Interim President Bolsters Leadership Ranks

In his first days as interim president of Cal State Fullerton, Willie J. Hagan has begun revising the leadership structure of one of the largest institutions in the 23-campus California State University system. Hagan, former vice president for administration and finance/CFO, became interim president Jan. 9.

New appointments, announced this week, include: William "Bill" C. Barrett, interim vice president for administration and finance/CFO, from associate vice president for administration and human resources; Keith O. Boyum, interim executive assistant to the president; and Naomi Goodwin, interim staff assistant to the president/chief of staff, from associate vice president for administration and finance.

In addition, Steven N. Murray, who has been serving since July 2010 as acting vice president for academic affairs, is now interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. Recipient of the Outstanding Professor Award in 2003 and an international authority on coast marine ecosystems, Murray is the former dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and professor of biological science. He joined the university in 1971.

Barrett joined the university in 1998 as associate vice president for administration. This is his second stint as an interim vice president — a post he held in 2001, while Hagan was serving as acting vice president for university advancement.

A professor emeritus of political science, Boyum has served Cal State Fullerton and the CSU in many capacities since joining the faculty in 1972, including as associate vice chancellor of academic affairs for the CSU, associate vice president for academic programs for CSUF, as well as the university's Academic Senate chair, acting dean of graduate studies, director of the Center for Public Policy and chair of the Division of Political Science and Criminal Justice. In addition, he has been the recipient of both the Outstanding Professor Award (1994) and Faculty Leadership in Collegial Governance Award (2010).

Previously associate vice president for administration and finance, Goodwin joined the university in 1997, was director of employee training and development and played the lead role in the evolution of the university’s organizational development program, including the launch and operation of the University Business Institute and University Leadership Academy.

Newcomers to the President’s Administrative Board include: John "Jack" W. Bedell, Academic Senate chair and emeritus professor of sociology; Boyum; Jeffrey D. Cook, associate vice president for strategic communications; and Barrett. Goodwin also is new to the board, though her predecessor, Norma Morris, emeritus staff assistant to the president, was a longstanding member.

Other members of the board, which serves as the president’s executive leadership team, are: Silas H. Abrego, interim vice president for student affairs; Amir Dabirian, vice president for information technology; Pamela C. Hillman, vice president for university advancement; Mike Parker, interim director of university planning and emeritus chief information technology officer and professor of counseling, and Monique Shay, general counsel.

“I greet my appointment as president with enthusiasm, and I am eager to begin working with you to make our extraordinary university even better,” Hagan wrote in an email sent Monday to members of the campus community, addressing “our shared vision for the future of our campus and the steps we need to take to accomplish that vision.”

With these appointments to the President’s Administrative Board, Hagan has filled out his senior leadership with individuals who bring strong CSUF academic, administrative and shared-governance credentials.

“I think disinvestment in higher education, along with a changing public perception, is a trend that will be with us for some time,” Hagan explained in his initial communication to the campus community.

“We need to determine how to successfully operate and progress in this context. Despite this new reality, I firmly believe we have to continue to meaningfully support our faculty, enhance our student services, and improve our physical and staff infrastructure. We have difficult decisions ahead of us, but I am confident that working together, in the best sense of shared governance, we can accomplish these goals.”

Hagan noted that these changes are concurrent with his interim presidency. When selected by CSU trustees, the permanent president will determine the future composition of the board, and fill the executive assistant and staff assistant roles on a permanent basis.

Media Contact: Christopher Bugbee, Public Affairs, 657-278-8487 or cbugbee@fullerton.edu