Jane Close Conoley to be first woman to lead CSULB

California State University Board of Trustees appointed Jane Close Conoley to serve as the seventh president of Cal State Long Beach, Jan. 29. She will be the first woman to lead the California State University in its 65-year history.

Conoley’s appointment was announced at the California State University Board of Trustees meeting in Long Beach.

A dean of the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at UC Santa Barbara, Conoley lauded CSULB for its diversity, academic offerings and athletic heritage. She will be one of four female presidents in the 23-campus CSU system, joining leaders at San Marcos, Fullerton and Northridge. Conoley, 66, had also been a finalist for provost at the University of Oregon. She interviewed at that campus earlier this month, around the same time as she spoke with CSU officials.

Conoley, who is originally from New York City, will officially take the post in July.

CSULB’s previous president, F. King Alexander, left in June 2013 to become president of the Louisiana State University system and chancellor of Louisiana State University A&M.

CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White in May named Donald J. Para as interim president. Para had served as CSULB’s provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.