June 2, 2005 :: No. 230

Steven Murray, an international authority on coastal marine ecosystems, has been named the new dean for Cal State Fullerton’s College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. His appointment is effective July 1.

“Throughout his career, Steven Murray has provided exceptional service and leadership to the university, in his profession and in the community,” said Ephraim P. Smith, vice president for academic affairs. “As a longtime faculty member dedicated to not only research but to mentoring and teaching, he will ensure that the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics continues its efforts to provide a high-quality education for tomorrow’s scientific and mathematics leaders.”

A member of Cal State Fullerton faculty since 1971, Murray is renowned for his studies of marine and intertidal ecology with emphasis on the impacts of humans. He has received more than $1.8 million in grants from several federal agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work with the many outstanding faculty in our college in my new role as dean,” said Murray. “Members of this college have always placed high value on quality instruction and providing research opportunities for our students. I am confident that given the commitment of the faculty, we will be able to work together to further grow and develop the excellent academic programs and research opportunities we offer our students.”

His recent research includes analyses of long-term changes in Southern California coast marine communities, including studies of non-native seaweeds that have invaded local coastal waters. Murray and one of his students provided data used to support a bill approved by the state Legislature that banned the sale and possession of several species of a particular seaweed sold for aquarium use because of fears that if released, these species could spread rapidly and create large changes in marine communities.

In 2003, Murray was named to the newly created National Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee — one of two Californians nominated to the 30-member committee that provides advice and recommendations to the secretaries of commerce and the interior on marine protected areas. Murray also serves on the California Marine Life Protection Act Science Planning Team, and has provided analyses for the Commission for Environmental Cooperation of threats posed by invasive seaweeds to the marine communities of Pacific Mexico, U.S. and Canada.

Murray has authored or co-authored more than 100 papers, reviews, book chapters and technical reports and is a member of several professional organizations, including the Phycological Society of America, Western Society of Naturalists and the Southern California Academy of Sciences.

He is equally esteemed as a dedicated educator and was selected to receive Cal State Fullerton’s Outstanding Professor Award in 2003. At the time of the announcement, President Milton A. Gordon told Murray and his students: “You were selected for this award because you embody the finest qualities of our university’s faculty and that of the California State University. You set a standard for the rest of the faculty that is exemplary and one that should serve as a model for everyone to emulate.”

In addition, Murray was honored twice — in 1994-95 and 1996-97 — as the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics’ Distinguished Faculty Member.

Most recently, Murray has been involved in the development of an international agreement among Cal State Fullerton, the University of Connecticut and two Brazilian universities — Universidade Federal Fluminense and Universidade Federal da Paraíba. The agreement involves student exchanges and opportunities to build faculty and student research collaborations in coastal watersheds and marine environments in the U.S. and Brazil.

The biologist has served in a number of campus leadership positions, including chair, acting chair and vice chair of biological science, acting associate dean of the School of Mathematics, Science and Engineering in the 1980s and acting director of athletics in 1994. He also served five years as acting director of the CSU Ocean Studies Institute.

The Placentia resident holds a doctorate from UCI, as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UC Santa Barbara.

Murray succeeds Kolf Jayaweera, who is retiring after 15 years as dean of the college.

Maria Linder, chair and professor of chemistry and biochemistry, chaired the search committee.

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