Business and Civic Leader Evelyn Dilsaver to Receive Honorary Doctorate Degree from CSUEB

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Evelyn Dilsaver

  • May 12, 2016

Cal State East Bay will confer an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree to Evelyn Dilsaver (B.S. ’77, Business Administration), a nationally recognized businesswoman and community and civic leader, at its commencement ceremony on June 12 at 9 a.m. on the Hayward campus.

“Evelyn Dilsaver is well-deserving of this honor. She has made significant and sustained contributions to her work in the business industry, has set herself apart as a civic leader and as a true champion of education,” said University President Leroy M. Morishita. “In addition, she continues to represent, serve and support Cal State East Bay — her alma mater — in numerous ways.”

After graduating with a bachelor of science in business administration from Cal State East Bay, Dilsaver began a long and successful career with an internship at Ernst and Whinney, now known as Ernst & Young. After becoming a certified public accountant, she spent 17 years working in finance, holding the position of controller at First Nationwide Bank and later, Charles Schwab. In 2004, Dilsaver was named president and CEO of Charles Schwab Investment Management — a position she held for three years. Under her management, Dilsaver was responsible for $210 billion in assets and generated $1 billion in revenue. During this time, she continued to advance her professional knowledge and expertise by completing the Stanford Senior Executive Program for global leaders. 

Dilsaver currently serves on numerous boards, including Blue Shield of California, the Commonwealth Club, Women’s Initiative for Self-Employment and Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland.

In recognition of her extraordinary accomplishments, Dilsaver has been the recipient of several awards throughout her career. For six years in a row, she has been named one of the “100 Most Influential Women” by the San Francisco Business Times, which also awarded her “Outstanding Director” in 2014. Other organizations honoring her accomplishments include the California Women’s Leadership Alliance, Filipinas magazine and Legal Momentum’s Women of Achievement.

A trustee on the California State University East Bay Educational Foundation Board since 2009, Dilsaver served as chair from July 2012-June 2014. She also received the Distinguished Alumni Award from CSUEB in 2008.