Jolene Koester was named interim chancellor of the California State University System. When Dr. Koester takes office on May 1, she will be the second woman to lead the university system. Her appointment is expected to last for one year.
“The CSU and its 23 campuses make a significant impact on California and the nation, and I am deeply humbled by the opportunity to serve as their interim chancellor,” said Dr. Koester. “The commitment of our world-class faculty, staff, administrators, executives, and trustees deeply align with my values to provide life-changing educational opportunities for our students. I look forward to learning and providing my skills to guide the university during this transformational time in CSU history.”
Dr. Koester currently serves as a senior consultant for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. In her role, Koester works with university leadership on matters such as strategic planning, change management, and team building. From 2000 to 2011, Dr. Koester was president of California State University, Northridge.
Dr. Koester originally joined California State University as an assistant professor in the department of communication studies at California State University, Sacramento. Over the course of her 17-year tenure on the campus, Dr. Koester also served as an associate professor, professor, department chair, assistant vice president, associate vice president, and vice president for academic affairs before ultimately serving as provost.
Dr. Koester earned a bachelor’s degree in speech communication and a Ph.D. in speech communication from the University of Minnesota. She also holds a master’s degree in communication arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.