During Dean Flores' tenure, the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and its seven academic departments have exemplified the university's commitment to strengthening connections with our surrounding community. Among the various highlights of recent years, the college launched its Center for Southern California Studies, sponsored conferences on the local environment and had the work of its Geography Department highlighted in a special presentation to the CSU's Board of Trustees.

Dean Flores also led the college's strategic planning efforts, hired nearly 50 full-time faculty members, increased funding for faculty research and engaged the college's first full-time development officer to help promote fund raising.

As provost at New Mexico State, Dr. Flores will be the chief academic officer for the university's main campus in Las Cruces and its four branch campuses that have a combined student enrollment of about 23,000. NMSU is a Ph.D.-granting, Research I category, Hispanic-Serving Institution that offers 74 bachelor's programs, 51 master's programs and 24 doctoral programs. Once again, I want to thank Dean Flores for his work at CSUN and wish him the greatest success in this new endeavor.

Jolene Koester
President