Mei L. Bickner, professor emeritus of management who served the campus community for 30 years, died Sept. 1. She was 75 years old.
The educator, a labor and employment arbitrator who had worked on a variety of disputes for aerospace, broadcasting, education, engineering and research firms, designed and taught classes in labor relations. Her classes included simulations so students would get a real feel for what it takes to negotiate agreements.
“To really learn negotiating, lectures and talking about it only go so far,” said Bickner who had students consult with federal mediators, employee relations directors and representatives of several unions as part of preparations for the simulation.
Bickner earned her bachelor’s degree, MBA and doctorate from UCLA and taught at UCI before joining CSUF in 1978.