By Amanda Lenox

Features Editor

Professor Edward Balian knew he always wanted to own his own businesses.

He owned his first business at the age of 29, before earning his doctoral degree at Wayne State University. He has owned a number of businesses ever since, including a photography magazine,  recording studio, vintage car business, publishing company and a consulting business in market research.

A career in business “just felt very natural…I had that entrepreneurial spirit from the beginning,” Balian said.

Dr. Balian believes that his experiences in school “was the spark that got [him] into teaching.” He explains that the positive feedback he received during class presentations from peers and professors helped him to consider teaching as a career.

“When class presentations are part of a course, students often want to shy away from it. They’re intimidated, embarrassed; it turned out to be one of the most important elements for me in my entire career in teaching,” Balian said.

Professor Balian had been out of teaching for a few years and was running his other businesses. He realized he missed teaching, so he applied to California State University, San Marcos for an adjunct position and started teaching in January 2007 in the College of Business Administration.

When asked what he loves most about teaching, Balian responded without hesitation that it is the “students…and really trying to help them in their future careers.”

He hopes that when students take his classes, they learn “more about the practicality of the real world in business and otherwise.” He encourages class participation and engagement with the material.

“You can’t afford to be a good student. In today’s world, global marketplace, U.S. economy, you’ve got to be outstanding,” Balian tells his students.

Professor Balian usually teaches Data Analysis (BUS 302), Foundations of Operations Management (OM 302) and Operations Management (OM 305). He also currently has five senior experience research teams. Outside of teaching, Dr. Balian performs in a band called The George-Edwards Group. He also writes and publishes many books (academic and non-academic), including Buddha Plays 18 and The Graduate Research Guidebook (fourth edition). Professor Balian will soon be releasing a new book titled Buddha Meets the Beatles.