Following the announcement of President Karen Haynes’ retirement, effective June 30, 2019, the CSUSM Presidential Committee is searching for a new president.

On Friday, Nov. 30, the CSUSM Presidential Search Committee held its first meeting in an open forum at the USU Ballroom from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to encourage students, faculty, staff and the public to provide feedback and discuss the preferred attributes of the new president.  

The CSUSM Presidential Search Committee is composed of California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees and the Advisory Committee.

CSU Trustees’ Committee includes Trustee Jean Picker Firstenberg, who is the search committee chair, Trustee Debra Farar, Trustee Juan García, Trustee Jack McGrory, Trustee Chairman Adam Day and CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White.

CSU Chancellor White was expected to be present, but he did not attend the forum due to illness.

Trustee Firstenberg commenced the open forum.

Firstenberg said that by the end of the academic year, Chancellor White and search consultants will work together to recruit and review applications of qualified candidates. Then, the entire committee will review resumes and interview candidates in the spring. The final candidate will meet with the Board of Trustees in their March board meeting.

Members of the committee listened and took notes while individuals shared their thoughts and concerns about topics such as food insecurity on campus, inclusion, diversity, sustainability, support for undocumented students and funding.

Other individuals said that they would like the new president to continue the work that President Haynes has achieved at CSUSM.

After the last individual spoke, Firstenberg concluded the open forum.

“ I want to thank each and every individual who sat with us to listen. I think we really heard some extraordinary thoughts, emotions and ideas. I think we heard it from every part of the community: students and faculty and staff and from the community. This is a great university … Thank you. We have a very tough job,” she said.

For more information and to keep up to date with the presidential search, visit www.csusm.edu/presidential-search. The open forum was live-streamed and is archived on the website.