Jerry Mandel, Ph.D. Senior Associate

Jerry Mandel, a native of Los Angeles, California, enjoyed an illustrious career within higher education and performing arts leadership spanning six decades. He earned his undergraduate degree from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), and was awarded his doctorate degree in organizational communications from Purdue University.

Dr. Mandel served as a senior academic administrator in higher education for the first twenty years of his career. He was vice president for University Relations and Development at California State University, Long Beach; executive vice president at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and dean of the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts at San Diego State University. He was then recruited to lead the rapidly growing development department of University of California, Irvine, where he served as vice chancellor for three years.

He pivoted from academia to performing arts when he was invited to serve as President and Chief Operating Officer for the Orange County Performing Arts Center (now Segerstrom Center for the Arts) in July 1997. In his role as president, Dr. Mandel oversaw the operations of one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious performing arts centers. During his tenure at the Center, Dr. Mandel oversaw the design and construction of the $250 million dollar Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.

While working as a professional consultant, Jerry was then selected to return to arts administration as President of Irvine Barclay Theatre in October 2015. The Barclay is a unique collaborative venture among the City of Irvine, the University of California, Irvine, and the private sector, and is known for its wide range of programming in the fields of contemporary dance, music, and theater arts.  As President, Dr. Mandel increased the Barclay’s facility usage by 20%, and its revenue by 30%. He cultivated two new series in Jazz and Broadway Cabaret, grew the Board of Directors, and expanded the Barclay’s community outreach program, ArtsReach. Although his tenure will formally conclude in December 2023, Jerry will stay engaged in the Barclay’s fundraising efforts and strategic planning in his role as President Emeritus.

Jerry presently serves on the Irvine Barclay Theatre Board of Directors, UCI Claire Trevor School of the Arts Dean’s Arts Council, Life Savers of Orange County Board of Directors, Langson Institute of Museum and California Art Advisory Board, and the Orange County Music & Dance Capital Campaign Committee. His past board service includes Healthy Smiles for OC Kids; National Advisory Board for Jazz at Lincoln Center; Chapman University Board of Governors; Heritage Pointe Retirement Home; Irvine Public Schools Foundation; The Orange County Performing Arts Center; Tiger Woods Foundation; Laguna Playhouse; and Pacific Oaks College.

In May 2001, he was honored by CSULB with a special Liberal Arts Alumni of the Year Award. Jerry was awarded the Helena Modjeska Cultural Legacy Award by Arts Orange County for his visionary arts leadership in October 2019, and the Golden Baton Award by the Philharmonic Society of Orange County in 2021. Jerry and his wife, Whitney, live in Irvine.