Sylvia Alva, the new interim president of California State University, Fullerton, is returning to the same campus where she first started her career in higher education 30 years ago.
“It’s one of those full-circle moments to come back to my first professional home,” Alva told the Business Journal.
Alva was appointed to the position at Orange County’s largest university by student count in April by CSU Interim Chancellor Jolene Koester and began her new role on Aug. 1.
Alva previously served as CSU’s executive vice chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs, which is focused on providing a high-quality educational experience for California’s diverse student body.
Alva takes over the top spot at CSUF, which has an annual budget topping $540 million, from Fram Virjee, who previously held the position for five years, including about a year while holding the interim title. Virjee announced his retirement in January.
Alva’s appointment is set to last 12 months. While there have been no official talks of her running for a permanent position, she said she’s keeping an open mind.
“My goal is not to be a placeholder, but to build on the momentum of this great institution and we will see what the future holds,” Alva said.
Forward Thinking
One of Alva’s main focuses as president is overseeing Fullerton Forward, CSUF’s next strategic plan for 2024 to 2029, which she described as the university’s “North Star.”
The strategic plan informs the university’s direction on everything from the creation of new academic programs to safety policies and financial aid, she said.
Alva emphasized that the strategic plan is an “all-university responsibility,” meaning input is given from both faculty and students.
The Strategic Plan Development Team, established by the Office of the President, uses a data-driven approach to guide the planning process.
In the spring, the planning team conducts focus groups, visioning exercises and surveys. Based on the collected data, recommendations are made to help finalize the plan in the fall.
Economic Engine
A key theme taken from this year’s data is student success post-graduation.
“It’s really thinking about enrollment management more holistically, not just how many students we admit, but also how we continue to serve them beyond their bachelor’s or master’s degree as lifelong learners,” Alva said.
Alva recognizes CSUF as an important “engine of prosperity” with nearly 80% of the school’s 300,000-plus alumni living within 50 miles of the university and 95,000 alumni in Orange County specifically.
Virjee previously referred to the school as “the work engine for Orange County,” noting that CSUF produces “half the teachers, half the accountants, half the engineers and half the nurses every year in the workforce.”
“There is not an entity in Orange County that can claim it has a greater economic impact on Orange County than Cal State Fullerton, because of the number of students that graduate with degrees, who then go on to live and thrive in Orange County and make it a great place to live,” Virjee told the Business Journal last year.
For every dollar CSUF gets from the state—it received $158.4 million in the fiscal year 2022-23 state budget—the university produces about $13.50 in the economy, according to the university’s figures.
Experienced Educator
While Alva said she didn’t aspire to be a university president, she believes her extensive background has prepared her to take on this leadership role.
“Along the way, there were people who would tap my shoulder and say, ‘You should consider applying,’” Alva said.
Her career in higher education began at CSUF in 1989 as assistant professor of child and adolescent development, before she was promoted to associate professor and professor.
She additionally served as the educational equity coordinator for the College of Health and Human Development and concluded almost 20 years at CSUF as associate vice president for undergraduate programs.
Alva then joined California State University, Northridge as dean of the College of Health and Human Development prior to joining California State Polytechnic University, Pomona as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.
Throughout her career, Alva has been motivated to make education more accessible. As a first-generation college student who went through the CSU system, Alva said she has a deep understanding of the unique challenges of the students she oversees.
She received her bachelor’s in psychology from California State University, Los Angeles, as well as her master’s and doctorate degree, both in psychology, from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Continued Legacy
Virjee said that Alva “cares deeply about student success and the university experience” in an April 6 statement announcing her appointment.
Under Virjee, CSUF was named a top national university and raised more than $270 million in fundraising. Alva hopes to broaden CSUF’s network of supporters through its active alumni board and inspire them to give back to their alma mater.
The school counts a large base of alumni with business degrees; CSUF’s College of Business and Economics is the largest accredited business school on the West Coast and the second largest in the United States.
It offers a range of business classes to some 9,000 students.
Alva, who is of Mexican heritage, is the second Latina to be appointed as president of CSUF after Mildred Garcia, who served from 2012 to 2018 prior to Virjee and is of Puerto Rican heritage.
“I stand on the shoulders of really phenomenal presidents that this university has had, and I look forward to build upon their strong legacies,” Alva said.
