Leaders across the California State University are shaping more than just their campuses—they are influencing the future of higher education nationwide. In addition to guiding the CSU, the chancellor and university presidents extend their impact by serving on the boards of prominent national organizations dedicated to the advancement of higher education. Through these roles, they champion student success on a broader scale, ensuring that the CSU's values of access and opportunity resonate far beyond California.
Learn how CSU leaders are working with national organizations to be catalysts for change in higher education.
Chancellor Mildred García
California State University
Chancellor Mildred García has served as chancellor of the California State University since 2023. Along with leading the system, she serves as vice chair of the board of trustees for ETS, a leading global testing organization that develops and oversees assessments including the SAT, the TOEFL test of English, and GRE graduate entrance exam. She also serves on the board of directors for the National Association of Higher Education Systems, an organization that seeks to leverage the power of systems to improve public higher education in America, and on the board of directors for PBS, the nation’s largest non-commercial media organization.
Jeffrey D. Armstrong
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Appointed in 2011, President Jeffrey D. Armstrong has guided Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to continued recognition as a leading public master's-level university while overseeing record-setting application growth. Armstrong also serves as vice chair of the
Business Higher Education Forum (BHEF) executive committee, collaborating with a network of senior leaders from business and higher education to drive forward innovative strategies that address national education and workforce challenges.
Erika D. Beck
CSUN
Erika D. Beck has been serving as president of CSUN since 2021, and she previously served as president of CSU Channel Islands for four years. Under Beck's leadership, CSUN has been ranked the second-best public university in California for accelerating students' social and economic mobility. Beck also sits on the board of directors for the
American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), an organization committed to expanding access to affordable, high-quality education to all students. Additionally, she serves as treasurer on the board of directors for the
Coalition of Urban Serving Universities (USU), a president-led organization that works to improve economic, health and educational outcomes for marginalized student groups in urban communities.
Berenecea Johnson Eanes
Cal State LA
As the ninth president of Cal State LA and the first woman to lead the university, Berenecea Johnson Eanes brings a deep commitment to student success and inclusive leadership to her work. Eanes has also been elected to the board of directors of the
Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU), a group dedicated to advancing knowledge, civic engagement and institutional relevance across urban-serving campuses. She also serves on the board of the
American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI), which provides professional development and support programs for higher education administrators across the nation.
Ellen J. Neufeldt
Cal State San Marcos
Since Ellen J. Neufeldt's presidential appointment in 2019, Cal State San Marcos has experienced transformational progress. Under her leadership, CSUSM has become a national model for student success, social mobility and regional impact. Beyond her role at CSUSM, Neufeldt serves as chair of the CUMU Board of Directors, whose mission is to spread awareness and create solutions to issues faced by urban and metropolitan campuses. She also serves on the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)
Commission on International Education.
Ronald S. Rochon
Cal State Fullerton
With a proven track record of advancing student success, Ronald S. Rochon took on the presidency of Cal State Fullerton in May 2024. Since then, he has advanced the Fullerton Forward Strategic Plan, secured a $67.5 million Engineering and Computer Science Hub and pushed for cross-college collaboration and shared governance. Beyond higher education, Rochon is a board member and past chair of AASCU and serves as chair of the board of directors for the
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), a national nonprofit dedicated to mobilizing communities to prevent substance misuse.
Cathy A. Sandeen
Cal State East Bay
Cathy A. Sandeen was appointed president of Cal State East Bay in October 2020, bringing extensive leadership experience in higher education. Under her leadership, the university received the
Seal of Excelencia for serving Latinx students and has been named a top four-year university by the California Mobility Index. In addition to her campus leadership, Sandeen serves on the board of directors for
Higher Education Resource Services (HERS), a national organization dedicated to advancing equity in leadership and building a strong network of women and gender-diverse leaders across higher education.
Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval
Fresno State
Appointed as Fresno State's ninth president in 2021, Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval has prioritized expanding access and supporting student success. In 2022, he launched Bulldog Bound, a pioneering direct-admissions program that partnered with more than 30 local school districts in its first year, strengthening a college-going culture throughout the Central Valley. Beyond his role at the university, Jiménez-Sandoval serves on the governing board of
HACU, an organization dedicated to Hispanic higher education success across the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America and Spain, and is the only national organization representing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs).
Cynthia Teniente-Matson
San José State
At San José State, President Cynthia Teniente-Matson has leveraged her broad leadership background to guide the university's rise as a leading public urban research institution since her appointment in January 2023. She also serves as vice chair of the board of directors for AALI, supporting leadership development for higher education administrators nationwide.