Appointment of Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services

I am delighted to inform you that we have successfully completed the search for a Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services. Dr. Arthur J. Elbert, who is currently a consultant to the University Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, will formally assume the position on or about September 1, 1995.

Dr. Elbert served as Vice President for Administrative Affairs at The University of Oklahoma, Norman for 14 years, and was Vice President for Administrative Affairs at Chicago State University from 1976 to 1979. His successful experience as a faculty member and senior administrator, within large and urban institutions, and during periods of growth as well as decline give him a broad perspective about the needs of Cal State Northridge at this time in our history.

Because recovering from the Northridge earthquake is central to the continued viability of the campus, we were particularly impressed with Dr. Elbert's extensive experience in capital construction and facilities renovation and planning. He provided the leadership for over $100 million in major facilities projects at the University of Oklahoma and coordinated a comprehensive upgrading of the University computing facilities, with special emphasis on research computing.

Dr. Elbert was described to me as a quick-study, hands-on manager who is a strong advocate for the teaching and research goals of the University and a respected representative of the University in the surrounding community. As Chairman of the Norman Regional Hospital Board and a member of the Norman Chamber of Commerce, he helped sustain the support of local business and community leaders for the University.

During the initial year of his tenure at Cal State Northridge, Dr. Elbert will be expected to assume the responsibility for supervision and oversight of our earthquake recovery activities; he will improve the University's budget planning and management processes to achieve efficiencies and improved decision-making; and he will provide enthusiastic and aggressive leadership for the Redesign process in the Division of Finance and Administrative Services.

I look forward to having Arthur Elbert join the executive leadership team and ask all members of the community to extend our welcome and support for him when he arrives.

Appreciation to Dr. Karen Hoefel

I am certain that I speak for the entire campus in expressing our gratitude to Karen Hoefel for her service as Interim Vice President for Administrative Services during this past academic year. She provided leadership to the budget planning process and the redesign effort and initiated training and professional development activities which will benefit the Division and the entire campus very shortly.

We are confident that Dr. Hoefel will continue to be a leader in these efforts as she returns to the position of Director of Financial and Logistical Services

Thanks to the Search Committee

This search was a model of professionalism, extensive outreach for candidates and efficiency, thanks to the leadership of Dean William Hosek, chair of the search committee, and the devoted service of Ron Clouse, Mack Johnson, Jerry Luedders, Penelope Mercurio-Jennings, Diane Schwartz, and Tony Teresi. They are to be congratulated on a job very well done and very satisfying conclusion. The search committee was assisted by Sperry MacNaughton, of MacNaughton Associates, whose counsel contributed significantly to the quality of the candidates and the effectiveness of reference checking.

Many thanks to you all.

Blenda J. Wilson President June 19, 1995