Jane Close Conoley, dean of the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at UC Santa Barbara, will become Cal State Long Beach’s seventh president and the first woman to hold the position in the university’s 65-year history after being selected by the California State University Board of Trustees in January.

She is expected to begin her new position in July. “Cal State Long Beach is renowned for its quality, diversity and global mission and it is an honor to be selected as the university’s next president,” said Conoley. “The excellence of its academic offerings, its storied athletic heritage and its unique location has made it one of the CSU’s most popular campuses for prospective students. This is a vibrant university that plays a key role in Southern California, and I embrace the opportunity to work with the outstanding students, faculty, staff and Long Beach community to reach even greater heights.”

Conoley replaces CSULB interim President Donald J. Para, past provost and senior vice president for academic affairs who succeeded F. King Alexander, now president of the Louisiana State University system and chancellor of Louisiana State University A&M.

“As the result of the leadership of former Presidents Robert Maxson and King Alexander, CSULB is now nationally recognized for providing a high-quality, low-cost education and for making student success the central strategic goal of the campus,” Para pointed out. “I’m confident that Dr. Conoley will continue to build upon their achievements and place student success at the top of her agenda.”

Since 2006, Conoley has been the dean at UCSB as well as a professor of counseling, clinical and school psychology, and also served as interim chancellor of UC Riverside (2012-13). Prior to her service at UCSB, she was dean and professor of educational psychology at Texas A&M University (1996-05) and associate dean for research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Teachers College (1989-94). She also held faculty positions at Texas Woman’s University and Syracuse University.

The author or editor of 21 books, Conoley earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the College of New Rochelle and a Ph.D. in school psychology from the University of Texas at Austin.

For a virtual experience, download the Beach Magazine app.

Photo By Sean Hiller/Long Beach Press-Telegram