About the School of Business

In the 1960's an enterprising group of faculty crossed the bridge from San Francisco into Santa Rosa charged with developing a North Bay branch of San Francisco State University. Amid a time of tumultuous change, they challenged the status quo and pioneered a new approach to psychology: a humanistic approach of self-actualization. An approach that broke free from the traditional ivory tower and proclaimed that everyone has the potential for excellence and that through collaboration, individual attention, and respect, anyone's potential can be developed better than the way it had always been done in higher education.

Today we are the next stewards of the School of Business, inspired by those who have come before us and fueled by an entrepreneurial past that has never lost focus on the individuals involved in the enterprise. 

This is our foundation. Today, amid another tumultuous time with unprecedented challenges and opportunities, we can't help but strive to get better. We're inspired to write our next chapter collaboratively with our community and stakeholders. We are dedicated to our vision of being the catalyst for a thriving North Bay economy with global impact.

With you, we'll bring the unique Sonoma State spirit (nurtured by the special North Bay energy) to the rest of the business world.

School of Business Mission and Values:

Mission

At the School of Business at Sonoma State University, we grow leaders who are courageous, curious, and kind, and change the world through data insights, entrepreneurship, and purpose-driven business.

We fulfill this mission through our three strategic priorities:

1. Student-Focus
2. Impact
3. Inclusive Excellence

Values & Priorities

As a core constituency of Sonoma State University, the School of Business supports and affirms the declared values of the university community:

• Diversity & Social Justice
• Sustainability & Environmental Inquiry
• Connectivity and Community Engagement
• Adaptability and Responsiveness

In addition, the School of Business avows a triple-bottom line perspective for measuring organizational success including: (A) social equity, (B) environmental stewardship, and (C) economic prosperity.

The School of Business also operates in alignment with SSU's strategic priorities: 

• Student Success
• Academic Excellence and Innovation
• Leadership Cultivation
• Transformative Impact

Languages we speak:

• Chinese (Mandarin, Sichuan)
• French
• German
• Hindi
• Hmong
• Indonesian
• Italian
• Korean
• Polish
• Portuguese
• Russian
• Spanish
• Tamil
• Telugu
• Thai