Mary Ann Villarreal, interim president of California State University, Dominguez Hills, will continue to serve in her role through the 2028–2029 academic year.
“Under Interim President Mary Ann Villarreal’s leadership, and thanks to the skilled and student-centered work of the entire campus community, CSU Dominguez Hills has built undeniable positive momentum across its operations, from enrollment and fiscal management to community engagement and — most importantly — student success,” said California State University Chancellor Mildred García.
Dr. Villarreal took the helm of CSU Dominguez Hills on January 1, 2026. She has served in other key roles within the CSU System, including as a strategic consultant to the chancellor and as a senior administrator at CSU Fullerton.
“I am deeply honored to continue serving the CSU Dominguez Hills community,” said Dr. Villarreal. “Our faculty and staff bring extraordinary talent and commitment to CSUDH. Together we have the opportunity to build something remarkable for our students and deepen our impact across the South Bay and greater Los Angeles. I look forward to the great things we will do together.”
Prior to her current role, Dr. Villarreal served as vice president for institutional excellence at the American Association of Colleges and Universities. Her other experience in academia includes service as the inaugural vice president for equity, diversity, and inclusion at the University of Utah and associate dean of the Colorado Women’s College, formerly located at the University of Denver. Dr. Villarreal has taught courses in ethnic studies and history at the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Utah.
A first-generation college graduate and U.S. Air Force veteran, Dr. Villarreal earned her bachelor’s degree in women’s studies from Mount Holyoke College, a women’s liberal arts institution in South Hadley, Massachusetts. She received her doctorate in history from Arizona State University.
According to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education, CSU Dominguez Hills, one of 22 institutions within the CSU System, enrolls nearly 12,700 undergraduates, 60 percent of whom are women. The university also has a graduate population of more than 2,500 graduate students.
CSU Dominguez Hills will begin the national search for its next regularly appointed president in Fall 2028.