The Dean’s Advisory Board fosters closer ties between the Merage School, its alumni and the community. The Board provides guidance and assistance in helping shape the vision and goals of the School.
As 2020 winds down, we find ourselves looking back on a year that has been disrupted with unforeseen events that have shown us just how resilient our students, faculty and staff are at the Merage School. The past several months have been difficult, and it is times like these where we can take a step back and recognize the unwavering support that has been offered to UCI and the School. The Dean’s Advisory Board will go forward with the determination and compassion this profound experience has revealed in us to focus our efforts on the important role to guide, strengthen and shape the vision of the School and its role within the community. I am proud to be a part of this extraordinary group of individuals, where together, we have helped the School thrive in this digitally driven world.
Greg Lai ’88, Chair
CFA®, Principal, Affinity Investment Advisors, LLC
Steve Cooke is a lecturer at the Merage School with over 35 years of experience in securities and corporate law. He gives back to the School through his participation in the Dean’s Advisory Board (DAB), his teaching of graduate level courses and his dedication to the LEADS program (Leadership Experience and Development for Success) “It is rewarding to assist the dean with the School’s mission,” said Cooke. “As members of the DAB we are able to develop relationships with the dean, key administrators and talented faculty members as opportunities and challenges are evaluated.” Cooke’s dedication to UCI and the UC system represents a family tradition. Four generations of his family, including his son, have attended a UC school. To honor this tradition, Cooke helped launch the LEADS program in 2018 and has supported the program ever since. LEADS gives undergraduate students the opportunity to participate in professional development and mentoring with alumni and community leaders. Cooke says: “We see an amazing amount of personal growth and maturity in our LEADS students, as the program complements the high-quality education that they receive in the classroom. Participating in LEADS is very rewarding as those of us who are involved in the program end up learning so much from the students.”
Alan Kaye, Dean’s Advisory Board Member at The Paul Merage School of Business, has endowed a new scholarship—the MBA Student Award in Support of Human Resources Development. This award will support an MBA student interested in studying and working in the field of Human Resources. Kaye served as chief human relations officer at several LA-based Fortune 400 companies, most recently Mattel, Inc.
“Lisa and I are excited to give back to the Merage School today, through a Center that we truly believe in. The study of wealth management is critical to industry and we are proud to impact a student who otherwise may not have the opportunity to explore this field through the gift of scholarship.” - Todd and Lisa Halbrook
Dean’s Advisory Board Members
| Donald Beall Dartbrook Partners, LLC Precision Hospitality and Development, LLC | Christopher Lane KRG Capital Partners |
| Melissa Beck Anonymous Philanthropy | Kim Letch Ernst & Young, LLP |
| Katherine Bianchi Capital Group | Tim Leyden Western Digital Company |
| Craig Boundy Experian | Paul Merage Chair Emeritus, MIG Capital |
| Jane Buchan Martlet Asset Management, LLC | Richard Milo Deloitte |
| Anne-Gaelle Carlton Pacific Alternative Asset Management (PAAMCO) | Kristen Monson PIMCO |
| Bernard Clark Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. | Donald Natenstedt RSM US LLP |
| Steve Cooke Paul Hastings LLP | Albert Pedroza Boeing North American, Inc. |
| Daniel Doimo Black Berry/Cylance | Daryl Pelc Boeing Integrated Defense Systems |
| John Evans Wells Fargo | Michael Polenzani KPMG LLP |
| Suzanne Fradette Assurance PricewaterhouseCoopers | Sherry Schulman UCI, Samueli Center Alt Medicine |
| Edwin Fuller Chair, Emeritus, Laguna Strategic Advisors | Scott Stowell CalAtlantic Group, Inc. |
| Todd Halbrook First Republic Investment Management | Peter Ueberroth The Contrarian Group, Inc. |
| Susan Heller Greenberg Traurig, LLP | Gretchen Valentine RSM US LLP (fka McGladrey) |
| Robert Herin Canyon Partners, LLC | Thomas Wagner The Wagner Group, LLC |
| Jeanne Jackson MSP Capital | Chris White Americas at Signify |
| Alan Kaye Principal | Ted Wilm PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP |
| Gregory Lai Affinity Investment Advisors, LLC |