About Us

Embracing the diversity, global outlook, and entrepreneurial spirit of the San Francisco Bay Area, we provide access to quality education. We empower students to succeed and contribute to society through innovative teaching and learning, impactful scholarship, and engagement with businesses and the community at large.  

(adopted May 2022)

Curricular Innovation

• We develop curricular innovations that meet the changing demands of the business world and streamline the path to graduation, while ensuring that our students are well-rounded and prepared for the challenges of the workplace. We recognize and celebrate each faculty member for the long-lasting impact their teaching and service contributions have on our students.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

• We are proud of our University’s pioneering legacy in this space. We prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in our classrooms and workplace to help our students, faculty and staff thrive and succeed. We commit ourselves to the continual, iterative process of removing systemic roadblocks in higher education.

Student Engagement

• We create an inclusive college community by engaging students in meaningful experiences that provide exciting and enlightening opportunities to network and build skills. Our students help inform and shape impactful activities, including dynamic student organizations, professional development events with alumni and industry partners, and leadership opportunities.

Research Activity, Productivity, Orientation and Approaches

• We invest in the scholarly work of our renowned faculty who have been trained in the leading doctoral programs and have published their research in leading journals in the field and authored influential books. Through faculty research, we generate new knowledge that impacts teaching, industry practices and society.

Community Engagement

• We develop strong and sustained connections, and work collaboratively with the business, academic and alumni communities to execute specialized programs, events, research projects and other engaging activities that expand the knowledge, skills, opportunities and networks of our students, faculty and staff.

Build the Lam Family College of Business Brand

• We invest in building our brand reputation to sustain a competitive advantage in the dynamic higher education market.  By increasing visibility and affinity for our brand, we attract new students, create new partnerships and maximize the success of our alumni and current students.

Friend-raising and Fundraising

• We cultivate relationships with alumni, friends and the business community.  We value their commitment and engagement, which enhances student experiences and broadens opportunities for them through unique partnerships and transformative philanthropic investments that enable us to elevate the execution of our mission to new heights.

Best Business Schools (Princeton Review)

• The Lam Family College of Business is ranked by Princeton Review as one of the Best Business Schools (2024 and 2021) in the country based on the high quality of our MBA program and student career outcomes.

Greatest Opportunity for Minority Students (Princeton Review)

• Princeton Review - Ranked 8th by Princeton Review in the category of Greatest Opportunity for Minority Students.

Top 20 Universities for Economic Mobility (CollegeNET)

• SF State Ranked in the Top 20 Universities for Economic Mobility - San Francisco State University ranked #16 in the nation for economic mobility in CollegeNET's 2022 “Social Mobility Index" (SMI). The annual SMI report measures the extent of a university's impact in providing opportunities for economically disadvantaged students to graduate into well-paying jobs. The methodology is based on factors like cost of attendance, economic background of the student body, graduation rates and early career salaries. This year's rankings also included a new metric called Ethos, which measures how well a school's messages and communications inform students and the public about its mission and the value of a college degree.

50 Most Transformative Colleges in the USA (Money magazine)

• Ranked one of the 50 Most Transformative Colleges in the USA by Money magazine. Ranking based on a college’s value-add score, which scores graduation rates, earnings, and student loan debt, SF State is ranked # 30 in the 2020 list.

50 Best Colleges for Business Majors (Money magazine)

• Ranked one of the 50 Best Colleges for Business Majors in the country - The Lam Family College of Business at San Francisco State University ranked 35th among the 50 Best Colleges for Business Majors in 2020 by Money magazine. Ranking based on “education quality, affordability, and the career payoff for undergraduate business majors.”

Top Business Colleges of Distinction (Colleges of Distinction, a college guidance resource)

• Selected as one of the Top Business Colleges of Distinction – San Francisco State University was selected one of the Top Business Colleges of Distinction of 2023-2024 by Colleges of Distinction, a college guidance resource used by students, parents, and guidance counselors to help students find the right college. San Francisco State was also named among the top Public Colleges of Distinction and Best Affordable Colleges. Additionally, SF State was recognized in the areas of Career Development and Equity & Inclusion. The selection process for Colleges of Distinction involves thorough research and extensive interviews with schools, exclusively selecting those that uphold the Four Distinctions: Engaged Students, Great Teaching, Vibrant Community, and Successful Outcomes.

Seal of Excelencia

• San Francisco State University is one of only 24 colleges/universities to be recognized with the prestigious Seal of Excelencia – a recognition granted by Excelencia in Education – the nation’s premier authority on efforts to accelerate Latino/Latina student success in higher education. Less than 1% of all higher education institutions earn this national certification.  In 2024, more than 39% of SF State students identified as Latino/Latina, making them the largest ethnic group among our undergraduates.

Top 100 Master's Universities (Washington Monthly)

• SF State is among the top 100 Master’s Universities in the country according to Washington Monthly’s 2020 Master’s University Rankings. Washington Monthly ranked “four-year institutions that award a significant number of master’s degrees but few or no doctoral degrees—based on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility, research, and promoting public service.”

10 Best Green MBA Programs (Princeton Review)

• Princeton Review also ranked our MBA program among the top 10 Best Green MBA programs in 2024 and 2021. This ranking is based on MBA students’ assessments of how well we prepare them to address environmental, sustainability, and social responsibility issues in their careers.

5th Best Public University for an Accounting Career (Wall Street Journal)

• Our Accounting program was ranked 5th among public universities for salary outcomes in the Wall Street Journal's (WSJ)  2023 “Best College for Your Dream Career in Accounting” ranking list (WSJ subscription required to read article).

12th Best Public University for a Marketing Career (Wall Street Journal)

• Our Marketing program was ranked 12th among public universities for salary outcomes in the Wall Street Journal's (WSJ)  2023 “Best College for Your Dream Career in Marketing” ranking list (WSJ subscription required to read article).

Accounting Program and Department Recognized by Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)

• In 2023, our Accounting Department was recognized as one of the Internal Auditing Education Partnership (IAEP) participating programs by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), the global standard for internal auditing education, under the leadership of Professor Yao-Tien Lee. This endorsement not only highlights the quality and rigor of our academic offerings but also strengthens our connections within the professional community of internal auditors and expands opportunities for our students and faculty.

25 Best Colleges for a Bachelor's in Hospitality Management (GradReports)

• Our Hospitality and Tourism Management program was named one of the 25 Best Colleges for a Bachelor's in Hospitality Management by GradReports. Click to view the full list.

25 Best Master's in Accounting Programs (GradReports)

• Our Master of Science in Accountancy program was ranked by GradReports as #16 on their list of the 25 Best Master’s in Accounting Programs in the U.S.A. based on median salary one year after students graduated. Click to view the full list.

16th Best MBA Program Worldwide (Aspen Institute)

• Our MBA program was ranked 16th worldwide by the Aspen Institute’s Beyond Grey Pinstripes for our emphasis on integrating social and environmental stewardship into curricula and research.

Lam Family College of Business Annual Report 2023-2024

Lam Family College of Business Annual Report 2022-2023

Lam Family College of Business Annual Report 2021-2022 (pdf)

Lam Family College of Business Annual Report 2020-2021 (pdf)

Lam Family College of Business Annual Report 2019-2020 (pdf)

Lam Family College of Business Annual Report 2018-2019 (pdf)

Lam Family College of Business Annual Report 2017-2018 (pdf)

Lam Family College of Business Annual Report 2016-2017 (pdf)

Lam Family College of Business Annual Report 2015-2016 (pdf)

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Faculty Profiles

Faculty Interview Video Series

Faculty Spotlights

Faculty Research Accomplishments

Lam-Larsen Professorship Awards

Faculty Job Opportunities

The Business Advisory Council supports the dean and the Lam Family College of Business in fundraising, business and corporate engagement opportunities, and general promotion in support of the mission of the college.

Specifically, the council enables effective partnerships between the business community and the college in integrating business education with real-world innovations, developing a pipeline for student careers and faculty research, and developing sources of investment in support of the goals of the college.