Mary Joyce, First Gianneschi Professor of Nonprofit Marketing, Dies

Educator and Researcher Succumbs After Long Fight With Cancer

December 17, 2007

By Valerie Orleans

Mary Joyce, Cal State Fullerton’s Gianneschi Professor of Nonprofit Marketing, died Dec. 12 following a long battle with cancer.

A distinguished marketing expert and educator who had served as a consultant to several nonprofit agencies and organizations, Joyce joined the campus in 2002 as the first appointed Gianneschi Professor of Nonprofit Marketing. The professorship is named for Harry R. Gianneschi, former vice president for university advancement and founder of the university’s Center for Nonprofit Research, which also bears his name. Joyce was tasked with working with both the community and the campus in the development of a nonprofit marketing curriculum.

Joyce took part in several forums and workshops on community involvement and nonprofits. In 2006, she traveled to Grahamstown, South Africa, as a participant in the “Prospects for Quality of Life in the New Millennium,” the seventh conference of the International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies. She chaired a session on Quality of Life of People Living With Disabilities” and participated in a panel discussion on the impact of marketing on quality of life.

She wrote numerous articles about integrated marketing, entrepreneurial behavior and not-for-profit organizations. She served as a pro bono consultant with the Association for Donor Recruitment Professionals, the American Association of Blood Banks and the Carolina/Georgia Blood Center. She served on the boards of directors for Goodwill Industries of Orange County and the Council on Aging of Orange County.

The Laguna Beach resident held a doctorate in business administration from the University of Kentucky. Before coming to CSUF, Joyce was a faculty member at the University of Colorado, University of Central Florida, San Francisco State University, and served as chair of the department of communications at Emerson College in Boston.

“Mary had a passion for service learning,” said Irene Lange, chair and professor of marketing. “She wanted to instill in students an appreciation for corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship and sustainable growth. Her many interests included gerontology, health, women’s issues and quality of life.”

According to Shay Sayre, professor of communications, ”Mary dedicated her life to advocating justice for people of all races, sexual orientations and economic situations. Her enthusiasm and energy will endure in everyone who knew her.”

Joyce is survived by her husband, David Lambert, and siblings Linda Myers, Tom Joyce and John Joyce.

A celebration of Joyce’s life is being planned for a later date in Vallejo. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joyce’s name may be made to Planned Parenthood.