What has happened?

It was recently announced that Professor Tomlin’s MKTG 330 course at California State University, Long Beach has been given to another faculty member, Ingrid Martin. This change goes into effect starting Fall Semester - 2013. Ingrid Martin recently lost re-election because she did not recieve enough votes from fellow colleagues to act in the capacity of chairperson for the marketing department at CSU Long Beach. She then chose to use her TENURE to acquire classes to teach. She just so happened to choose Professor Tomlin’s MKTG 330 course. Michael Solt (the Dean of College of Business Administration at CSULB) has been approached by many regarding this change - and has blamed the budget. The real reason is merely university politics. The education of students should not be a bargaining ground to fulfill another faculty member’s agenda.

Dean Michael Solt approved this change & holds the power to fix this. CSULB Alumni, students, faculty and business professionals from all over the Unites States, have reached out to Dean Solt expressing concern, but he is not showing any sign of care/movement to resolve this issue. As a result our efforts need to be elevated to gain his attention!

Classes begin next Thursday 8/29/13 at 7pm. Immediate awareness of this issue is key! As advocates for Professor Tomlin we need the help of everyone who has been directly or indirectly impacted by his passion for mentoring and the marketing industry as a whole. We must show Dean Solt that we as Students, Alumni,  & the Community have a VOICE & we feel that this is not acceptable. 

Please also use the #StudentsForTomlin on social media to show your support for Professor Tomlin!

 

Why should I help?

The Merriam-Webster dictionary, defines a professor as 'one that teaches or professes special knowledge of an art, sport, or occupation requiring skill'.

Professor Michael Tomlin, at California State University, Long Beach, is the very definition of that & more.  Not only does he have a resume with 30+ years of real-world experience in marketing & advertising for companies like Disney, Mattel, & 20th Century Fox; he also sincerely cares about the future success of his students.  Each of his courses (MKTG 330 & MKTG 430) are carefully structured to teach students to apply what they have learned to their future careers.

During the course of these classes, he relies upon his own experiences, in addition to those experiences of guest speakers.  These business professionals come to speak about the value of networking and how to succeed, lead and work hard.  Class projects are not based on textbook curriculum but on real-world application and experience. For his students, these projects become a critical tool in their toolbox when building professional portfolios. As Professor Tomlin tells his students, “if you put in the work for these projects you will have something impressive to show for it”. The job market is cut throat for recent college gradates, so having something that sets themselves apart during interviews is vital in today’s economy.

Professor Tomlin is not a basic lecturer, he is a motivational speaker that engages and enlightens for every second of a 3-hour class. He inspires, empowers, & educates his students on how to work hard & more importantly how hard work pays off.  He shows students the value of teamwork and the importance of having passion for the work that you do.  He is a mentor that on some level has impacted the life’s of his student’s extending beyond their graduation date: career guidance, internship opportunities, or even job opportunities.

Personally, if it were not exclusively for Professor Tomlin’s courses (MKTG 330 & MKTG 430) I would not be where I am today.  The skills I attained, projects I completed & networks I built during those courses got me a job in marketing halfway across country 3 days after I graduated college. I am not the only student that has benefited from taking both of Michael Tomlin’s courses.  For years student’s careers have began and thrived because of their achievements in his courses. MKTG 330 sets the framework for his MKTG 430 course & although students can take these courses in either order, one does not stand-alone from the other. These courses are interdependent. If he is not teaching both it truly impacts the education of future students as well as the opportunities & experiences they may obtain.

This change; although unfortunate for Professor Tomlin; has a great impact for the future MKTG 330 students. They are now at risk of never having the opportunities that past students and myself have had solely because of Professor Tomlin.  The list of things he has done & continues to do for his students is endless & now we need to repay the favor. 

 

Thank you for your time & help!!  

-Brittany Meinhardt, CSULB alumni