Humboldt State President Alistair McCrone to Retire

Dr. Alistair W. McCrone, president of Humboldt State University since 1974, today (August 22) announced his retirement from the presidency at the close of the 2001-02 academic year. He is the university's longest-serving president, and the second longest-serving president in the history of the California State University.

"President McCrone has long and diligently served his university, public higher education, and the citizens of this state," said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed. "He has worked successfully to extend educational opportunity to the people of California. We will all miss his wealth of experience, his leadership, and his vision."

As president of Humboldt State University for the last quarter century, he helped shape the university into what is widely recognized as a unique educational experience for tens of thousands of students. Known for its strong sense of community, the university is one of the largest per capita sources of Peace Corps volunteers, while some 4,000 of its 7,500 students volunteer for community service every year.

The university, the largest employer in the county, draws the majority of its students from outside the region with its unique offerings in biology, oceanography, fishery, geology and environmental studies. It offers the only Native American Studies bachelor's degree program in the system and is consistently ranked among the top regional colleges in the West.

President McCrone, active in both community and university service, was chair of the CSU systemwide emergency preparedness committee, and led his campus into year-round operations—the first semester-based campus to take this step.

A native of Saskatchewan, Canada, McCrone trained as a geologist in the United States, earning his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas. He taught as a professor of geology as well as doing research, publishing, and consulting in the field. McCrone will be 70 in early October 2001.

The search for his successor will begin in the fall with completion expected in mid-spring of 2002.