September 27, 2005 > Cal State East Bay president to resign

Norma Rees announced today (Tuesday, Sept. 20) to an audience of faculty, staff, students and community leaders that she would resign as president of California State University, East Bay at the end of the academic year in June 2006.

"Although my health and spirit are just fine, it is time to go," Rees said in her annual state of the university speech at Cal State East Bay's fall convocation. "I will always cherish my years here, and mostly the wonderful people I have worked with who have let me serve as a cheerleader to their exceptional activities and accomplishments.

The California State University Board of Trustees, in partnership with the chancellor, is responsible for the recruitment, selection and appointment of Rees' successor.

Rees said she assured Chancellor Reed that she would remain until the California State University Board of Trustees appoints a new president next summer in the culmination of a nationwide search.

California State University Chairman Murray Galinson could appoint members of a five-member trustees presidential search committee, including Chancellor Reed, as soon as November. That will be followed by the selection of representatives from Cal State East Bay's faculty, staff, alumni, students and community members to an advisory group that will work with the trustees' committee. The trustees selection committee will send its final recommendation to the chancellor, who then will forward it to the full CSU Board of Trustees, which makes the
appointment.

In the fall of 2004 and in early 2005 she successfully led an effort to have the name of the university changed to Cal State East Bay to better reflect the Bay Area region it serves. The CSU Board of Trustees voted unanimously in favor of her proposal after considering the views of students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the community.