CSU Trustees Appoint Tomás D. Morales as President of California State University, San Bernardino
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - (May 10, 2012) - The California State University Board of Trustees has named Tomás D. Morales, president of the College of Staten Island, The City University of New York, as president of California State University, San Bernardino.
“I am honored to have been selected to serve as the next president of Cal State San Bernardino," said Morales. "CSUSB is the foundation of opportunity for students, and I look forward to working with the outstanding, staff, faculty and students as we build on the university's future together."
Morales, 58, was among the finalists for the position to succeed retiring President Al Karnig, who has served as CSUSB president since 1997. He is expected to begin his new position as president later this summer.
“Dr. Morales' strong leadership skills, accomplished academic record and articulated vision for the campus make him an excellent choice as the new president to lead Cal State San Bernardino," said CSU Trustee Debra Farar, chair of the presidential search committee.
Morales was appointed to serve as the third president of the College of Staten Island in 2007. He holds a B.A. in History from The State University of New York, New Paltz, and earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Policy Studies from SUNY, Albany. Having served as an educator and administrative leader in higher education for more than 32 years, he is one of the few higher education administrators in the United States who has held senior administrative positions at the three largest public university systems in the nation: the California State University, The State University of New York, and The City University of New York.
From 2001 to 2007, Morales served in various capacities at Cal Poly Pomona, including Vice President for Student Affairs, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, professor of education and Principal Deputy to the President. While at Cal Poly Pomona, he established a University Honors College, realigned the division of Academic Affairs and played a key role in completing a $23 million expansion of the Student Center. In addition, Morales helped faculty to secure a $3.5 million National Science Foundation ADVANCE grant to create a university-wide program for the recruitment and development of diverse faculty in the STEM fields. Morales also served as a principal investigator of a six-year $12 million comprehensive teacher reform grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
Prior to joining Cal Poly, Morales was Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at The City College of New York/CUNY from 1994 to 2001. He provided strategic leadership, restructured the Student Services Corporation, and implemented a new student-centered model for the Division of Student Affairs. From 1992 to 1994, Morales was Assistant Dean of the School of Education at SUNY, New Paltz.
For a digital image of Tomás D. Morales or for more information on Cal State San Bernardino, contact Sid Robinson at the CSUSB Office of Public Affairs at (909) 537-5007 and visit CSUSB's News Site.
The California State University is the largest system of senior higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, approximately 412,000 students and 43,000 faculty and staff. The CSU awards about 90,000 degrees annually and since its creation in 1961 has conferred nearly 2.6 million. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the CSU is renowned for the quality of its teaching and for the job-ready graduates it produces. The mission of the CSU is to provide high-quality, affordable education to meet the ever changing needs of the people of California. With its commitment to excellence, diversity and innovation, the CSU is the university system that is working for California.
Connect with and learn more about the CSU at CSU Social Media.
California State University, San Bernardino is a vital public comprehensive university serving the San Bernardino and Riverside counties of Southern California. Founded in 1965, the university offers more than 70 traditional baccalaureate and master’s degree programs and education credential and certificate programs, as well as one of the first doctorate programs in the California State University system. Every program that is eligible has earned national accreditation. CSUSB serves more than 20,000 students each year and graduates about 4,000 students annually.
CSUSB community welcomes President-elect Morales
The Cal State San Bernardino community reacted to Thursday’s announcement from the California State University that Dr. Tomás Morales has been selected as CSUSB’s next president, following Albert Karnig, who will retire this summer. Here is what some of them had to say:
President Albert Karnig
“I’m confident that Dr. Morales will prove to be an exceptional choice. He’s had wonderful experiences in three great university systems, as well as excellent knowledge of the Inland Empire. Dr. Morales has the right kind of focus on student access and success as well as a strong preference for working closely with faculty and staff in developing the university. In addition, Dr. Morales has proven to be extraordinarily effective in community relations, working closely with various groups in the communities that he’s served.”
Andrew Bodman, CSUSB provost and vice president of academic affairs
“President Morales is a very experienced administrator with a significant record of accomplishment in New York and California. He has the great benefit of familiarity with the Inland Empire and understands well some of the opportunities for the university, as well as the challenges we face. I am confident he will be a first-class leader of CSUSB.”
Frank Rincon, CSUSB vice president, student affairs; member of presidential search advisory committee
"Dr. Morales' background and experience make him an ideal choice for CSUSB. He has extensive experience on campuses that serve students and communities very much like ours and he has demonstrated a true passion for serving these constituencies."
Lou Monville, vice president, O’Reilly Public Relations; CSU Trustee; member of presidential search committee; and alumnus of CSUSB
“As vice chairman of the (CSU) Board of Trustees, I know that Dr. Morales is a distinguished leader in higher education with an excellent track record in campus leadership and academic endeavors.
And as an alumnus of CSUSB I know that the campus community will enjoy the opportunity to get to know and work with him in continuing to move the campus forward.”
Jodie Ullman, professor of psychology; chair of CSUSB faculty senate; member of presidential search advisory committee
“We look forward to welcoming Dr. Morales to CSUSB. At CSUSB, we are known for our warmth and collegiality and we look forward to sharing this with Dr. Morales as he begins his presidency.”
Debra Farar, CSU trustee; chair of the presidential search committee
“Dr. Morales' strong leadership skills, accomplished academic record and articulated vision for the campus make him an excellent choice as the new president to lead Cal State San Bernardino."
Felix Zuniga, CSUSB IT consultant; member of presidential search advisory committee
“I was impressed with the breadth and depth of leadership experience displayed by President Morales. His vision and optimism are much needed in the face of trying times for education in the Inland Empire community and the California State University. I don’t envy the tough decisions that the CSU Trustees had to make, because there was an excellent pool of candidates.”
Treadwell “Ted” Ruml, president and CEO, Inland Empire Economic Partnership; CSUSB alumnus; member of presidential search advisory committee
“The faculty look forward to working with Dr. Morales, using shared governance to continue the progress that CSUSB has made in the past 15 years.”
Paul Granillo, president and CEO, Inland Empire Economic Partnership; CSUSB alumnus; member of presidential search advisory committee
“I look forward to working with President–elect Morales and believe that his background and commitment to educational excellence make him an outstanding choice to lead my alma mater, Cal State San Bernardino.”
Janet Kottke, CSUSB professor of psychology; member of presidential search advisory committee
“Tomas is well qualified. Clearly he has a lot of experience administratively and also in the fundraising area, which is very important to us right now. Given the current state budgeting issues, it’s crucial that we have a president with extensive administrative experience. The faculty are looking forward to working with him.”
Aaron Jimenez, Associated Students Inc. president, CSUSB; member of presidential search advisory committee
“I was really impressed with Dr. Morales and I have full confidence that he will do a great job. I know he will continue to keep the students as the university's No. 1 priority and advocate on their behalf. I hope to work closely with him to advance the interests of the campus.”
Lois Carson, CSUSB alumna; community member; member of presidential search advisory committee
“Considering the demographics, the economic, and educational needs of the Inland Empire, Dr. Tomás Morales, the new president, seems to be the best person to lead the Cal State San Bernardino team in meeting those critical needs. The fact that he comes from a large institution in New York with a diverse student body from a varied economic strata and the fact that he knows a great deal about the CSU system provide added value to his selection. The trustees got it right.”
Mark Edwards, CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation board member; member of presidential search advisory committee
“I am thrilled President Morales will be the new president at CSUSB. He has broad-based experience at all levels – professor to president – in three public university systems, including CSU. This makes him uniquely qualified to assume the presidency at Cal State San Bernardino. His knowledge concerning public higher education in general, and the CSU system in particular, was evident at his interview, as was his ability to seek and pursue innovative solutions to the challenges facing CSUSB in these economically difficult times.
“President Karnig's shoes are very large ones to fill. It would be difficult, however, to imagine a person more capable of doing so than President Tomás Morales.”