Mildred García on Wednesday was named the next chancellor of the California State University system, making her the first Latina to lead the 23-campus system.
The CSU system, made up of 23 campuses statewide, including two in San Diego County, San Diego State and Cal State San Marcos, had almost 460,000 students enrolled last fall and employs more than 56,000 faculty and staff.
García previously served as president two campuses in the system, Cal State Fullerton, from 2012-18, and Cal State Dominguez Hills, from 2007-12. She most recently has served as president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.
In a statement, García called the CSU system “a powerful engine of change and upward mobility for California and the nation.”
“I am honored, humbled and excited for this opportunity to serve the nation’s largest four-year university system and work alongside its dedicated leaders, faculty and staff, and its talented and diverse students, to further student achievement, close equity gaps and continue to drive California’s economic prosperity.”
She succeeds Interim Chancellor Jolene Koester, who took over in May 2022 following the resignation of Joseph I. Castro over allegations he mishandled a sexual harassment case while he was president of Fresno State University.
Wenda Fong, chair of the CSU Board of Trustees, in the statement, described García as “a highly skilled, dynamic and principled leader who has championed student success – especially for those students from underrepresented communities,” adding that “her optimism, authenticity and courageous leadership will inspire greatness for the California State University community.”
The Board of Trustees announced García’s hiring during its meeting in Long Beach Wednesday morning. García will take over as chancellor on Oct. 1.
Prior to joining CSU, García was CEO of Berkeley College, overseeing a six-campus system in New York and New Jersey. She has also held academic and executive positions at Arizona State University; Montclair State University; Pennsylvania State University; Teachers College, Columbia University, and the Hostos, LaGuardia, and City Colleges of the City University of New York.
She was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on boards including the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, and by the U.S. Secretary of Education on the Committee on Measures of Student Success.
García was the first member of her family to earn a college degree. She received an associate degree from New York City Community College, a bachelor’s degree in business education from Bernard M. Baruch College and a master’s degree in business education from New York University.
She also received a master’s and a doctorate in higher education administration at Teachers College, Columbia University.
– City News Service
