Paul F. Folino

Chairman, Emulex/Philanthropist

California State University, Fullerton

Paul F. Folino, executive chairman of the board of Emulex, is an influential business leader and philanthropist whose contributions have enriched the California State University and California residents.

His initial $1 million gift to California State University, Fullerton in 2002 launched the campaign he co-chaired for the Steven G. Mihaylo College of Business and Economics. Mr. Folino also donated $125,000 to the City of Fullerton to fund a new campus entrance near Mihaylo Hall; the street is named Folino Drive.

He received the university's Orange County Titan Award in 2005 and was named Orange County Philanthropist of the Year in 2006 by the Association of Fund Raising Professionals. Mr. Folino serves on the Cal State Fullerton Philanthropic Foundation Board of Governors and Mihaylo College of Business and Economics Dean's Advisory Council.

Among his career successes is the role he played as a member of the original Xerox Corporation team that launched Ethernet networking products in the 1970s. During his three-year tenure as president and chief operating officer of Thomas-Conrad Corporation, he spearheaded the company's revenue growth from $18 million to almost $60 million -earning the manufacturer recognition from INC Magazine as one of the nation's fastest-growing privately held corporations.

Mr. Folino joined Emulex, a manufacturer of devices for data storage networking, in 1993 as president and chief executive officer. Under his stewardship, the company had the No. 1 performing public stock in Orange County in the 1990s. His leadership was recognized by Ernst & Young LLP in 1999, when he was named Orange County Co-Entrepreneur of the Year in technology, and in 2000 as Orange County Director of the Year for high-growth technology. In 2006, the Los Angeles Times named Folino "one of the top 100 most influential" people in Southern California.

The Washington native earned his bachelor's degree in social sciences from Central Washington State University. Like many California State University students, he worked full time while completing his M.B.A. at Seattle University. His community involvement includes serving on the boards of the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Orange County High School of the Arts, Commercial Bank of California and Microsemi Corporation.

In recognition of his professional accomplishments and commitment to the university and higher education, the Board of Trustees of the California State University and California State University, Fullerton are proud to confer upon Paul Folino the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.