The California State University

The California State University (CSU) is the nation's largest and most diverse four-year public university. With 22* unique universities, the CSU serves more than 460,000 students and employs more than 61,000 faculty and staff.
Each year, the university awards nearly 123,000 degrees, changing the trajectory of students' lives by opening doors to opportunities for upward mobility. More than one-quarter of CSU students are the first in their families to attend college and more than half of CSU students are from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.

For one of the most affordable tuitions in the country, students learn from world-class faculty, gain valuable hands-on experiences, and receive strong career advising, empowering them to become leaders in the changing workforce.

CSU graduates are leaders in the industries that drive California's economy, including business, agriculture, entertainment, engineering, teaching, hospitality, and health care. To learn more, visit the California State University website.

*Transition to 22 universities in progress (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Cal Maritime integrating)— official fall 2026.

A Tradition of Excellence for More than Five Decades

Since 1961, the CSU has provided an affordable, accessible and high-quality education to millions of Californians. While each university is unique based on its curricular specialties, location and culture, every CSU is distinguished for the quality of its educational programs. All CSUs are fully accredited, provide an outstanding, broad liberal educational program and offer opportunities for students to engage in university life through the Associated Students, Inc., clubs and service learning.

Facts

Governance

The CSU is governed by the Board of Trustees, most of whom are appointed by the governor and serve with faculty and student representatives. The CSU chancellor is the chief executive officer, reporting to the board. The presidents serve as the university-level chief executive officers. The trustees, chancellor and presidents develop university-wide educational policy. The presidents, in consultation with the CSU Academic Senate and other university stakeholder groups, render and implement local policy decisions.

CSU Historical Milestones

The individual California State Colleges were established as a system with a Board of Trustees and a chancellor in 1960 by the Donahoe Higher Education Act. In 1972, the system was designated as the California State University and Colleges, and in 1982 the system became the California State University (CSU). Today, the CSU is comprised of 22 member universities, including comprehensive and polytechnic universities. The oldest university—San José State University—was founded in 1857 and became the first institution of public higher education in California. The newest—California State University Channel Islands—opened in fall 2002, with freshmen arriving in fall 2003. And in 2022, the CSU in Humboldt became California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, joining San Luis Obispo and Pomona as the state's third public polytechnic university.

The oldest university — San José State University — was founded in 1857 and became the first institution of public higher education in California. The newest — California State University Channel Islands — opened in fall 2002, with freshmen arriving in fall 2003. And in 2022, the CSU in Humboldt became California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, joining San Luis Obispo and Pomona as the state's third public polytechnic university.

In 1963, the CSU's Academic Senate was established to act as the official voice of CSU faculty in university-wide matters. Also, the California State College Student Presidents Association — which was later renamed the California State Student Association (CSSA), was founded to represent each university student association on issues affecting students.

Through its many decades of service, the CSU has continued to adapt to address societal changes, student needs and workforce trends. While the CSU's core mission has always focused on providing high-quality, affordable bachelor's and master's degree programs, over time the university has added a wide range of services and programs to support student success — from adding health centers and special programs for veterans to building student residential facilities to provide a comprehensive educational experience.

In 2010, in an effort to accommodate community college transfer students, the CSU, in concert with the California Community Colleges (CCC), launched the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT), which guarantees CCC transfer students with an ADT admission to the CSU with junior status. The ADT has since proven to be one of the most effective paths to a CSU for community college transfer students. In 2023, the CSU launched the Transfer Success Pathway program to guarantee future CSU admission to high school graduates who are entering a California community college and who commit to transferring within three years.

Always adapting to changes in technology to support student learning and degree completion, the CSU launched CSU Fully Online, which enables CSU students to complete online courses at other CSUs, expanding enrollment opportunities and providing more educational opportunities for students who may prefer an online format to a traditional classroom setting.

The CSU marked a significant educational milestone when it broadened its degree offerings to include professional doctoral degrees. The CSU independently offers Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Doctor of Audiology (AuD), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD), and Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree programs. A limited number of other doctoral degrees are offered jointly with the University of California and private institutions in California.

The CSU strives to continually develop innovative programs, services and opportunities that will give students the tools they need to meet their full potential. In 2025, the CSU shared a new systemwide strategic plan, CSU Forward: Thriving Students, Thriving University, Thriving California, the system’s most comprehensive and ambitious strategic plan to transform how the CSU defines student success and fulfills its role as California’s most powerful engine of opportunity, economic mobility and inclusive excellence. The strategic plan centers on four performance objectives: economic mobility engine, sustainable affordability, employer of choice and statewide impact. 

With the conclusion of the 10-year Graduation Initiative 2025 and the Year of Engagement project, the CSU unveiled a new Student Success Framework to meet the needs of today's students and achieve new heights of student success. As a companion to CSU Forward, the framework aims to improve opportunity outcome gaps, strengthen career readiness and advance social mobility for all CSU students. By providing an accessible, hands-on education that prepares graduates for career success, the CSU has created a network of alumni so extensive and renowned that it spans across the globe. More than 4 million CSU alumni are making a difference in the lives of the people of California and the world.

Office of the Chancellor

The California State University
401 Golden Shore
Long Beach, CA 90802-4210
(562) 951-4000

Dr. Mildred García – Chancellor
Ms. Dawn S. Theodora – Interim Executive Vice Chancellor, and General Counsel
Mr. Patrick J. Lenz – Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Dave Grant – Interim Vice Chancellor Human Resources and Chief HR Officer
Mr. Vlad Marinescu – Vice Chancellor and Chief Audit Officer
Mr. Greg Saks – Vice Chancellor, External Relations and Communications
Dr. Junius J. Gonzales – Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer
Dr. Dilcie D. Perez – Vice Chancellor, Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success
Ms. Danielle Garcia – Deputy Vice Chancellor for System Strategy & Operations

Trustees of the CSU

Ex-Officio Trustees

The Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor of California

The Honorable Eleni Kounalakis
Lieutenant Governor of California

The Honorable Robert Rivas
Speaker of the Assembly

The Honorable Tony K. Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Dr. Mildred García
Chancellor, California State University

Officers of the Trustees

The Honorable Gavin Newsom, President
Jack B. Clarke, Jr., Chair
Diego Arambula, Vice Chair
Dawn S. Theodora, Interim Secretary
Patrick J. Lenz, Interim Treasurer

Appointed Trustees

Appointments are for a term of eight years, except student, alumni, and faculty trustees whose terms are for two years. Terms expire in the year in parentheses. Names are listed alphabetically:
Larry L. Adamson (2028)
Diego Arambula (2028)
Raji Kaur Brar (2029)
Jack B. Clarke Jr. (2027)
Kelly M. Dermody (2033)
Andrea C. Evans (2030)
Carson Fajardo (2027) (S)
Jean P. Firstenberg (2026)
Wenda Fong (2032)
Mark Ghilarducci (2031)
Leslie Gilbert-Lurie (2030)
Jazmin Guarjardo (2026) (S)
Julia I. Lopez (2028)
Jack McGrory (2031)
Sam Nejabat (2027)
Yammilette Rodriguez (2029)
Christopher J. Steinhauser (2026)
Darlene Yee-Melichar (2026) (F)

Correspondence with trustees should be sent to: c/o Office of the Board of Trustees, The California State University, 401 Golden Shore, Long Beach, California 90802-4210 or trusteesoffice@calstate.edu.