TO: Sonoma State University Faculty, Staff, Students and Community
FR: Jolene Koester, Interim Chancellor
RE: Presidential Search Update
Please allow me to provide an update regarding the approximate timeline for the nationwide search for the next regularly appointed president of Sonoma State University.
Given the extraordinary importance and longstanding impact of a presidential appointment to a university and the students and community it serves, CSU presidential searches are appropriately comprehensive and collaborative. Ample time and opportunity are given to university constituents to provide input on the process, and to ensure that the trustees search committee – and an advisory committee comprised of a broad cross section of university stakeholders – are able to attract a large and diverse pool of highly qualified nationwide candidates.
As many of you may know, the California State University is currently engaged in multiple presidential searches across the system. In order to ensure that every search is provided the time and resources necessary to appoint a president uniquely qualified to lead each university to new heights of success, we must approach scheduling thoughtfully and strategically. After careful consideration, the search for Sonoma State’s next regularly appointed president is anticipated to be commenced in late spring 2023 and concluded in fall 2023. I will provide additional updates as they become available.
Informing this decision is the adept leadership consistently demonstrated by Interim President Mike Lee since he assumed the presidency on August 1, 2022. The CSU Board of Trustees and I have every confidence that he will continue to provide the collaborative, experienced and principled leadership Sonoma State needs at this consequential moment in the university’s history.
Thank you for all that you do to support and demonstrate excellence at Sonoma State University and within the CSU.
Jolene Koester
Interim Chancellor
