North County loses a champion of business and education

Miguel de Jesus, a leader at CSUSM and mentor to many, passed away in 2025

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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North County Pipeline honors the life and legacy of Miguel de Jesus, a champion of human beings who had a robust corporate career at Xerox and Paychex but was best known for his work at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM). De Jesus spent eight years at CSUSM, four of which were on the Carlsbad Chamber board, where he was always championing people and coordinating hundreds of Senior Experience projects while encouraging local business professionals to become Executives in Residence to mentor students.

Why it matters

De Jesus was a highly respected and influential figure in the North County business and education community, known for his tireless efforts to support and mentor students and professionals. His passing represents a significant loss for the region, as he played a crucial role in developing the next generation of leaders.

The details

During his time at CSUSM, de Jesus coordinated hundreds of Senior Experience projects and strongly encouraged local business professionals to become Executives in Residence to mentor students in the College of Business Administration. He was also on the board of the Carlsbad Chamber for four years, where he continued to champion people and causes.

  • Miguel de Jesus passed away in November 2025.
  • De Jesus spent eight years at CSUSM, with four of those years on the Carlsbad Chamber board.

The players

Miguel de Jesus

A champion of human beings who had a robust corporate career at Xerox and Paychex, but was best known for his work at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM), where he spent eight years, four of which were on the Carlsbad Chamber board.

Bret Schanzenbach

The author of the article and a member of the Carlsbad Chamber board, where he worked with de Jesus.

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What they’re saying

“Miguel was always championing people. He was a master encourager.”

— Bret Schanzenbach, Carlsbad Chamber board member (substack.com)

The takeaway

De Jesus's passing represents a significant loss for the North County business and education community, as he played a crucial role in developing the next generation of leaders through his tireless efforts to support and mentor students and professionals.