Personnel Updates
Dear Campus Community,
I hope the first unofficial month of summer has ushered in both restful time and fun time, too, amidst some of the May gray and June gloom days that have added diversity to our weather pattern. For most of us, summer is simultaneously slightly slower-paced and highly productive. As part of our productivity, I am pleased to announce that we have made significant progress in filling three important leadership roles.
After holding the General Counsel (GC) position vacant for several months, we will welcome new GC Marvin Richards to campus on July 5th. Marvin has significant higher education experience. He currently serves as General Counsel at Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara. Before coming west, Marvin held several senior-level positions at the Cuyahoga Community College system in Cleveland, OH. There, he served as Deputy General Counsel; Executive Director, Business Continuity and Risk Manager; and as a senior compliance officer. I am grateful to the dedicated search advisory committee that screened and brought forth highly competent candidates.
Later in July, we will celebrate the promotion of Colleen Windham-Hughes to the Associate Vice President for Mission and Identity (AVPMI) role. Colleen has served Cal Lutheran with compassion and competency. For thirteen years, she has been a highly respected and beloved faculty member and an effective Associate Dean of Interdisciplinary Programs in the College of Arts and Sciences. As the AVPMI, Colleen will work closely with faculty, staff, and students to help us embody the institutional values that ground our mission and make our university a special kind of community. Again, I send thanks to the committee that reviewed materials and brought highly talented finalists to campus. Like all of our senior searches of late, this pool had very impressive applicants.
Last, but certainly not least, I am pleased to announce that after an internal interview process, Interim Vice President for Finance Rick Ysasi has been appointed as CFO and Vice President for Finance. Just as I had held the GC position for several months, I had held this vacancy for almost a year. Last summer, I asked Rick to serve in a lesser-compensated interim role before putting him through a Cabinet and Board interview process and promoting him to the full-time position. Rick’s expertise, financial visioning, and people skills will be put to good use as we work diligently on this year’s budget and design an even more inclusive and transparent budgeting process going forward.
Similar to other senior-level positions, I will end up holding the Vice President of Talent, Culture, and Diversity position for several months. In order to coordinate an inclusive interview process, we will commence this search in the fall once faculty and others who are on 9- and 10-month contracts are back on campus. With that timeline in mind, we expect to post the position in early September, interview in October or November, and bring finalists to campus shortly thereafter. Ideally, the successful candidate will assume the post in the new year.
Senior position hirings are not the only ones that have been purposely slowed. Given the COVID-related budget challenges we continue to face, we are holding a number of other vacant positions at all levels of the institution. I know that the protracted hiring process means that many of you are filling in gaps in short-staffed offices; your efforts are noticed and appreciated. Along with the vice presidents, I thank so many of you for continuing to go the extra mile.
More to come as the summer unfolds,
More
- Spotlight on HSI Week / Enfoque en la Semana de las HSI
September 12, 2024With what I hope to be the hottest days of the academic year behind us — temperature wise — I am excited to share that this week California Lutheran University is celebrating National Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Week. Only 600 institutions in the United States have the honor of engaging in such festivities, and we are proud to be among them.
Con la esperanza de que ya hayamos dejado atrás los días más calurosos del año académico — en cuanto a temperatura — me emociona compartir que esta semana, la Universidad Luterana de California está celebrando la Semana Nacional de las Instituciones al Servicio de los Hispanos (HSI). Solo 600 instituciones en los Estados Unidos tienen el honor de participar en estas festividades, y nos enorgullece ser una de ellas.
- Grateful for You
June 13, 2024To say I feel welcomed into this community would be the understatement of my working life. Since my first official day on the job, I have had the privilege of meeting many of you. You have welcomed me with open arms at local church services, a synod assembly, during impromptu conversations along "the spine," and at The Habit for lunch and Starbucks for coffee.