TO: CSU Community Members
FR: Chancellor Mildred García
Dear Colleagues,
I write to share the bittersweet news that Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer Steve Relyea will be retiring from the CSU, effective June 30, 2025. We will begin the national search for his successor in the coming weeks.
Steve has led the Chancellor’s Office Division of Business and Finance – the CO’s largest division – with distinction since his appointment to the position in April 2014. His accomplishments, far too many to list here, include management of the CSU’s $8.1 billion dollar budget through both favorable and challenging fiscal circumstances, increased fiscal transparency, wise investment strategies and positioning the CSU as a national model for sustainability across operations.
Under Steve’s leadership, the division has consistently stepped up when needed the most, whether continually adapting systemwide operations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic or coordinating effective regional or systemwide responses to wildfires and other emergency situations. He has played invaluable roles in leading the development of the CSU’s Multi-University Collaboration Initiative; the recently announced, first-of-its-kind public-private artificial intelligence (AI) initiative; and the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Cal Maritime integration, all of which will positively impact the CSU, its students, its employees and the state for many years to come.
In addition to his divisional leadership, Steve has served adeptly as a system leader throughout his tenure, offering to step up and help wherever and whenever necessary. Whether it was serving as acting chancellor from February through April 2022 prior to the appointment of Interim Chancellor Jolene Koester, or as interim vice chancellor of the Division of External Relations and Communication (then University Relations and Advancement) prior to the appointment of Greg Saks as the division’s vice chancellor, Steve has stepped up whenever he was called upon.
Prior to joining the CSU, Steve served as vice chancellor of External and Business Affairs at the University of California, San Diego – a unique position within the UC system. He directed philanthropic support and relationships with donors, foundations and alumni while managing the business functions of the university including finance, human resources and information technology. At the UC Irvine School of Medicine, he served as associate dean for administration. In addition to being responsible for the school’s business functions, he managed the physician practice plan, affiliations with community hospitals and information technology.
Steve will be deeply missed. Those of us who have had the good fortune of working closely with Steve will miss his kindness, his compassion, his calm demeanor during times of great challenge, his constant willingness to assist in any circumstance and his unwavering positivity.
We will celebrate Steve’s extraordinary career more fully and appropriately as his retirement nears, but for now, I ask you to please join me in wishing Vice Chancellor Relyea all the best in his life’s next chapter.
Warmly,
Mildred García, Ed.D.
Chancellor