Our Team

A Message From Our President

Welcome to the California Institute of Advanced Management.

“Knowledge has to be improved, challenged, and increased constantly, or it vanishes.” – Peter F. Drucker

Whether you are discovering CIAM for the first time, pursuing your studies, contributing as a member of our faculty or staff, or engaging with us as part of our wider community, I extend my warmest welcome.

At CIAM, education is not simply about earning a degree, it is a transformative journey shaped by the enduring management principles of Peter F. Drucker, the Father of Modern Management. We believe that learning is a lifelong pursuit, fueled by curiosity, enriched by reflection, and guided by a commitment to creating positive change in the world.

Our faculty and staff are dedicated to cultivating a caring, inclusive, and intellectually vibrant environment where every individual is encouraged to grow in both competence and character. Whether your ambition is to advance your career, start a business, innovate in your field, or serve your community, CIAM will equip you with the knowledge, skills, and values to lead with purpose and impact.

I invite you to immerse yourself in this experience, ask bold questions, collaborate openly, challenge ideas, and strive for excellence. Together, we will continue to uphold CIAM’s mission: to develop responsible leaders who contribute meaningfully to the betterment of society.

Welcome to CIAM where caring and learning go hand in hand.

Dr. Jack Paduntin
President
California Institute of Advanced Management

Executive Leadership

Dr. Jack Paduntin

President

Kien C. Tiet

VP of Operations & Finance

Dr. Judy Krause

VP of Academic Affairs

Dr. Maria C. Akopian

Assoc. VP of Marketing, Chief Marketing Officer

Claudia Sarabia

Director of People, Culture, and Performance

Dr. Karen Linkletter

Director, Management as a Liberal Art Research Institute

Amy Hai

Executive Assistant to the President and Secretary to the Board of Trustees

Faculty

Dr. Emily Chan

Assistant Professor of Leadership

Dr. Cindy Cheng

Professor of Data Science

Dr. Franco Gandolfi

Distinguished Professor of Management

Dr. Richard Johnson

Distinguished Professor of Management

Academic Affairs

Michael Gittelman

Librarian

Theodore von Heiland Jr.

Director of Academic and Institutional Research Operations

Staff

Sandy Chou

Associate Director of Student Success/DSO

Melissa Valle

Director of Student Success/ PDSO

Kenna Coleman

Associate Director of Admissions

Leilani Garza

Administrative Assistant

Katie Lee

Director of Career Services & Alumni Engagement

Alice Lo

Admissions Coordinator

Luke Stuard

Data Systems Administrator

Yen Vo

Staff Accountant

Daniela Zurita

Human Resources Generalist

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees adopts regulations and policies governing the entire university.

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