Piper, currently assistant vice president for student life at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, will assume his new duties on March 12.

"Dr. Piper brings to the campus extensive professional experience in the area of student affairs and services and I look forward to working with him," Koester said.

Piper said he saw coming to Northridge as "a tremendous opportunity."

"I am thrilled to have a chance to work at an institution so dynamic and poised to contribute to the future," he said.

Piper will be joining Mohammed "Mo" Qayoumi, vice president of administration and finance, and Louanne Kennedy, provost and vice president of academic affairs, as part of Koester's new administration. Only the position of vice president for university advancement remains open. Koester expects to fill it shortly.

Piper assumes the position left vacant by Ron Kopita, who left the university to take a job at Wichita State University in Kansas last year. Fred Strache, associate vice president for student affairs, has been filling the post during the interim.

Piper has been assistant vice president for student life at UNLV for more than six years. Prior to that, he was director of residential life at the university. His other previous experience includes appointments at the University of Iowa and Ohio State University. "I think the division of student affairs is a major contributor to the total success of students, both at the university and in the future," Piper said. "I put an emphasis on student learning, both inside and outside the classroom; increasing opportunities for all students to develop leadership skills to prepare for a rapidly changing society; the ability to function in an increasingly multicultural society; to help students participate in the political and human relations process; and first and foremost, be successful in academics."

Piper is married and has two children. His wife, Carolyn, is a social worker. His daughter, Dana, is 19 and a student at UNLV. His son, Matthew, is 16.

Piper has a doctoral degree in educational policy and leadership from Ohio State University, a master's in student personnel work and higher education administration from the University of Iowa and a bachelor's degree in secondary education from Pennsylvania State University.

California State University, Northridge has more than 29,000 full- and part-time students and offers 48 bachelors' and 39 masters' degrees. Founded in 1958, it is the only four-year university in the San Fernando Valley.

(A photo of Terry Piper is available upon request.)