Sylvia Alva Selected to Lead California State University, Fullerton

Sylvia Alva was named interim president of California State University, Fullerton, effective August 1. She has been serving as the executive vice chancellor of academic and student affairs for the California State University System.

California State University, Fullerton enrolls more than 35,000 undergraduate students and about 5,100 graduate students, according to the latest data available from the U.S. Department of Education. Women make up 59 percent of the undergraduate student body.

“I am extremely honored to receive the opportunity to serve as interim president at the university where I began my academic career,” Dr. Alva said. “California State University Fullerton is a bold, transformative university with outstanding faculty, staff, and students who understand education’s role in advancing our society, empowering communities, and changing lives. I share that Titan spirit and am excited to help advance that collective vision.”

Dr. Alva began her higher-education career as an assistant professor at California State University, Fullerton. Before joining the system administration in 2021, she served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and earlier was dean of the College of Health and Human Development at California State University, Northridge.

Dr. Alva earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University, Los Angeles. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D., both in psychology, from the University of California, Los Angeles.