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California State University, Northridge

David Nazarian, chief executive officer of Nimes Capital, the private investment arm of Nazarian Enterprises, graduated from California State University, Northridge in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He later earned an MBA from the University of Southern California.

Mr. Nazarian’s dedication to the community is reflected in his roles as a member of the board of governors for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and as the chief financial officer of the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Family Foundation, which supports educational causes. With a long history of supporting higher education both philanthropically and with his time, he previously served as the chair of the investment committee and as a member of the board of directors of the UCLA Foundation, as a member of the board of leaders of the USC Marshall School of Business and as a member of the board of directors of the Harvard Graduate School Leadership Institute.

A generous philanthropist, he and his wife endowed the David and Angella Nazarian Youth Leadership Program at Sinai Temple. In 2014, they were honored by Hillel 818, the chapter of Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life for students at CSUN, Pierce College and Los Angeles Valley College. The Nazarians also endowed the Angella and David Nazarian Social Innovator in Residence program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. In March 2014, Mr. Nazarian launched a $25 million fundraising drive for CSUN with his own $10 million cash gift. In recognition of his generosity, CSUN named its college of business the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics.

Mr. Nazarian was the 2018 recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, which is presented annually to those who have shown an outstanding commitment to serving the nation professionally, culturally or civically. An immigrant himself, nearly all of Mr. Nazarian’s considerable philanthropy and dedication of his personal time is focused on supporting students and multiple institutions of higher education to advance the life-changing impact of higher education.

In recognition of his transformative dedication to CSUN and its students as demonstrated through his philanthropy and volunteer efforts, the Board of Trustees of the California State University and California State University, Northridge are proud to confer upon David Nazarian the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.