California State University system trustee Debra Farar, a longtime educational consultant, will talk to political science students in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. High-profile litigator Larry Feldman and accountant Jack Suzar, vice president of Bel Air Investment Advisors, LLC, each will meet with a class in the College of Business and Economics. CBS Studio Center President Michael Klausman will talk to film and television students in the College of Arts, Media, and Communication.

Judy Knudson, Cal State Northridge's vice president of university advancement, said the series was created a year ago to give noteworthy members of the community a chance to learn first-hand about the kind of educational experiences that take place at Northridge while at the same time provide CSUN students a rare opportunity to have an intimate conversation with some of the leading minds in their fields.

Each presentation is expected to be about an hour long with time built in for students to ask questions.

"Our presenters get a chance to share their experience and wealth of knowledge with young people who are eager to hear what they have to say, and our students get a chance to get first-hand information about the challenges they will face and the opportunities that are out there once they graduate," Knudson said.

The executive speaker series debuted last year when marketing alum Vincent Barabba, chairman of Internet Home Alliance and former head of General Motors' Corporate Strategy and Development Division, spoke to a business class while journalism alum Barbara Fairchild, editor of Bon Apetit magazine, and business alum Michael Grillo, head of future production at Dreamworks SKG, spoke to separate classes in the College of Arts, Media, and Communication.