Mike Stull, entrepreneurship professor at Cal State San Bernardino, has received the 2026 Inland Empire ASPA Outstanding Educator Award, recognizing his commitment to education, leadership and service to the Inland Empire.

The Inland Empire Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (IE ASPA) presented Stull with the honor during its Annual Scholarship & Service Awards Banquet on July 30 at the historic Victoria Club in Riverside.

The Outstanding Educator Award is presented annually to a college professor, teacher or administrator in Southern California’s Inland Empire who has demonstrated exceptional teaching and leadership, along with a long-standing commitment to public service and public administration education.

Stull said the recognition is especially meaningful because of the shared purpose he sees in education, entrepreneurship and public service.

“I am deeply honored to be recognized as IE ASPA’s Outstanding Educator in 2026. Education is ultimately about helping people see possibilities, develop confidence, and take meaningful action,” Stull said. “This award is especially meaningful because public service and entrepreneurial thinking share a common purpose: identifying needs, solving problems, and creating lasting value for our communities.”

Mike Stull received the Outstanding Educator Award from the Inland Empire Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration.
Mike Stull received the Outstanding Educator Award from the Inland Empire Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration.

As director of the Randall W. Lewis School of Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Stull has played a leading role in advancing entrepreneurship education at CSUSB and helping students develop the knowledge, skills and entrepreneurial mindset to turn ideas into action.

He also serves as director of the Randall W. Lewis Center for Entrepreneurship, which connects CSUSB’s entrepreneurship expertise and resources with aspiring and established entrepreneurs throughout the Inland Empire.

Through both roles, Stull has championed entrepreneurship as more than the creation of new businesses. He views it as a way of thinking grounded in initiative, innovation, resilience and problem-solving – qualities that can empower people to become catalysts for positive change in their workplaces, organizations and communities.

That philosophy also creates a natural connection between entrepreneurship and public service. Both call on leaders to understand the needs of the people and communities they serve, approach complex challenges in new ways and develop solutions that create lasting value.

Stull’s work reflects CSUSB’s broader commitment to the Inland Empire through education, innovation and community engagement. By helping students and entrepreneurs recognize opportunities, address challenges and develop the confidence to act on their ideas, his work extends the impact of entrepreneurship beyond the classroom and into the region.

The Outstanding Educator Award adds to the recognition of Stull’s contributions as an educator and leader while highlighting the role CSUSB faculty play in supporting the economic and social vitality of the Inland Empire.

The Inland Empire Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration promotes excellence in public service throughout the region and supports the development of current and future public service professionals through education, scholarship and professional engagement.