Editor's Note:

In February, Robert C. Maxson announced his intention to retire as President of California State University, Long Beach. At the request of Chancellor Charles Reed of the California State University, President Maxson has agreed to remain at the campus until his successor is named and arrives on campus.

Since announcing his retirement, Maxson has accepted a special assignment to mentor new campus presidents in the CSU. CSULB's new president will be named by the Board of Trustees in late October or early November.

Sylvia Maxson, associate professor of English at CSULB, who has been an avid supporter of the university and its students and programs, has also announced that she will retire this year. We wish them both well!

To see a photo gallery of the Maxson years at CSULB, visit www.csulb.edu/maxson.

My Dear Alumni Friends,

Almost twelve years ago I had the great, good fortune to become a member of The Beach community. Most of you have ties to this university that started when you were students here; my love affair began when I became president.
Since our arrival, my wife, Sylvia, and I have enjoyed the opportunity of knowing students from their first days on campus, and we have been lucky to know many of you after you graduated and moved on to new adventures in your lives. We've also met and become good friends with many of you who studied here before we arrived. We have been treated by all of you as if we were members of a warm and loving family with branches all over the world. Thank you for your many kindnesses over these years!

Almost every day I learn of new accomplishments by our alumni. I enjoy sharing this news with our present students because they aspire to do as well as you have done. I point to alumni successes and promise these young people that they, too, can achieve much.

This is a great, proud university, though it has a short history of just over 55 years. And even though our official name is California State University, Long Beach, the students have given it many different nicknames over the years. Even now, some call us Long Beach State while others call us Cal State Long Beach. Today, many students refer to this university as The Beach, a name I like, as many of you know, and one I think has a special draw. If you haven't visited the campus in a while, you should come to see what I mean. The Beach is evident everywhere, from the flag in front of the University Student Union, to The Beach Hut coffee stand outside the library, to the Go Beach sign on the water tower next door at the Veterans' Administration Medical Center.

I take The Beach with me wherever I go, in-state or out, and I encourage you to do the same. When I travel, I proudly wear a cap or a shirt that lets people know where I'm from–The Beach! I am not a graduate of this university, though I might as well be. My love for this campus and its wonderful people runs that deep, and I like to show that to the world!

I hope you will always be a spokesperson for your university, always be an advocate for your university, and always protect your university. California State University, Long Beach is worthy of your allegiance.

This is the last letter I will write you as the president of this fine university, but it is not my goodbye to you. Like many of you before me, I am moving on to the adventures that await me in the next phase of my life, but, also like you, I will be back to visit, again and again. I love this place!

Go BEACH!
Robert C. Maxson