California Institute of Advanced Management Appoints Dr. Maria Cozette Akopian as Associate VP of Marketing / Chief Marketing Officer
ALHAMBRA, Calif. – The California Institute of Advanced Management announced the appointment of Dr. Maria Cozette Akopian as its new Associate Vice President of Marketing / Chief Marketing Officer.
This leadership appointment reflects CIAM’s commitment to elevating its institutional visibility, strengthening community partnerships, and advancing its mission of values-driven, human-centered management education.
Dr. Akopian brings more than 15 years of experience in marketing across media, education, and healthcare, distinguished by her innovative vision and commitment to serving diverse communities. She previously served as a Professor of Marketing at CIAM and continues to teach as an adjunct professor at CIAM and California State University, Los Angeles, where she pioneered the university’s first Women’s Leadership Development Program. Dr. Akopian holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, a Master of Business Administration with Beta Gamma Sigma honors from Woodbury University, and a Doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California.
An award-winning media personality and multifaceted professional, Dr. Akopian is recognized for producing and hosting the first English-language television program to air on Armenian network television—an achievement that positioned her as a prominent public figure and cultural influencer. In 2017, she founded Thornbird Marketing Inc., a boutique agency that has served many of Los Angeles’ most respected brands through strategic content creation, branding, and digital communication.
Dr. Akopian currently serves as Chief Marketing Officer for the Burbank Police Foundation, where she leads philanthropic storytelling, community engagement initiatives, and strategic communications in support of public safety programs, youth development, and officer wellness. Her commitment to community service extends through her leadership and active involvement in Armenian cultural organizations, where she champions cultural preservation, youth empowerment, and community enrichment. “Dr. Akopian’s appointment marks a significant moment for CIAM,” said the president of the university, Dr. Jack Paduntin. “Her creativity, strategic mindset, and deep commitment to education and community service align beautifully with CIAM’s mission and will help propel the institution into its next era of growth.”
As AVP/CMO of Marketing, Dr. Akopian will lead CIAM’s brand strategy, institutional communications, public relations, and digital outreach—ensuring the university’s message resonates with students, partners, and global communities who believe in ethical, socially responsible management.
Founded in 2011, the California Institute of Advanced Management is a nonprofit, WSCUC-accredited graduate institution dedicated to teaching the practice of management as both a science and an art. Guided by the principles of Peter F. Drucker, CIAM’s experiential learning model prepares students to become effective, ethical, and socially conscious leaders in a rapidly changing global economy.
