With the beginning of spring semester and the many course and campus activities taking place, including the President’s inaugural International Forum on International Human Rights, this is a very busy and energizing time for CSULB students, faculty, and staff.
It is also an important time of year for our university with respect to the faculty and administrative searches that are underway. We ended fall semester with the announcement of two completed searches and exciting hires for the positions of Associate Vice President for Academic Technology and Dean of the College of Business Administration (CBA). Dr. Don Gardner, who is now leading our academic technology planning, began on February 4. Dr. Michael Solt, Associate Dean for the Lucas Graduate School of Business at San José State University, will join us as the new CBA dean in June.
This semester we continue to be involved in a number of important academic leadership searches. This month we have invited a strong pool of finalists on campus for the positions of Assistant Vice President for International Education and Global Engagement (current interim appointment), Assistant Vice President for Academic Personnel (current interim appointment), and Assistant Vice President of Undergraduate Studies. If you have not yet had an opportunity to do so, I encourage you to view their curricula vitae, attend the open forums, and provide the Search Committee and my office with feedback on the feedback web link. I hope to have announcements regarding these searches by early March.
Before the semester is over we will also conclude the search for a new dean of University College and Extension Services, which has been prompted by the announced retirement of Dean Marilyn Crego, who has served her college and our university extremely well and conscientiously for many years. Ensuring that all of our leadership searches conclude successfully requires a tremendous amount of time and commitment from many people. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation for the time and energy faculty, staff, and students have invested in our searches. I know that your participation has left a great impression on the candidates who have visited our campus to date.
Due to the timing of the search process and current budget constraints, I have made the decision to defer the search for the Associate Vice President for Research and External Support (current interim appointment) until next fall. The position will be re-advertised nationally in August for an anticipated appointment by summer 2009.
I hope you find interesting the news and information contained in this second Communiqué. Please send Linda Fontes academic news and initiatives that may have broad appeal to our faculty, students, and staff.
Thank you for your many ongoing contributions and accomplishments. I wish you a successful and rewarding spring semester.
Karen L. Gould, Provost