Nakagawa, who has been serving as interim director since January 2001, assumes the permanent position on April 1. Nakagawa succeeds Jeannette Mann, who retired more than a year ago.

"Nakagawa's knowledge of the campus, his commitment to equity and diversity, and his work and success during his interim appointment make him well prepared for the duties of this position," said CSUN President Jolene Koester.

As director of equity and diversity for the university, Nakagawa is responsible for providing education and training in related issues to the campus community.

"I am honored and very excited about the opportunity," Nakagawa said. "Equity and diversity has been a personal and professional passion for me, and I am looking forward to moving into the permanent position."

Nakagawa has taught at CSUN for nearly 20 years as a professor of communication studies with a joint appointment in Asian American studies.

He has a bachelor's and a master's degree from Ohio University and a doctorate from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. All three degrees are in communication studies with specializations in intercultural communication, cultural studies and race and ethnic relations.

Nakagawa is the founding chair of both the Asian Pacific American Caucus and the Asian Pacific American Studies Division of the National Communication Association, which recognized him in 1996 for his outstanding contributions to the scholarly development of the discipline of communication studies.

He is also a past recipient of CSUN's Distinguished Teaching Award.

Nakagawa also played an active role in the movement that secured redress and reparations for Japanese Americans who were incarcerated in World War II internment camps.

California State University, Northridge has more than 31,000 full- and part-time students and offers 63 bachelor's and 51 master's degrees. Founded in 1958, it is the only four-year university in the San Fernando Valley and the third largest in the 23-campus CSU system. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges recently said CSUN "stands as a model to other public urban institutions of higher education."

(Editor's Note: Photo available upon request.)