2025 Outstanding Faculty Teaching
California State University, Los Angeles
Professor, Information Systems
Being a professor is not merely a job but a public service. As a mentor, facilitator of learning, timely curriculum innovator, learning resource provider, and career guide, I derive my passion from shaping the life stories of our students, for whom we are here."
Dr. Nanda Ganesan is a distinguished professor in the Department of Information Systems at Cal State LA. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to creative and innovative teaching practices, consistently revising and developing programs and the curriculum to align with industry advancements and student needs.
Ganesan has shown outstanding leadership throughout his tenure at Cal State LA, where he has served as the chair of the Department of Information Systems multiple times. In this role, Ganesan has been instrumental in program development, curriculum revisions and faculty recruitment, showcasing his commitment to advancing the department and supporting its faculty and students.
Most notably, in 2024, he spearheaded a comprehensive update to the bachelor’s degree program in Computer Information Systems at Cal State LA, introducing three critical specializations in cybersecurity, data analytics and software development. This revision has modernized the program, offering students targeted expertise in high-demand fields and equipping them for competitive careers in today’s digital economy. Underscoring his commitment to evolving pedagogical strategies and excellence in instructional design, Ganesan established the Master of Science in Information Systems program and founded two computer labs for hands-on learning. Furthermore, he redesigned the university’s CIS 3010 Management Information Systems course, which received the Quality Matters certification, one of the highest recognitions for online course quality. The course is one of only two in the College of Business and Economics to achieve this distinction.
Beyond his department, Ganesan has influenced the broader academic community through his advisory roles and contributions to external institutions, sharing his insights on educational and technological advancement both nationally and internationally. He has published extensively on effective teaching methodologies—focusing on online and hybrid learning models—including producing over 40 hours of multimedia instructional videos from as early as 1993. He has garnered numerous awards for his work, including recognition from the Cal State Student Association for pioneering the use of blended and hybrid learning technologies in higher education and being named Cal State LA’s President’s Distinguished Professor in 2024.
He received his doctoral degree in engineering production from the University of Birmingham, England.