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"He gives to the university and community selflessly. He's one of my heroes. He's on phenomenal person."

-John Tarjan
CSUB professor

Jim George retires after 35 years

By Jaclyn Loveless

He had only expected to be working at CSUB a year or two, but now, James George, provost and vice president for academic affairs, is preparing to say goodbye after nearly 35 years of service.

 George has been on campus since 1970 and was one of the original faculty members. “When we started we saw ourselves as a liberal arts facility using a living learning concept,” he said. “There has been a shift from that now to a comprehensive regional university.”

George is originally from Pennsylvania but received both his master’s and doctorate from the University of Wisconsin. He started his career at CSUB as an assistant professor of history and worked his way up through the ranks, even acting as dean of the academic village and later dean of undergraduate studies. He has been at his current position for nearly four years and always knew he would take on a supervising role. “I’ve always enjoyed managing things,” he said.

As provost and vice president for academic affairs, George is a busy man. He controls about three-quarters of the campus’ budget, is CSUB’s chief information officer, and is responsible for academic programs like graduate studies and the teaching and learning center.

Edwin Sasaki, CSUB interim dean for undergraduate studies, has worked with George since 1972 and believes one of the biggest success stories that George has been a part of is two pre-college outreach programs, Kern Educational Partnership (KEP) and the Kern English and Math Pre-College Program (KEMP). George wrote the initial proposals to the chancellor’s office for funding of these programs. Sasaki said the two programs have evolved into statewide early assessment programs that are used in high schools.

George also helped establish the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program (GEAR UP). The GEAR UP program, now in its third year at CSUB, is a grant program designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.

Sasaki took over the associate vice president for academic affairs position in 2001 when George changed positions. “It was almost a seamless transition. We have such a history together. And I think our goals and perspectives were the same and we shared the same values. I also think our styles of management were similar.”

Sasaki also feels George was vital to the school in challenging times. “One of the most remarkable and I believe underappreciated things Jim has done was when the faculty voted ‘no confidence’ in (former CSUB) President Tomas Arciniega. Jim played the mediating role between the president and the faculty. I think he was the sole person who held this university together during those two years.”

Despite his work and the numerous programs George has helped develop, he has also left his mark as a mentor. “He gives to the university and community selflessly,” said John Tarjan, CSUB professor of business management and marketing. Tarjan has worked with George developing student curriculum and advising over the years and believes he is one of the most dedicated and hardworking people in academia. “He’s one of my heroes. He’s one phenomenal person.”

George undoubtedly sees the university continuing to grow in terms of student population and diversity of programs. “We’re not large enough yet to where we can support an array of programs for what the students deserve,” he said. “It’s hard to support other programs because of the current student-faculty ratio.”

George foresees the university adding more applied programs like engineering. He understands they will be costly but beneficial to both students and the community. “These graduates will have the skills necessary so they can go out and start their own businesses,” he said. “I know the community has that vision for the university, and I do as well.”

There is currently a national search under way for George’s replacement but no present candidates.

Although he’s decided to take an early retirement sometime this summer, George said he might return to the university to teach history, his first passion. But, if his wife gets her way, the couple will be doing a lot of traveling.