Manny Mashouf's life story is a particularly American archetype-that of the immigrant and self-made man who finds great success and, in gratitude, gives back generously to the society that has afforded him such opportunity. An entrepreneur and philanthropist, he is the founder and board chairman of the highly successful bebe chain of women’s clothing stores, now almost 300 across the nation.

Arriving in the U.S. from his native Iran with minimal English skills but with high aspirations, Mr. Mashouf rapidly mastered the language, then higher education. At San Francisco State University, from which he graduated in 1966, he explored many subjects beyond his political science major. In fact, the name of his corporation was inspired, he says, by Shakespeare's "To be or not to be" soliloquy from Hamlet.

Mr. Mashouf has never forgotten his roots at San Francisco State University. He is an 11-year member of the College of Business Advisory Board and has made significant donations to the College to help it be competitive in recruiting and hiring outstanding faculty. Generations of faculty and students in the arts will experience his generosity when the Mashouf Creative Arts Center opens. In 2005, the university named him its Alumnus of the Year.