California State University Board of Trustees appoints presidents to Northern California campuses

The California State University Board of Trustees appointed Judy K. Sakaki as president of Sonoma State University and Mary A. Papazian as president of San José State University yesterday.

The two women will join seven other female presidents in the 23-campus system.

“I am incredibly honored that the CSU Trustees have appointed me as the next president of Sonoma State University, and I am excited to join a university as outstanding as this one,” Sakaki said in a statement.

Sakaki currently serves as University of California vice president of student affairs and will be the campus’ second ever female president in its 55 years. She will succeed President Ruben Armiňana, who is retiring in June and has served as president since 1992.

Papazian, the university’s 29th president and the third female president in its 159-year history, is currently serving as the president of Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Connecticut. She has more than 25 years of teaching and administrative experience.

“I look forward to working alongside the many dedicated faculty and staff who guide students along their academic journey and prepare them for achievements beyond the classroom,” Papazian said in a statement.

Papazian has served as president of SCSU since 2012, leading a campus of 11,000 students and overseeing an operating budget of $210 million.

“Dr. Sakaki’s combination of demonstrated achievements, leadership skills and academic credentials make her the ideal person to serve as the president of Sonoma State,”  CSU Trustee Lupe Garcia said. Garcia served as chair of the Trustees’ Committee for the Selection of the President.

Sakaki has been responsible for policies, services and initiatives relating to student access, affordability and success for all 238,000 UC students on 10 campuses, according to the CSU Office of the Chancellor.

The presidents will take office July 1.