President Koester: Legacy of Leadership

Celebrating the leadership and achievements of President Jolene Koester in service to California State University, Northridge

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President Koester's Legacy of Leadership

On May 9, 2011, Dr. Jolene Koester announced her decision to step down as president of California State University, Northridge at the end of 2011 after more than 11 years of service. This website provides information related to her achievements as president and her transition from the presidency. (For information about the selection process for her successor, visit the Presidential Transition website.)

Below is a video tribute celebrating President Koester's achievements and service. It premiered at the Faculty and Staff Farewell to the President held on November 9, 2011, at the Valley Performing Arts Center on the Cal State Northridge campus:



At the beginning of her appointment on July 1, 2000, President Koester identified several key goals that were to be her focus as the chief executive officer of California State University, Northridge. These included improving graduation rates, creating a user-friendly campus, strengthening the University's connections to the community and increasing fundraising. She also made a commitment to making the University more learning-centered, focused on student success.

Under her leadership, the University has made great strides in fulfilling these goals while increasing retention rates, remaining accessible to qualified students and maintaining its historical commitment to diversity. Student enrollment has grown from a headcount enrollment of 29,066 students at the time of President Koester's arrival in 2000 to more than 36,000 at the start of the 2011-12 academic year. The number of degree programs offered has increased from 59 undergraduate and 45 graduate degrees in 2000 to, respectively, 69 and 59 such programs today. In addition, two new doctoral programs—the first in the institution's history—have been introduced. During this time, President Koester also has advanced the University's reputation as a world class academic institution. Cal State Northridge is now widely recognized for the excellence of its services and academic programs, which is underscored by the institution's improved retention and graduation rates. The University's increased profile has made Cal State Northridge the university of choice for many first-time freshmen.

Photo of President KoesterTo accommodate this immense growth, in 2006 President Koester initiated and received approval for the Envision 2035 Master Plan for the campus, which has guided the University's physical expansion. Construction projects completed during her presidency include several academic buildings, including a 90,000 square-foot science facility; new student housing; a student services facility; three new parking structures; a new central plant; food service facilities; and two phases of renovation and reconstruction of the University Student Union. In January 2010, President Koester brought to fruition through her leadership the decades-long dream of many on campus and in the community when the new state-of-the-art 1,700-seat Valley Performing Arts Center at California State University, Northridge opened its doors. The facility provides significant new classroom and performance art space while also providing cultural enrichment and programming to the community. Similarly, a five-year digital master plan was completed in 2011 to guide the University's annual project planning and prioritization for its information technology infrastructure.

A noteworthy outside assessment of President Koester's impact on the institution has come from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), the accrediting agency for Cal State Northridge. In fall 2011, the University completed the final phase of the multi-year accreditation process and received extraordinary recognition for its success and efforts. WASC particularly commended the campus leadership for its culture of visionary pragmatism, collaboration and problem solving; prudent fiscal management; and investment in faculty and staff in ways that contribute to student success. These comments, which are expected to be reflected in the final re-accreditation report of the University scheduled for release in 2012, are a wonderful culmination to President Koester’s outstanding leadership and service.

At the outset of her presidency, Dr. Koester made a commitment to raise the University's stature as the intellectual, cultural and economic heart of the region and to ensure Cal State Northridge was regionally focused and nationally recognized for its efforts and accomplishments. As President Koester's outstanding record of achievements illustrates, the reputation and strength of the institution has been significantly enhanced thanks to her leadership. Cal State Northridge is positioned for continued growth and excellence.

For more information about President Koester, visit her official biography.

 

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