Job Overview

president

the california state university (csu) board of trustees invites nominations and applications for the position of president of sonoma state university (ssu). the university's next president will be a visionary who welcomes the challenge and opportunity present in taking the helm of a storied institution with tremendous potential as it embarks on a journey that will lead to its next evolution as a critical member of the community known as the north bay of the san francisco bay area.

sonoma state university

as one of the 23 campuses of the california state university system, sonoma state university is proudly committed to serving the diverse population of the state of california through high-quality, accessible, and affordable higher education on its beautiful campus, environmental preserves, and satellite centers throughout the region. centrally located in sonoma county, ssu is situated between the pacific ocean to the west and north of san francisco in california's wine country. the campus sits on 269 acres at the foot of the sonoma mountains. ssu is home to 458 faculty and 631 staff all deeply committed to ensuring the success of the university's nearly 5,800 students of whom more than 46% are first-generation college students and approximately 73% receive financial aid.

founded in 1960 as sonoma state college, the campus opened in 1961 and was granted university status in 1978. today, the university stands as the only four-year public college in california's north bay, is a federally designated hispanic-serving institution (hsi) since 2017, and plays a significant role in the community, driving the economic, cultural, and educational engines of the region. ssu prepares students for meaningful citizenship in a complex world offering apartment style living where 70% of first-year students and 40% of all undergraduates choose to live on campus. ssu has high-quality, innovative academic programs that prepare students to flourish in a changing workforce and world and its dedicated faculty and staff provide students with a transformative educational experience within a framework of access and inclusive excellence. through its colleges of education, counseling, and ethnic studies, humanities, social sciences, and the arts , and science, technology, and business , ssu offers 45 baccalaureate majors, 44 minors, 14 master's degrees, nine credential programs, and one of the only wine business programs in the country. ssu is the only public liberal arts and sciences university in california. its faculty embrace a scholar-teacher model of education that integrates research, scholarship, and creative activity with teaching excellence. moreover, as a testament to the faculty's endeavors in these areas, ssu faculty secured 70 awards totaling $16.4 million in fy23, including the university's first national institutes of health award to support student-driven chromosome research. students are mentored in research and creative work as exemplified by the campus-wide annual research, scholarship and creativity symposium which features work by students and faculty.

as a focal point of community activity, ssu sponsors hundreds of seminars, workshops, lectures, conferences, exhibits, and other public programs. each year, thousands of north bay residents attend public performances on campus produced or sponsored by the department of music ; the university art gallery and university library gallery serve as attractions for local artists; and the green music center brings culturally significant artists, lecturers, and workshops to campus. through its world-class arts integration program , ssu students learn from visiting artists through classroom visits, workshops, master classes, and access to performances.

ssu is accredited by the western association of schools and colleges and is a member of the council of public liberal arts colleges . many of its programs are also individually accredited by additional boards and associations. for more information about ssu, please visit .

position summary

appointed by the csu board of trustees and reporting directly to the csu chancellor, the president will serve as the university's chief executive officer responsible for setting the vision, strategy, and related institutional goals and objectives. the president will oversee the university's administration and operations and implement the policies and procedures adopted by the csu system. the president will focus on achieving the university's core mission to nurture and support students' unique talents, diverse life experiences, and intellect through engaged teaching, learning, scholarship, applied research, and public service that support their overall success, well-being, and the greater good. the president will serve as an executive leader of the csu system, working collaboratively with the chancellor and her executive leadership team.

ssu's next president will be a community-oriented leader who will foster collaborative and effective relationships with students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, business and community partners, legislative leaders, and other campus stakeholders. in doing so, the president will actively and authentically engage with campus colleagues and the community to support the educational mission of the university while deftly guiding ssu through the current critical period and difficult financial situation the university finds itself in.

qualities and characteristics

ssu seeks a president who is an experienced educational leader with excellent communication and engagement skills and a demonstrable history serving as a collaborative, forward-thinking, and steady-handed leader. proven management experience, expertise in working collaboratively with diverse groups in a complex environment, and strong people skills are essential. furthermore, ssu's president must be undaunted by the challenge of leading toward increased impact in student success, academic excellence, and community engagement in the future.

to view the full leadership profile and list of qualities and characteristics, please visit .

application / nomination process
the search committee will begin reviewing applications immediately. applicants must submit a current curriculum vitae and a letter of interest describing relevant experience. submission of materials via e-mail is strongly encouraged. nomination letters should include the name and contact information of the nominee. all nominations and applications will be handled in confidence.

applications and letters of nomination should be submitted by email to:

alberto pimentel, managing partner
sal venegas jr., partner
email:
refer to code "ssu-president" in the subject line

sp&a executive search
6512 painter avenue
whittier, ca 90601

sonoma state university considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, or protected veteran status.

to apply, visit:

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