To the University Community:

I want to provide you with an update on some of the numerous transitions that are happening this summer at Humboldt State.

The division of Enrollment Management, which has been reporting directly to me since January, became part of Academic Affairs, effective July 1. This change reflects the importance of coordinating recruitment with campus-wide efforts to retain and graduate students, consistent with the Graduation Initiative 2025 and HSU’s strategic focus on student success. Under Provost Enyedi’s leadership, John Capaccio will continue in the role of interim Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management into the fall semester, while we launch searches for both the Associate Vice President position and that of Director of Admissions, in which Steve Ladwig currently serves as an interim appointment.

Peg Blake, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, announced last January that she would be retiring in early August. We are actively seeking an interim Vice President for the coming academic year, and the Registry is assisting us in identifying an experienced senior administrator; I am grateful to the many people who reviewed resumes and provided me with your perspective about which of the thirteen candidates recommended by the Registry we should bring to campus. Three candidates for interim Vice President for Student Affairs will visit campus on July 13 and 14, with open meetings for each of the candidates scheduled on Friday morning, July 14. The entire University community is invited to meet the candidates and share their thoughts with me about the strongest candidate to meet HSU’s current needs. A national search to fill this position will begin at the start of the fall semester, and the search committee will be appointed as soon as possible. 

As earlier reported, Joyce Lopes, Vice President for Administration and Finance, has accepted a position at Sonoma State University, and her last day at HSU will be August 11. To assure the continuity of work occurring in Business Affairs, I have appointed an interim Vice President for Administrative Affairs, Douglas Dawes, who will join HSU on July 31. A detailed announcement about his appointment has been distributed separately; Doug brings a wealth of experience to HSU, including having served as the Vice President for Administration and Finance at Stanislaus State University. A national search to fill this position will begin at the start of the fall semester.

In June, Tom Trepiak returned to his role as Associate Athletic Director/Compliance, and Duncan Robins became the interim Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. An announcement about this transition was also made previously. I am grateful to Tom for the service and continuity he provided and to Duncan for his willingness to provide leadership in this area. Given the number of searches we will be pursuing this fall and the work that is needed in Athletics, I plan to wait until Fall 2018 to begin a national search for an Athletic Director.

We are also welcoming new members to the University community in appointments that began on July 1. Dr. Cheryl Johnson is the new Executive Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Dr. Lisa Bond-Maupin joins us as the Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and Dr. Manohar Singh is the Dean of the College of Professional Studies.

I will share more information about upcoming searches as it becomes available. Please join me in congratulating colleagues for new opportunities and welcoming new members to our community.

With best wishes,

LAR
Lisa A. Rossbacher, Ph.D.
President