'The honor of my career': CSULB President Jane Close Conoley sets June 2025 retirement
President Jane Close Conoley, a passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion and access to education, has announced her retirement effective June 30, 2025, concluding more than a decade of transformative leadership at The Beach.
The first woman to be regularly appointed as president in CSULB’s 75-year history, Conoley has led the campus community through an extraordinary era of change and achievement, leaving behind a legacy of growth, innovation and steady stewardship through unprecedented challenges — from economic volatility and housing shortages to a global pandemic that forever reshaped higher education.
“In the months to come,” Conoley said, “I anticipate making many expressions of thanks to this remarkable community. Serving as your president has been the honor of my career and a beautiful capstone for a 49-year professional life I’ve devoted to education.”
CSU Chancellor Mildred García, who called CSULB a “powerhouse of social mobility and beacon of inclusive excellence," praised Conoley for championing both causes.
“Throughout her tenure,” García said, “President Conoley has demonstrated herself to be an exceptionally skilled, highly principled and truly visionary leader — a person of wisdom, thoughtfulness, empathy and compassion.”
Cal State Long Beach is a stronger and more vital institution for her service.
Indeed, since Conoley took office on July 15, 2014, The Beach has achieved recognition as a high-research R2 institution and earned the prestigious Seal of Excelencia for its commitment to serving Latine students — solidifying the university’s place as a national leader in educational access and economic advancement. Driven by Conoley’s own efforts, CSULB also has seen a 12% growth in student population, completed two record-setting fundraising campaigns and enjoyed an unprecedented connection with the Long Beach community — forging relationship with city leaders and businesses and creating numerous pathways to internships, jobs and volunteer roles for students.
Spirit of thanks
“I am filled with gratitude,” Conoley said in a recorded video message shared this morning. “Through both our trials and triumphs, I’ve immensely enjoyed being part of this community, and I am so proud of all we’ve done together.”
In that same spirit of gratitude, Conoley revealed that she would celebrate Giving Tuesday on Dec. 3 by personally matching every donation, up to $25,000, made to the President’s Scholars Program — a prestigious merit-based scholarship inherited from her predecessor, Robert Maxson. Giving Tuesday is a globally recognized day of philanthropy, and the President’s Scholars program will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year.
A fellow of the American Psychological Association and author of positive psychology books, Conoley previously served as interim chancellor at the University of California-Riverside, dean of UC Santa Barbara's Gevirtz Graduate School of Education and dean of the College of Education and Human Development at Texas A&M University. She plans to remain through the end of the academic year, delivering her 11th and final commencement speech before vacating the office June 30, 2025.
The search for a new president will begin this winter, led by a committee appointed by the chancellor and Board of Trustees. Stakeholders will be invited to share insights to inform the process, with the new president expected to start on or about July 1, 2025.
Decade of change
Conoley has overseen numerous campus improvements — including the construction of the Anna W. Ngai Alumni Center, the College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE), and the Shakarian Student Success Center (which houses both the Bob Murphy Access Center and the Women’s and Gender Equity Center).
She has cut ribbons on Parkside Village North, the first residence hall to be built on campus in 34 years, as well as Hillside Village Commons, which she called “one of the most efficient, sustainable buildings in the world.”
Also on Conoley’s watch: expansion of the Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum; integration of the state-of-the-art Innovation Space (ISPACE) on the first floor of the University Library; and countless smaller renovations, including Los Alamitos Hall, Los Cerritos Hall and the Horn Center.
Guidance through adversity
The president’s most challenging work, however, has taken place well beyond the reach of red ribbons and oversized scissors.
Not long after her arrival in 2014, reports began to surface that the state’s housing crisis was resulting in rising student homelessness across California. In response, CSULB rolled out a Basic Needs Program to address housing shortages, food insecurity and other student emergencies. Conoley played a significant role in expanding the program to include Laurén Chalmers ’83 Beach Pantry and Rapid Rehousing, and, by 2018, the program had become one of the most comprehensive in the CSU system, helping hundreds of students secure stable housing and stay in school.
As difficult as it was to navigate the housing crisis, though, it paled in comparison to the COVID-19 pandemic, which required that more than 30,000 students be educated remotely for 18 months.
I think the pandemic made us a more compassionate university.
The monumental shift pushed CSULB to rapidly expand its technological capabilities, from launching a laptop and hotspot loan program to supporting 97% of coursework in remote formats — a dramatic increase from just 3% pre-pandemic. Virtual labs, adaptive learning tools and new faculty coaching models transformed how education is delivered at The Beach, and the many hardships and mental health repercussions of the pandemic resulted in a host of new support systems across campus.
“I think the pandemic made us a more compassionate university,” Conoley said when the campus reopened in September 2021.
Key achievements
While it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what Conoley will be remembered for most, her tenure is marked by numerous significant achievements, including:
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President's Joint Commission
Conoley prioritizes Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives that foster a sense of belonging among all students, faculty and staff, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, gender identity, immigration status or disability. Among other things, she established a trio of presidential commissions to help tackle social justice issues. The President's Equity and Change Commission addresses the need for systemic inequities, minority representation and DEIA professional development and training; the President’s Commission on the Status of Women strives for gender equity; and the President’s Commission on Sustainability implements renewable energy projects, waste reduction programs, sustainable transportation, green buildings and environmental education.
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Fundraising and Beach 2030
One of Conoley’s defining achievements has been her success in fundraising, as she helped launch the two largest campaigns in university history: the Declare campaign, which raised $238 million, and the No Barriers campaign, which surpassed its $275 million goal by raising over $313 million. Both campaigns funded new scholarships, expanded academic programs and enhanced campus facilities — key components of Beach 2030 Strategic Plan, which Conoley devised as a roadmap positioning The Beach as a leader in equity, sustainability, student empowerment and community engagement.
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The Long Beach Housing Promise
As part of a broader effort to address housing insecurity among students, Conoley signed a memorandum of understanding, titled the Long Beach Housing Promise, with city leaders in 2023 to create affordable housing for students and their families. In June, CSULB broke ground on a new 424-bed residence hall — La Playa Hall — which will enable campus-wide housing to accommodate more than 400 students who are experiencing housing insecurity.
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Beach Wellness
Beach Wellness was launched in 2018 to serve as a central hub for health support on campus. The comprehensive plan includes dozens of initiatives aimed at improving students' mental health and wellbeing. It is part of the university's effort to create a supportive campus environment, and Conoley has consistently guided The Beach toward a more holistic approach to student success. Acknowledging this commitment to prioritizing and promoting the mental well-being of it students, CSULB was recognized with the Active Minds Healthy Campus Award in 2016.
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Beach XP
Conoley is credited with establishing the Beach XP program in 2023. Short for Beach Experience, Beach XP is a learning community modeled after BUILD and designed for first-time, first-year students with the goal of raising student retention and closing the achievement gap. Beach XP fosters connections among peers while providing personalized support and resources from day one. It includes smaller class sizes, college-specific cohorts, mentoring and social activities.
García noted Conoley’s success in creating “a more diverse and inclusive campus environment, as evidenced by the university being named a Center for Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation by the American Association of Colleges and Universities.” And she applauded the No Barriers’ campaign for raising $37 million over its goal, an achievement she said “clearly shows an institution that has the respect and enthusiastic support of its alumni, the extended campus community and the region it serves.”
“I offer President Conoley my heartfelt gratitude and deep admiration for her remarkable leadership, García wrote. “Cal State Long Beach is a stronger and more vital institution for her service, and I wish her the very best in her life’s next chapter.
As for her own closing remarks Monday, Conoley reminded all students, faculty and staff that she is not going anywhere just yet and looks forward to “our remaining work together.”
“You are in my heart,” she said, “now and in the future.”
