Fielding Graduate University Welcomes Stuart Jenkins
Jenkins is the vice president of business development at Deckers Outdoor Corporation, where he drives innovation initiatives for both the company and its six footwear brands.
Fielding President Richard Meyers remarked, “I am most happy to welcome Stuart Jenkins to Fielding. Rarely does an individual come along to a university board with broad interests and experience in and out of higher education. Stuart is such a person and his knowledge areas combined with extraordinary success throughout his life in all he has done make him a most welcome addition. The world of higher education is in a sea change globally, and Stuart’s commitment to Fielding is a wonderful vote of confidence for all of us.”
Jenkins experience includes 40 years of marketing and selling patents for independent inventors. He holds 12 patents of his own. Prior to taking on innovation at Deckers, Stuart served as the brand president of the emerging Deckers brand, MOZO, helping to launch its disruptive and distinct service industry product line. His interest in running lead him to grow SKYDEX Technologies, which started as an inventor’s idea in a shoebox and today is a materials company that supplies customers ranging from Nike to the US Military, which uses SKYDEX material for blast mitigation in troop transports and carriers.
On the education side, Jenkins served as the CEO and chairman of the Board of Trustees at Principia Corporation, a nonprofit school and higher education institution where he oversaw the creation of new management structures and substantial enrollment and annual donor increases. One of the reasons Jenkins joined the Fielding Board is his belief that “ideas are the most valuable resource in the world, and Fielding is in the business of developing rigorous thinkers. Education is a fire to be lit, not a pail to be filled. Fielding is at its best when it is lighting fires and creating inspiration amongst its students- that is a notable cause and I want to be a part of it.”