Cal State Fullerton VP is finalist for new job

O.C. Register 4/27/07

By Marla Jo Fisher

Cal State Fullerton's vice president of administration and finance was named today as one of four finalists for the presidency of CSU Dominguez Hills, officials announced.

Willie J. Hagen, who initially came to Fullerton from the University of Connecticut in 1996, is scheduled to spend May 9 on the Dominguez Hills campus in Carson, meeting faculty staff, students, alumni and other interested parties.

The other three contenders for the top job are: Mildred Garcia, president, Berkeley College, New York and New Jersey; James A. Anderson, vice president, University of Albany-State University of New York and Benjamin F. Quillian, Jr. senior vice president of the American Council on Education.

Each will also spend a day on campus in May.

"Each of the four candidates has excellent academic credentials and the leadership qualities needed to head a diverse, student-focused campus like CSU Dominguez Hills," CSU Trustee Debra Farar, chair of the presidential search committee, said in a prepared announcement.  "All of the finalists have the breadth of experience and background that is needed to guide the continued growth and development of the campus."

The new president will succeed interim president Boice Bowman, who has been filling in for James E. Lyons, Sr., who was Dominguez Hills' president since 1999 until his retirement this year. He has been serving as Secretary of Higher Education for the state of Maryland since March 1.