In addition to guiding the nation’s largest four-year public university system, the CSU chancellor and university presidents lend their experience and perspectives to state and national organizations working to advance higher education, strengthen communities and address critical issues facing California and the nation.
Through service on various higher education boards, these leaders help shape conversations and decisions around student success, educational access, workforce development, institutional leadership and other priorities. Their involvement also ensures that the university’s commitment to inclusion, access and student success are represented beyond the CSU.
Learn how CSU leaders are extending their impact through leadership roles across California and the nation.
Mildred García
CSU CHancellor
García has led the California State University since 2023, during which time she has overseen the implementation of the university system’s first strategic plan in more than 10 years, among other accomplishments. In addition to that role, 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 as secretary-treasurer on the board of directors for the
National Association of Higher Education Systems (NASH), 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 pReSIDENT
Appointed in 2011, 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. He serves as vice chair of the
Business Higher Education Forum (BHEF) executive committee, where he helps drive forward innovative strategies that address national education and workforce challenges. He also chairs the
Food Systems Leadership Institute (FSLI), a national executive leadership program that prepares senior and emerging leaders to tackle issues in food and agriculture systems. Additionally, he currently serves as chair of the
Big West Conference Board of Directors, which oversees the NCAA Division I athletic conference representing 12 member universities across the western United States.
Erika D. Beck
CSUN President
Beck has served as president of CSUN since 2021, and she previously served as president of Cal State Channel Islands for four years. Under Beck’s leadership, CSUN has developed a new equity-centered strategic plan, seen record level giving, launched the Global Hispanic Serving Institution Equity Innovation Hub and received the Seal of Excelencia from Excelencia in Education for leadership, practice and success in serving Latinx students. 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 President
The first woman to lead Cal State LA, Eanes brings a deep commitment to student success and inclusive leadership to her work. Eanes has 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 is also the presidential sponsor of the
American Council on Education Women’s Network of Southern California, which promotes women’s leadership and career advancement through mentorship, professional development and networking.
Ellen J. Neufeldt
Cal State San Marcos president
Since 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. In June 2026, she was elected as a board member of the
Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), a national organization that advocates for the value and independence of accreditation, recognition of accrediting organizations and commitment to quality in higher education.
Ronald S. Rochon
Cal State Fullerton president
With a proven track record of advancing student success, Rochon took on the presidency of Cal State Fullerton in May 2024. Since then, he has advanced the Fullerton Forward Strategic Plan, led the approval of a $67.5 million Engineering and Computer Science Hub and pushed for cross-college collaboration and shared governance. Beyond higher education, Rochon serves as chair of the board of directors for the
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), a national nonprofit that equips community coalitions—including schools, young people and families—with the tools and training to prevent substance misuse and build healthier communities.
Cathy A. Sandeen
Cal State East Bay president
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 president
Appointed as Fresno State's president in 2021, 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 the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), an organization dedicated to Hispanic higher education success across the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America and Spain, and the only national organization representing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs).
Lynn Mahoney
San francisco state president
The first woman to serve in the role in a permanent capacity, Mahoney has been recognized by multiple associations and publications for her dedication to commitment to student success. She serves on the board of directors for the
American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), an organization that represents over 500 regional public colleges, universities and systems working to expand access to affordable, high-quality education. She also serves on the Presidential Advisory Council for
EAB, an education research, technology and consulting firm that partners with colleges, universities and K–12 schools to strengthen student success.
Loren J. Blanchard
Cal State long beach president
Having devoted more than 35 years of his career to expanding education opportunities, Blanchard began his service as president of Cal State Long Beach in May 2026. He previously served as president of the University of Houston-Downtown and served for six years as executive vice chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs at the CSU. In the latter role, he led development of Graduation Initiative 2025, the CSU’s long-term student success effort aimed at improving educational outcomes across the 22-campus system. He is vice chair and treasurer on the board of directors for CUMU, supporting other higher education leaders in urban and metropolitan communities. He is also a board member for AASCU, where he is part of the Committee for Student Success as well as the Steering Committee of the Millenium Leadership Initiative.
S. Terri GOmez
Cal State San bernardino president
After serving as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Cal Poly Pomona since 2023, Gomez was appointed president of Cal State San Bernardino in July 2026. Throughout her 27-year career in higher education, she has led equity-centered strategies to strengthen education outcomes, expand research opportunities and enhance institutional effectiveness. An alumna of the HERS Denver Summer Leadership Institute, she now serves on the HERS Board of Directors as part of the advancement committee and works to empower women leaders in higher education. She is also a board member for the
Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation, which partners with education leaders and other organizations to develop initiatives that strengthen the state’s public education system.
Adele De le torre
san diego state president
De la Torre has served as president of San Diego State University since 2018, with SDSU consistently ranking among the top institutions in the nation for applications received under her leadership. She is a strong advocate for academic research, leading the university in achieving its strategic goal of earning RI (Very High Research) status in the Carnegie Classifications. She serves on the board of the
Association of Public & Land Grant Universities (APLU), an organization of university leaders collectively working to advance the mission of public research universities.
Britt Rios-Ellis
Stanislaus State president
Rios-Ellis was appointed president of Stanislaus State in July 2024. She was previously a founding dean of the College of Health Sciences and Human Services at Cal State Monterey Bay, as well as a faculty member and founding director of the Center for Latino Community Health, Evaluation and Leadership Training at Cal State Long Beach. She currently serves on the board of Hispanic Educational Technology Services (HETS), a nonprofit, bilingual consortium of more than 40 higher education institutions in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Latin America that works to improve college access, retention and success for Hispanic/Latinx students through technology and collaboration among institutions.
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