Dianne Harrison to Postpone Retirement as President of California State University, Northridge

Last November, Dianne Harrison, president of California State University, Northridge, announced she would retire on June 30, 2020. Now, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Harrison has announced that she will stay on through the fall 2020 semester.

“I care deeply about the entire CSUN community, and when Chancellor White asked if I would continue serving as CSUN’s president, I agreed,” President Harrison said. “While I had planned to transition to more time with family and stepping away from the presidency, this is clearly an extraordinary time. I am grateful that I am able to continue making a difference for our students, faculty and staff as we collectively navigate these challenging circumstances facing the university and the nation. Together, we will emerge from this period firmly positioned for future success.”

Dr. Harrison was named president of the university in 2012. Before her appointment as the fifth president of California, State University, Northridge, Dr. Harrison served as the first woman president of California State University, Monterey Bay. She was named to that post in 2006. Prior to CSU Monterey Bay, she worked at Florida State University, where she served for nearly 30 years in various capacities, first as a faculty member, then as dean of social work, associate vice president for academic affairs, dean of graduate studies and vice president for academic quality and external programs.

President Harrison’s academic and research areas of expertise include HIV prevention among women and minority populations and higher education issues related to university leadership. She is the co-author of two books including Cultural Diversity and Social Work Practice (Charles C. Thomas Publishers,1991).

Dr. Harrison holds a bachelor’s degree in American studies and a master of social work degree from the University of Alabama. She earned a Ph.D. in social work at Washington University in St. Louis.