Feb. 18, 2011 — For the past four years, Julian Wilson has been giving back to his alma mater by way of his talents. The filmmaker has been donating his time to document California State University, Bakersfield's transition to NCAA Division I status.

In recognition of his dedicated volunteerism, Wilson has been named the 2010-11 CSUB Alumnus of the Year.

"The committee was very impressed with his dedication to CSUB and the great example he shows to his fellow alumni," said Judy Snyder, Alumni Association board member and chair of the search committee. "Not only is he an excellent role model to the students he meets in supporting CSUB Athletics, he also demonstrates how alumni can give back to CSUB doing what they love."

Wilson is the executive producer of Nu Dawn Productions located in North Hollywood. A native of Los Angeles, he earned a bachelor's in criminal justice from CSUB in 1987. After trying a career in law enforcement, he decided to return to CSUB and major in fine arts. He received his second bachelor's degree in 1991 and began a new career in film and video production.

Although he is based in Los Angeles, since 2007 Wilson has been attending most home athletics events and traveling with the CSUB teams to some away games. He has completed videos on the history of CSUB basketball and the inaugural season of CSUB baseball. He is currently finishing a documentary chronicling the four-year transition period of CSUB athletics from Division II to Division I – which was made official on Sept. 1, 2010.

"It's a mission that's not complete," Wilson said of both the documentary and his role as an alumnus. "As alumni, we have to set a precedent for future alumni to give back to the university. This university doesn't prosper without us. We have to come back."

Wilson is also currently working on a PBS documentary about Indiana University students who are studying the history of the transatlantic slave trade in Ghana, Africa.

Wilson will be recognized as Alumnus of the Year on Saturday, Feb. 19 when the CSUB Alumni Association inducts its fifth class into the CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame at the Petroleum Club. The sold out event will honor Christine Frazier, John Hefner, Ben Stinson III, and Jon Van Boening as the newest members of the CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame.