Always positive and motivating in class.
David Nazarian is a prominent alumnus of the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics at California State University, Northridge, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1982. He furthered his education with a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California. As the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nimes Capital, the private investment arm of Nazarian Enterprises, Nazarian has built a distinguished career spanning over 30 years, marked by visionary investments across diverse sectors including Business & Economics. His early involvement in his family’s wireless communications ventures contributed to the formation of Qualcomm, Inc. He orchestrated roll-ups of aerospace equipment manufacturers during challenging times, acquired substantial real estate holdings from the Resolution Trust Corporation in the early 1990s, and invested strategically in the hotel industry following the early 2000s economic downturn, divesting a majority prior to 2008. Additionally, he launched three early-stage venture funds focused on wireless communication, broadband infrastructure, and clean technology companies.
Nazarian actively manages his investments, serving in roles such as executive, investment committee member, board director, and advisor to portfolio companies. His philanthropic commitments include previous service as Chair of the Investment Committee and Board member of the UCLA Foundation, membership on the Board of Governors and Investment Committee for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and the USC Marshall School of Business Board of Leaders. He serves as Chief Financial Officer of the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Family Foundation, supporting educational causes, and has endowed programs such as the David and Angella Nazarian Youth Leadership Program at Sinai Temple and the Angella and David Nazarian Social Innovator in Residence at the Wharton School. In 2014, Nazarian led a $25 million fundraising drive for CSUN’s College of Business and Economics with a personal $10 million gift, resulting in its naming the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics. This supports entrepreneurship, international programming, student career development, and women in business, significantly impacting the field. He received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from CSUN in 2024 and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2018.