Introduction
The California State University (CSU) is the nation’s largest and most diverse four-year public university. With 22* unique campuses the CSU serves more than 470,000 students and employs more than 61,000 faculty and staff.
Each year, the university awards nearly 123,000 degrees, changing the trajectory of students’ lives by opening doors to opportunities for upward mobility. More than one-quarter of CSU students are the first in their families to attend college and more than half of CSU students are from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.
For one of the most affordable tuitions in the country, students learn from world-class faculty, gain valuable hands-on experiences and receive strong career advising, empowering them to become leaders in the changing workforce.
CSU graduates are leaders in the industries that drive California’s economy, including business, agriculture, entertainment, engineering, teaching, hospitality and health care. To learn more, visit the California State University website.
A Tradition of Excellence for More Than Six Decades
Since 1961, the CSU has provided an affordable, accessible and high-quality education to millions of Californians. While each campus is unique based on its curricular specialties, location and campus culture, every CSU is distinguished for the quality of its educational programs. All CSUs are fully accredited, provide an outstanding, broad liberal educational program and offer opportunities for students to engage in campus life through the Associated Students Inc., clubs and service learning.
Facts
- Today, one in every 20 Americans with a college degree is a CSU graduate.
- 1 in every 10 employees in California is a CSU graduate.
- The CSU’s network of more than four million alumni is larger than the population of 23 U.S. states.
- The CSU awards nearly half of the bachelor’s degrees earned in California.
- The CSU awards more than one-quarter of California’s baccalaureate nursing degrees.
- In 2024-2025, the CSU prepared more of California’s teachers than any other institution in the state.
- About 4% of the nation’s teachers graduate from the CSU.
- In 2024-25, CSU students earned nearly 18,000 undergraduate business degrees and over 6,300 engineering degrees.
- The CSU offers more than 4,000 degree programs that align with the state’s workforce demands.
- The CSU’s online concurrent enrollment program gives students the ability to enroll in courses offered by other universities in the CSU system.
- Through CSU community engagement centers, over 67,000 students participated in service-learning, contributing more than 1.5 million hours of service each year.
*Transition to 22 universities in progress (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Cal Maritime integrating) — official fall 2026.
Governance
The CSU is governed by the Board of Trustees, most of whom are appointed by the governor and serve with faculty and student representatives. The CSU chancellor is the chief executive officer, reporting to the board. The campus presidents serve as the campus-level chief executive officers. The trustees, chancellor and presidents develop university-wide educational policy. The presidents, in consultation with the CSU Academic Senate and other campus stakeholder groups, render and implement local policy decisions.
CSU Historical Milestones
The individual California State Colleges were established as a system with a Board of Trustees and a chancellor in 1960 by the Donahoe Higher Education Act. In 1972, the system was designated as the California State University and Colleges, and in 1982 the system became the California State University. Today, the CSU is comprised of 22 member universities, including comprehensive and polytechnic universities.
The oldest university — San José State University — was founded in 1857 and became the first institution of public higher education in California. The newest — California State University Channel Islands — opened in fall 2002, with freshmen arriving in fall 2003. And in 2022, the CSU in Humboldt became California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, joining San Luis Obispo and Pomona as that state’s third public polytechnic university.
In 1963, the CSU’s Academic Senate was established to act as the official voice of CSU faculty in university-wide matters. Also, the California State College Student Presidents Association — which was later renamed the California State Student Association (CSSA) — was founded to represent each campus student association on issues affecting students.
Through its many decades of service, the CSU has continued to adapt to address societal changes, student needs and workforce trends. While the CSU’s core mission has always focused on providing high-quality, affordable bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, over time the university has added a wide range of services and programs to support student success — from adding health centers and special programs for veterans to building student residential facilities to provide a comprehensive educational experience.
In 2010, in an effort to accommodate community college transfer students, the CSU, in concert with the California Community Colleges (CCC), launched the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT), which guarantees CCC transfer students with an ADT admission to the CSU with junior status. The ADT has since proven to be one of the most effective paths to a CSU for community college transfer students. In 2023, the CSU launched the Transfer Success Pathway program to guarantee future CSU admission to high school graduates who are entering a California community college and who commit to transferring within three years.
Always adapting to changes in technology to support student learning and degree completion, the CSU launched CSU Fully Online, which enables CSU students to complete online courses at other CSUs, expanding enrollment opportunities and providing more educational opportunities for students who may prefer an online format to a traditional classroom setting.
The CSU marked a significant educational milestone when it broadened its degree offerings to include professional doctoral degrees. The CSU independently offers Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Doctor of Audiology (AuD), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) and Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree programs. A limited number of other doctoral degrees are offered jointly with the University of California and private institutions in California.
The CSU strives to continually develop innovative programs, services and opportunities that will give students the tools they need to meet their full potential. In 2025, the CSU shared a new systemwide strategic plan, CSU Forward: Thriving Students, Thriving University, Thriving California, the system’s most comprehensive and ambitious strategic plan to transform how the CSU defines student success and fulfills its role as California’s most powerful engine of opportunity, economic mobility and inclusive excellence. The strategic plan centers on four performance objectives: economic mobility engine, sustainable affordability, employer of choice and statewide impact.
With the conclusion of the 10-year Graduation Initiative 2025 and the Year of Engagement project, the CSU unveiled a new Student Success Framework to meet the needs of today’s students and achieve new heights of student success. As a companion to CSU Forward, the framework aims to improve opportunity outcome gaps, strengthen career readiness and advance social mobility for all CSU students. By providing an accessible, hands-on education that prepares graduates for career success, the CSU has created a network of alumni so extensive and renowned that it spans across the globe. More than four million CSU alumni are making a difference in the lives of the people of California and the world.
Trustees of the CSU
Ex-Officio Trustees
The Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor of California
The Honorable Eleni Kounalakis
Lieutenant Governor of California
The Honorable Robert Rivas
Speaker of the Assembly
The Honorable Tony K. Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Dr. Mildred García
Chancellor, California State University
Officers of the Trustees
The Honorable Gavin Newsom – President
Jack B. Clarke Jr. – Chair
Diego Arambula – Vice Chair
Dawn S. Theodora–Interim Secretary
Patrick J. Lenz–Interim Treasurer
Appointed Trustees
Appointments are for a term of eight years, except student, alumni and faculty trustees whose terms are for two years. Terms expire in the year in parentheses. Names are listed alphabetically.
Larry L. Adamson (2028)
Diego Arambula (2028)
Raji Kaur Brar (2029)
Jack B. Clarke Jr. (2027)
Kelly M. Dermody (2033)
Andrea C. Evans (2030)
Carson Fajardo (2027) (S)
Jean P. Firstenberg (2026)
Wenda Fong (2032)
Mark Ghilarducci (2031)
Leslie Gilbert-Lurie (2030)
Jazmin Guarjardo (2026) (S)
Julia I. Lopez (2028)
Jack McGrory (2031)
Sam Nejabat (2027)
Yammilette Rodriguez (2029)
Christopher J. Steinhauser (2026)
Darlene Yee-Milichar (2026) (F)
Correspondence with trustees should be sent to: c/o Office of the Board of Trustees, The California State University, 401 Golden Shore, Long Beach, California 90802-4210, or trusteesoffice@calstate.edu.
Office of the Chancellor
The California State University
401 Golden Shore
Long Beach, California 90802-4210
562-951-4000
Dr. Mildred Garcia, Chancellor
Ms. Dawn S. Theodora, Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and General Counsel
Mr. Patrick J. Lenz, Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer
Mr Dave Grant, Interim Vice Chancellor for Human Resources and Chief HR Officer
Mr. Vlad Marinescu, Vice Chancellor and Chief Audit Officer
Mr. Greg Saks, Vice Chancellor, External Relations and Communications
Dr. Junius J. Gonzales, Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer
Dr. Dilcie D. Perez, Vice Chancellor, Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success
Ms. Danielle Garcia, Deputy Vice Chancellor for System Strategy and Operations
CSU Campuses
California State University, Bakersfield
9001 Stockdale Highway
Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022
Dr. Vernon B. Harper, Jr., President
661-654-2782
CSU Bakersfield website
California State University, Channel Islands
1 University Dr.
Camarillo, CA 93012
Dr. Susan A. Andrzejewski, Interim President
805-437-8400
CSU Channel Islands website
California State University, Chico
400 W. First St.
Chico, CA 95929
Dr. Steve Perez, President
530-898-4636
Chico State website
California State University, Dominguez Hills
1000 East Victoria St.
Carson, CA 90747
Dr. Mary Ann Villarreal, Interim President
310-243-3696
CSU Dominguez Hills website
California State University, East Bay
25800 Carlos Bee Blvd.
Hayward, CA 94542
Dr. Cathy A. Sandeen, President
510-885-3000
Cal State East Bay website
California State University, Fresno
5241 North Maple Ave.
Fresno, CA 93740
Dr. Saul Jiménez-Sandoval, President
559-278-4240
Fresno State website
California State University, Fullerton
800 N. State College Blvd.
Fullerton, CA 92831-3599
Dr. Ronald S. Rochon, President
657-278-2011
Cal State Fullerton website
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt
1 Harpst St.
Arcata, CA 95521-8299
Dr. Richard A. Carvajal, President
707-826-3011
Cal Poly Humboldt website
California State University, Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90840-0115
Dr. Loren J. Blanchard, President
562-985-4111
Cal State Long Beach website
California State University, Los Angeles
5151 State University Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90032
Dr. Berenecea Johnson Eanes, President
323-343-3000
Cal State LA website
California State University, Monterey Bay
100 Campus Center
Seaside, CA 93955
(vacant) President
831-582-3000
CSU Monterey Bay website
California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff St.
Northridge, CA 91330
Dr. Erika Beck, President
818-677-1200
CSUN website
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
3801 W. Temple Ave.
Pomona, CA 91768
Dr. Vanya Quinoñes, President
909-869-7659
Cal Poly Pomona website
California State University, Sacramento
6000 J St.
Sacramento, CA 95819
Dr. Luke Wood, President
916-278-6011
Sacramento State website
California State University, San Bernardino
5500 University Parkway
San Bernardino, CA 92407-2318
Dr. Tomás D. Morales, President
909-537-5000
Cal State San Bernardino website
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Dr.
San Diego, CA 92182
Dr. Adela de la Torre, President
619-594-5200
San Diego State website
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94132
Dr. Lynn Mahoney, President
415-338-1111
San Francisco State website
San José State University
1 Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0001
Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President
408-924-1000
San José State website
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
1 Grand Ave.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
Dr. Jeffrey D. Armstrong, President
805-756-1111
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo website
California State University, San Marcos
333 South Twin Oaks Valley Rd.
San Marcos, CA 92096-0001
Dr. Ellen J. Neufeldt, President
760-750-4000
CSU San Marcos website
Sonoma State University
1801 East Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Dr. Michael E. Spagna, President
707-664-2880
Sonoma State website
California State University, Stanislaus
1 University Circle
Turlock, CA 95382
Dr. Britt Rios-Ellis, President
209-667-3122
Stanislaus State website
|
