Erika D. Beck, Ph.D. Biography
Dr. Erika D. Beck began her leadership of California State University, Northridge in January 2021 and proudly serves as CSUN’s fourth consecutive female president. A strong advocate for the power of higher education to improve lives, transform communities and advance knowledge that serves the public good, Dr. Beck champions the academic success of students in the attainment of their highest educational aspirations and as future leaders prepared to excel in today’s rapidly changing society. Her commitment to expanding accessible and high-quality educational opportunities is the foundation upon which she leads institutions of higher learning to facilitate human potential, advance social mobility and drive economic prosperity.
As president, Dr. Beck is invested in the success of a robustly diverse and vibrant campus community of more than 40,000 students, faculty and staff. Under her leadership, CSUN has developed a new strategic plan; reached new heights in research funding and realized record-level giving, including the two largest gifts in CSUN's history; launched the Global HSI Equity Innovation Hub; opened Maple Hall, the first new academic building on campus in more than a decade, Autodesk Technology Engagement Center for Engineering and Computer Science, and Joshua Tree Hall and Hibiscus Hall residential buildings; and broke ground on a centralized basic needs suite and a student-centered resource building for undergraduate research opportunities and more. Ranked #1 for the economic diversity of students by The New York Times and #12 among public colleges in the U.S. by the Wall Street Journal, CSUN consistently stands as a top university for academic excellence and accelerating the economic mobility of its students.
Immediately prior to coming to CSUN, Dr. Beck served as President of CSU Channel Islands from 2016 to 2021. She was Provost and Executive Vice President at Nevada State University from 2010 to 2016, where she previously served as the Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences and a tenured member of the psychology faculty. Dr. Beck was a research associate at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and co-investigator of multiple research projects involving the genetic, neural, and social bases of behavior in individuals with William’s Syndrome. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, San Diego, a master’s degree from San Diego State University and a Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the University of California, San Diego.
As President of CSU Channel Islands, Dr. Beck facilitated the development of a comprehensive strategic plan that led to record enrollment, retention and graduation rates and a significant expansion of philanthropic investment in academic priorities, housing and capital projects.
Dr. Beck was named one of the Most Influential Leaders in Education by Los Angeles Business Journal, Pacific Coast Business Times and Las Vegas Business Press, Woman of the Year by the California Legislative Women’s Caucus and a Woman of Achievement by Business Life. She has served on numerous boards and commissions and is currently a board member of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities, Big West Athletics Conference and the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Committee’s Board of Governors.
Dr. Beck enjoys hot yoga, long hikes with her dog and occasionally upstaging her sons with her dance moves on social media.