this position will begin in the fall. Anna Ni, our Associate Dean will keep things running smoothly until Professor Emerita Shanthi Srinivas starts Aug. 1 as interim dean of the college for one year. Dr. Srinivas has served in various administrative and faculty positions for more than 30 years at Cal Poly Pomona, most recently as presidential fellow for Leadership Excellence for Institutional Development. I know you will welcome and work with her and ultimately the new Dean as you have with me.

I wish you all health, happiness and continued success. 

Sincerely yours, 

Lawrence C. Rose
Dean, The Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration
California State University, San Bernardino