Dean Reggie Gilyard

Chapman University’s Dean of the George L. Argyros School of Business and Economics, Reggie Gilyard, learned the enduring value of education in the mid-1970s, when as a boy he tagged along with his father to the campus library at California State University, San Bernardino.  In his late 30s at the time, the elder Gilyard had decided to train for a second career after 20 years in the U.S. Air Force.

While his father studied, Gilyard did his own homework or roamed the campus to see what college life was all about.

Early Educational Influence

“My father’s dedication to receiving an education despite the challenges of being older and raising a large family always impressed me,” says Gilyard, who grew up in San Bernardino, the youngest of six children.  “During those years, we lived on my dad’s pension and what he earned rising at 3 am to pick up the local newspaper for the delivery boys.  Then he studied all day and went to school at night.”

Gilyard watched his father’s efforts pay off when he earned a Master’s in Family and Child Counseling (MFCC) from what was then Chapman College and went on to a successful second career.

When it was time for Gilyard to attend college, he took a cue from his father and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics/Operations Research in 1985 from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a M.S. in Computer Systems Engineering in 1989 from the Air Force Institute of Technology.  After serving nine years in the Air Force as a program manager, he earned an MBA from Harvard in 1996.

Career Building at the Boston Consulting Group

While receiving his MBA, Gilyard interned at the prestigious global management consulting company, the Boston Consulting Group, landing a position after graduation and staying for 16 years.  Initially he advised Fortune 500 clients on improving performance, but switched to advising primary, secondary and higher education institutions in 2003, the same year he became a partner.

Though he exceled at his job as a consultant, the rigors of traveling five days a week became difficult when Gilyard married at 44 and became a father to twin daughters two years later.

“When they became toddlers, Lili and Ella got sad when the taxi pulled up on Monday mornings to take me to the airport, and my traveling made parenting difficult for my wife, Suji Woo,” says Gilyard.  “I grew up with a great home life, and I wanted to be there for my family.”

Joining Chapman’s George L. Argyros School of Business and Economics

Before he made any solid plans to leave the consulting group, Gilyard received a fortuitous call about interviewing for the position of dean of Chapman’s business school.

“When Chapman’s Dean of the School of Law, Tom Campbell, called and told me about the position in the business school, I was definitely interested in the opportunity to make a significant impact in the lives of young people and to spend more time with my family,” says Gilyard.

According to Campbell, Gilyard was one of several exceptional candidates vetted for the dean’s position.  “The search committee thought it wise to present candidates from academic and business backgrounds, and Reggie had both,” he says.

After a rigorous interviewing process, Gilyard was chosen as the new dean in April 2012.  “The position as the head of the Argyros School of Business and Economics turned out to be a dream job that I hadn’t yet dreamed about,” says Gilyard.  “We have the best and brightest here in terms of faculty, staff and students.”

Creating Relevant Business Curriculum at Chapman

One of Gilyard’s top priorities as dean of the business school is increasing post-graduation employment.  The collaborative plan he and his colleagues implemented at the end of 2012 is succeeding. In the 2012-2013 school year, job placement rose from 45 percent to 55 percent at graduation and 75 percent to 77 percent 90 days after.

A cornerstone of Gilyard’s strategic plan to improve job placement is making Chapman’s curriculum relevant by keeping the university connected and in tune with the local business community.

“Reggie has brought a key business sense and practice to the business school,” says Campbell.  “From day one, he focused on getting jobs for his students, realizing that this requires developing close relationships with Southern California employers.  He reached out to major corporations and the Argyros School Board of Counselors to provide input on curriculum courses and open doors for internships.”

Kevin Dunigan is executive vice president of City National Bank and is impressed with Gilyard’s practical approach to academics.  “Reggie has approached the position of dean much differently than most folks in that role,” says Dunigan, who asked Gilyard to join City National’s advisory board when a spot opened up in early 2013.  “He’s very strategic and has a clear understanding of what he’s trying to accomplish.”

Education for Everyone

Gilyard also strongly believes in ensuring a high quality primary and secondary education for all students, so they are prepared for college.  For this reason, he sits on The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation’s selection board for high performing K-12 organizations.  The Broad Foundation is an organization dedicated to transforming American urban education so that all children receive the necessary skills to succeed.

“All children deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams through education,” says Gilyard.  “At Chapman, my dream is to see each year at graduation 400 newly minted business leaders go out into the world with fantastic careers.”