Former CSUN President Named Interim CSU Chancellor

NORTHRIDGE, CA — Jolene Koester, who perviously served as the president of California State University, Northridge, will step in as interim chancellor of the California State University following Joseph Castro's controversial departure.

Castro resigned as chancellor in February amid claims that he mishandled sexual misconduct allegations made against a former California State University, Fresno administrator, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The position has since been vacant.

Koester will assume the position of chancellor starting on May 1 and will remain in the role for 12 months while the Board of Trustees searches for a permanent replacement, according to a CSU news release.

Koester served as CSUN President from 2000-2011. During her time at the helm, CSUN's student population grew over 25 percent while retention and graduation rates increased, according to a CSU news release.

Koester first joined CSU as an assistant professor in the communication studies department at California State University, Sacramento, and has since held roles at CSU schools like department chair and vice president for academic affairs, according to a CSU news release.

“With her institutional knowledge of the university and long-standing history of service to higher education, Dr. Koester is the perfect person to lead the CSU during this time,” Chair of the CSU Board of Trustees Lillian Kimbell said in a news release.