Koester named president of CSU Northridge

Kristi Garrett
The State Hornet
Published November 16, 1999

LONG BEACH -- Dr. Jolene Koester, provost and vice president for academic affairs, has been named as the new president of CSU Northridge.the CSU Board of Trustees announced Tuesday.

"We're delighted with the selection," said Trustee Laurence Gould, Jr., who chaired the selection committee. "She is one individual who is best prepared to be president. She's ready to hit the ground running."

"I'm very, very pleased to have this opportunity to work within the CSU system and on as fine a campus as CSUN," said Koester after the announcement.

Trustees began their search for a permanent president for the Northridge campus in June. Koester's counterpart at CSUN, Dr. Louanne Kennedy, has served as interim president since Blenda Wilson left in June. Koester's salary will be set at a future meeting of the Board of Trustees.

"She knows the CSU, she has a commitment to quality and understands a large campus like ours," said Kennedy.

"I know the campus, faculty and staff are anxious to have her as our new leader. Together we'll work to take the campus to the next level."

Resolving problems with the Northridge athletic program will be one of Koester's first tasks. "My experience in Sacramento with those issues gives me excellent experience," she said. "I understand the importance of athletics."

Koester, one of now only three female CSU presidents, expects to take the helm of the 28,000-student campus "very shortly." The prospect of leaving Sacramento, however, left her with mixed feelings.

"I don't think that part of the appointment has yet hit me. I have a very soft spot in my heart for Sacramento," Koester said. "While I'm very thrilled I've not yet acknowledged what it's going to mean to say goodbye to so many people in Sacramento."

The process of finding a replacement for Koester should begin immediately, said David Wagner, CSUS dean of faculty and staff affairs.

"The president, in consultation with the senate chair, will determine the scope of the search and what makes sense in terms of replacing Jolene on an interim, acting or permanent," said Wagner. "I could envision the change occurring as quickly as January 1."

Wagner said the search could be limited to applicants from CSUS or within the CSU system if the decision is to seek an interim or acting replacement. The chancellor will decide whether to seek an interim or acting replacement, depending on when Koester makes the move to Northridge.

The Vice President for Academic Affairs provides leadership to the educational programs of the University and reports directly to the president. The applicant must have a doctorate and have demonstrated administrative leadership in higher educational setting.

Koester, who was a finalist in the search for the presidency of the University of Toledo, Ohio in the past 18 months, holds a master's degree in communications from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a Ph.D. in speech communications from the University of Minnesota.

She joined the faculty of CSU, Sacramento in 1983 and served as the chair of the communications studies department before holding several executive positions in academic affairs. She has served in her present position since 1996.

"I'm absolutely delighted," said CSUS President Donald Gerth. " She will be a first-rate president, no doubt, and I look forward to working with her as a colleague. She's done some substantial things at Sacramento State."