There will be a big task to complete within the next year. The Cal State University system will have to find President F. King Alexander’s replacement.
When Alexander leaves this summer for Baton Rouge, La., Cal State Long Beach will have an interim president, and during this time, a nationwide search will begin to find the next CSULB president. While students and faculty of CSULB will have some say in the matter, the decision will ultimately be in the hands of the leaders of the CSU system.
We just hope they are able to pick the right person for the job.
The Daily 49er editorial board would like to see someone who is cut from the same mold as Alexander, someone who can fundraise for our campus. We need it.
We would also like someone who can easily assimilate into the campus culture. Students have had opportunities to interact with Alexander at Legends Sports Bar on Second Street, where they could watch a Long Beach State basketball game with him. They could also see him at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center, where he played pick-up games with students. The next president’s ability to integrate with students and faculty is a crucial quality we hope to see in the next president.
We also hope that the next president will be able to represent the campus nationally, as Alexander did. We hope our next president will not only be the head of our campus but also fight for the needs of all students pursuing higher education.
Most of all, we want the next president of CSULB to bring a fresh perspective to campus. Alexander is leaving our campus in a better place than it was before, but of course, it is not perfect. There is always room for improvement in areas such as our university’s graduation rates. Some fresh blood coursing through CSULB’s veins can be a good thing.
Additionally, as there seems to be a push from the governor (and possibly more funding) to further integrate technology in the CSUs, it would be great to have a president who has had experience implementing new technology initiatives.
Finally, we hope that the next president is easy to reach. We want a president who is easy to talk to and truly understands students.
In summation, it sounds like we pretty much want a clone of Alexander, but with how much he has brought to the university, we aren’t sure what else to ask for.
All we know is, whoever next steps into the CSULB president role will have to live up to expectations Alexander has already set. We just hope that person is ready for the task.