Newswise — The California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees has appointed Ellen J. Neufeldt, Ed.D., to serve as president of California State University San Marcos (CSUSM). Neufeldt currently serves as vice president of student engagement and enrollment services for Old Dominion University (ODU) in Norfolk, Virginia.
“I am thrilled about the opportunity to work with CSUSM's exceptional faculty, staff and growing number of supporters to reach new levels of achievement for current and future students," said Neufeldt. “There has been remarkable growth both on the campus and in the local community and the opportunity for additional growth still remains. This is an exciting time for the campus and the prospects are limitless."
Neufeldt becomes the fourth president of CSUSM. She will join the campus in her new capacity in July. Neufeldt succeeds Karen Haynes who will be retiring at the end of June 2019 after serving as CSUSM president for 16 years.
“Dr. Neufeldt has been a visionary leader who has demonstrated a commitment to student success throughout her career," said CSU Trustee Jean Picker Firstenberg, chair of the CSUSM search committee. “She brings a wealth of experience, and will serve as an inspirational leader on the campus and in the community."
Neufeldt has served as a vice president at ODU since 2011 where she leads the areas of student engagement, student success enrollment services, government relations, Institutional research, marketing and public relations. Her previous higher education leadership roles include service as vice president of student affairs at Salisbury University and assistant vice chancellor for student development and dean of student life at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where she also served as the assistant dean of students.
Neufeldt earned a bachelor's degree in business administration, and a master's in educational psychology and counselor education from Tennessee Technological University, and a doctorate of education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
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About the California State University
The California State University is the largest system of four-year higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, 52,000 faculty and staff and 481,000 students. Half of the CSU's students transfer from California community colleges. Created in 1960, the mission of the CSU is to provide high-quality, affordable education to meet the ever-changing needs of California. With its commitment to quality, opportunity, and student success, the CSU is renowned for superb teaching, innovative research and for producing job-ready graduates. Each year, the CSU awards more than 125,000 degrees. One in every 20 Americans holding a college degree is a graduate of the CSU and our alumni are 3.7 million strong. Connect with and learn more about the CSU in the CSU NewsCenter.
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