​​

Graduation Initiative 2025 Workgroups

​ Upon recommendations made by California State University presidents, the Academic Senate of the CSU and the California State Student Association the following workgroup have been formed to work as a university system to improve student success, close equity gaps and increase completion rates.

Academic Prep​​​aration

Will play a critical role in helping provide implementation guidance on new approaches to academic preparation, including placement and assessment, the strengthened Early Start Program and new models of developmental education.

​Nam​e​TitleCampus
Rick FordChair, Department of MathematicsChico
Paz OliverezAssociate Vice President, Student ServicesDominguez Hills
Sheryl FontaineDean, College of HumanitiesFullerton
Ed Mills*​​Vice President, Student Affairs​​​​Sacramento
Ryan BrownCalifornia State Student Association LiaisonSacramento
Chuck StantonChair, Department of MathematicsSan Bernardino
David BarskyASCSU and Associate Professor, MathematicsSan Marcos
Kimberly Greer*Provost/Vice President Academic AffairsStanislaus
Chimezie EbiriekweASI PresidentSan Diego
Sugie Goen-SalterChair, English Language & LiteratureSan Francisco
Natalie WheatfallSenior Policy AnalystEd Trust West
Feliza Ortiz-LiconSenior Director, K-16 Education ProgramsNational Council of La Raza

* Co-Chairs


Enrollment Manag​ement

Will play a critical role in helping provide policy implementation guidance on new approaches to enrollment management, including course-scheduling incentives, summer school and intersession, and CourseMatch.

Name​TitleC​ampus
Hung DangAssociate Vice President, Enrollment ServicesChannel Islands
Barbara FortinAssociat​e Vice President, Enrollment ManagementChico
Maureen ScharbergDean, Undergraduate StudiesEast Bay
Elizabeth Adams*Associate Vice President, Student SuccessNorthridge
Don HuntAssociate Vice President, Enrollment and Student ServicesSacramento
Doug Freer*Vice President, Administration and FinanceSan Bernardino
Cem SunataUniversity RegistrarSan Luis Obispo
Kamel HaddadVice Provost, Planning and Academic ResourcesSan Marcos
Maggie WhiteASI PresidentStanislaus
Catherine NelsonASCSU, Professor, Political ScienceSonoma
Roger SchultzPresidentMt. San Jacinto College

* Co-Chairs



Financial Support

Will play a critical role in helping provide policy implementation guidance on new approaches to financial support, including financial literacy, micro-grants and progress incentives for students.

NameTitleCampus
Thom DavisVice President, Business & Administrative ServicesBakersfield
Amanda Quintero*Executi​ve Director of Academic Student Success & Equity InitiativesChannel Islands
Samantha Quiambao​Incoming ASI PresidentEast Bay
Praveen SoniASCSU, and Professor of MarketingLong Beach
Tom EndersVice Provost, Enrollment ServicesLos Angeles
Mia KagianasASI President/Outgoing CSSA VP of FinanceSacramento
Noelia GonzalezDirector, Admissions & Financial AidStanislaus
Tony Chung*Associate Vice President, Student AffairsSan Diego
Debra GriffithAssociate Vice President, Transition & Retention ServicesSan Jose
Jay OrendorffAssociate Vice President, Business Operations
San Francisco
Alison De LuccaExecutive DirectorSoCal CAN

* Co-Chairs



Student Engagement & Wel​​l-​​being

Will play a critical role in helping provide policy implementation guidance on new approaches to addressing the well-being of CSU students and fostering a strong sense of belongingness on campus.

NameTitleCampus
Alana Lim​ASI Executive Vice-President & Chair of the Internal Affairs CommitteeBakersfield
Vernon Harper*Associate Vice President​​, Academic ProgramsBakersfield
Chela PattersonDirector, Early Outreach and Support ProgramsChico
Frank LamasVice President, Student Affairs & Enrollment ManagementFresno
Mark Hoven StohsASCSU, and Professor, FinanceFullerton
Lea Jarnagin*Vice President, Student AffairsPomona
Andrea DavalosPresident, Associated Students, Inc.San Bernardino
Bridget BlanshanAssociate Vice President for Student Engagement & EquitySan Marcos
Gloria RhodesAssociate LibrarianSan Diego

*Co-Chairs



Data-Informed Decision Making​

Will play a critical role in helping provide policy implementation guidance on new approaches to data-informed decision m​aking, including improved data tools, dashboard usage and CSU data infrastructure

Nam​eTitleCampus
Cynthia Wyels​Professor, MathematicsChannel Islands
Chris Manriquez*Vice President, Information TechnologyDominguez Hills
Su SwaratDirec​tor, Assessment & Education EffectivenessFullerton
Lisa Castellino*Associate Vice President, Institutional EffectivenessHumboldt
Jorge Reyes-SalinasStudent TrusteeNorthridge
Heather BrownAssociate Vice President, Institutional ResearchPomona
Jim DragnaExecutive Director of University Initiatives & Student SuccessSacramento
Marilee Bresciani-LudvikProfessor, ARPE/Interwork InstituteSan Diego
Jodie UllmanASCSU, and Professor, PsychologySan Bernardino

*Co-Chairs



Administrative Barriers

Will play a critical role in identifying and reviewing administrative barriers that impede students’ academic progress and providing policy implementation guidance to ameliorate these issues.​

N​ame​​TitleCampus
Denise Fleming​Professor of Teacher EducationEast Bay
Michelle HawleyDe​​an, Undergraduate StudiesLos Angeles
Marcos MontesCSSA, VP of Legislative Affairs-ElectLos Angeles
James DalskeDean of Student DevelopmentMaritime Academy
Dwayne Cantrell*Associate Vice President, Student Access and SupportNorthridge
Beth Merritt MillerAssistant Vice Provost, Academic Programs & PlanningSan Luis Obispo
Michael McDuffieChair, PhilosophySan Marcos
Shawna Young*Associate Vice President, Academic AffairsStanislaus
Mark Van SelstASCSU, and Professor, PsychologySan Jose
Karen MoranskiAssociate Vice President for Academic ProgramsSonoma
 ​​​*Co-Chairs