February 2, 2005 :: No. 123

Sylvia Alva, Cal State Fullerton’s assistant vice president for academic programs, has been named associate vice president for undergraduate programs.

Ephraim P. Smith, vice president for academic affairs, noted that as associate vice president, “Alva will continue to have primary responsibility for planning, coordinating and implementing academic programs and policies for undergraduate programs, including the general education program.”

Smith added that the number, scope and complexity of the undergraduate, graduate, and international programs and policies in academic programs have expanded and now require the specialization of two associate vice presidents — one for undergraduate, and one for graduate and international programs. Last week, former associate dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Robert A. Young, was appointed associate vice president for academic programs.

A university faculty member since 1989, Alva has extensive experience in teaching, as well as in the development and evaluation of undergraduate courses and programs. She was named assistant vice president for academic programs in 2002, after serving in the acting position for a year. Previously, she was director of academic advisement, led the Child and Adolescent Studies Department for two years, and served three years as the founding director of Fullerton First Year, a program designed to enhance learning and improve the overall quality of students’ first-year university experience. Alva chaired the Ad Hoc General Education Committee from 1994-96 and the General Education Committee from 1996-97.

Her expertise and work were recognized in 2000 when she received the Orange County Hispanic Education Endowment Fund’s Apple of Gold Award for Educational Leadership.

A resident of Hacienda Heights, Alva holds a doctorate in developmental psychology from UCLA.

« back to News Front