California State University trustees on Wednesday named Mildred Garcia as the
new president for Cal State Fullerton.
Garcia, now president of Cal State Dominguez Hills, will assume her
position at Fullerton on June 1.
"I'm honored to be named president at Cal State Fullerton, a campus that
embraces diversity, embraces research and embraces academic achievement,"
Garcia said. "Fullerton presents a fabulous opportunity for me."
She will replace former President Milton Gordon, who announced his
retirement in September. Gordon stepped down earlier this month. Gordon will
begin a trustee professorship in spring and will officially retire at the end
of 2012.
Fullerton is the system's largest campus with 35,500 students.
Garcia, a native of Brooklyn, New York, has served as president of
Dominguez Hills since 2007. She arrived at that campus after serving from 2001
to 2007 as president of Berkeley College in New York and New Jersey, where she
oversaw six campuses offering two- and four-year degree programs.
In July 2011, President Obama appointed Garcia to the President's
Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence of Hispanic Americans. She and
the other commission members will advise the president and the education
secretary on matters pertaining to the educational attainment of Hispanic
students.
CSU trustees will ratify a compensation package at their March meeting.
Under a new policy approved by trustees earlier in the day, the salary of new
presidents is capped at no more than 10 percent above what their predecessors
received. Gordon earned $294,615 last year
Willie Hagan, Fullerton's interim president, will remain at his post
until June 1.
