“Take school seriously and learn as much as you can. Find opportunities to expand your knowledge base because that broad knowledge will serve you well in any career and set you apart from those who tend to be narrower thinkers. Make the most of your interactions with people working in the industry, including instructors, guest speakers, and volunteers at student competitions and networking events.”

This is some advice computer science alumnus Peter Bilello (BS ’89) offers students at Cal State Fullerton’s College of Engineering & Computer Science, noting that the college offers an ideal environment to achieve each of these goals.

“By continuously expanding relationships with industry, the college stays relevant – offering undergraduates insights into what’s needed today and what will be needed tomorrow. This knowledge and these practical experiences help graduates begin their careers ahead of the game,” says Bilello, who currently serves as president and CEO of CIMdata, an internationally recognized strategic management consulting firm focused on product lifecycle management in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The college’s increasing focus on innovation and its efforts to educate a more diverse pool of computer scientists and engineers – as well as his own fond memories of an undergraduate experience defined by small class sizes, instructors with real industry experience, a variety of interesting general education offerings that encouraged communication, problem-solving, and thinking outside the box – inspired him to pay it forward.

Bilello and his wife, Dorothy, have donated $25,000 to help engineering and computer science students in their pursuit of driving innovation in their chosen industries and otherwise improving the world around them. The Peter and Dorothy Bilello Family Innovation Fund will support student innovation, research projects, and co-curricular programs. His 35 years of experience in information technology solutions for organizations worldwide have demonstrated the value of an ECS education for an individual’s professional success and for creating a pipeline of well-rounded professionals who will drive state and national economies.

Supporting Students Ready to Research, Innovate, and Get Involved

Bilello transferred to Cal State Fullerton while his father, John Bilello, served as founding dean of what was then the University’s School of Engineering & Computer Science, drawn to the computer science program and the many academic and extracurricular offerings available on campus. He got involved early on, putting together the school’s yearbook, which was run through the Office of Alumni Affairs, and he served as editor for three years. He has stayed in touch with many of the people he met through Alumni Affairs even to this day.

After Bilello earned his bachelor’s degree in computer science with a minor in physics, he went on to earn a Master of Science degree in manufacturing systems engineering from the University of Michigan while working full time for the General Motors Company.

While “innovation” wasn’t a buzzword when Bilello attended college in the ’80s, the school that became ECS was already forging important industry connections and employing instructors who were concurrently working in industry or had previously done so. He has been impressed at how the college has continued to expand opportunities for undergraduate students to gain mentorship and work on real industry challenges, conduct research beside their professors, and graduate with a strong academic background that intertwines science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with business, the arts, and other complementary disciplines.

Living in Michigan and traveling around the globe for work, Bilello doesn’t get opportunities to visit Cal State Fullerton very often, though he’s frequently given presentations or counseled senior students during projects in a remote capacity. He visited campus in early 2024 and was inspired by Dean Susan Barua’s vision for the ECS Innovation Hub and infusion of innovation into the student experience. He returned to campus in April 2024 to serve as an industry judge for the ECS Student Project Innovation Expo, where nearly 100 student projects were on display.

“I’m happy to support students who, inspired by the college’s vision and multitude of opportunities, will complete a well-rounded education and quickly begin making impacts on a wide variety of industries – from aerospace and artificial intelligence to water treatment and medical devices – in Southern California and beyond.”