California State University (CSU) Chancellor Mildred García has appointed Greg Saks as vice chancellor to lead the CSU's Division of External Relations and Communications. He will join the executive leadership of the CSU system in this new role on February 12, 2024, and will report directly to the chancellor.
“Greg is an inclusive, strategic and principled leader, an innovator and a tireless and compelling communicator of the CSU mission," said Chancellor García. “As a champion of the transformational power of higher education and of California's diverse and talented students, Greg has a long and extraordinarily impressive track record of garnering support for the institutions he has represented. I have every confidence that, with his leadership, the CSU's commitment of access, success and inclusive excellence will reach and inspire countless students, families, friends and supporters."
In October 2023, Chancellor García announced that the former Division of University Relations and Advancement would be renamed the Division of External Relations and Communications to reflect her vision to strengthen the CSU's position as the nation's preeminent university system. The Division of External Relations and Communications will work to achieve this vision by leading the CSU's efforts in advocacy, communications and brand positioning, media relations, advancement, and alumni engagement.
As the vice chancellor of the division, Saks will serve as the key policy advisor to the chancellor and the CSU's 23 university presidents in navigating immediate and emerging issues as well as creating mid- and long-term strategies for communicating to key stakeholders and constituents the transformative impact the CSU has on students, families, communities, the state and nation.
“It is an honor to be expanding my opportunity for impact with the nation's largest and most diverse four-year university system as the vice chancellor for External Relations and Communications," said Saks. “Through its dedicated leaders, faculty and staff, the California State University is empowering the nation's future educated workforce and uplifting communities throughout California and beyond. I look forward to working alongside our invested stakeholders in telling our students' powerful stories and taking the CSU to even greater heights."
Saks brings more than 30 years of leadership in higher education stakeholder engagement, philanthropic development, government advocacy and strategic communications. He currently serves as vice president for University Advancement at California State University, Fullerton, a position he has held since 2013, and is the executive director of the Cal State Fullerton Philanthropic Foundation. Under his leadership, CSUF has strategically elevated its marketing and brand position and developed an authentic outreach effort that has grown its presence and built advocates throughout the region and the diverse communities throughout the state and beyond. In addition, Saks significantly expanded all aspects of philanthropy, including the successful completion of the first comprehensive campaign for Cal State Fullerton that raised more than $270M toward a goal of $250M.
Prior to CSUF, Saks served as the vice president for University Advancement at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH). During his tenure, CSUDH expanded its alumni engagement and government and community relations activities, and strengthened the case for investment in CSUDH that resulted in 80% more philanthropic commitments and grew the university's endowment by more than 68%.
Saks also served eight years at Pitzer College, a member of the Claremont Colleges, in leadership roles in alumni and parent relations as well as development. He also held positions in student affairs and advancement at Baylor University and Cal Poly Pomona.
Saks is a product of the CSU, having earned his bachelor's degree in history with a minor in communications from Cal State San Bernardino. He also holds a master's degree in higher education administration from Ohio's Miami University.
About the California State University
The California State University is the nation's largest four-year public university system, providing transformational opportunities for upward mobility to more than 450,000 students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. More than half of CSU students are people of color, and nearly one-third of them are first-generation college students. Because the CSU's 23 universities provide a high-quality education at an incredible value, they are rated among the best in the nation for promoting social mobility in national college rankings from U.S. News & World Report, the Wall Street Journal and Washington Monthly. The CSU powers California and the nation, sending nearly 127,000 career-ready graduates into the workforce each year. In fact, one in every 20 Americans holding a college degree earned it at the CSU. Connect with and learn more about the CSU in the CSU newsroom.