President Conoley Offers Updates on Beach 2030

We have great expertise at The Beach to substantiate our Beach 2030 aspirations. In order to Be a Future Ready University and to Advance Partnerships for the Public Good I have asked two distinguished members of our community to assume some new roles.

First, I’ve asked Dr. Jennifer Ostergren to temporarily step away from her associate dean duties in CHHS to assist me in establishing an Office of Integrated Planning and Accountability. In addition to her stellar scholarly career at The Beach, Jennifer has training from the Society of College and University Planners, has been deeply involved in Beach 2030 since its inception, participated in Foresight Training with the Institute for the Future, and was an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow last year. As the features of such a new office are built, I will launch a national search for a permanent Executive Director of Integrated Planning and Accountability.

Second, Dr. Simon Kim has agreed to expand his portfolio as Associate Vice President for Research to include Economic Development. Simon, in collaboration with many on campus, will develop and implement a strategy to increase the number of partnerships we have with regional industries, businesses, government, and non-profits. These partnerships will facilitate faculty research, establish win/win economic agreements between us and area entities, and increase student access to internships and other high impact experiences. Simon’s current work in Educational Partnerships will be shifted to Dr. Kerry Johnson, Associate Vice President, Undergraduate Studies.

I appreciate our colleagues stepping up to support our progress in these two essential action zones. I am in deep conversations with many on campus about other changes that are necessary to realize the future we’ve charted.

The Provost will be launching a national search for a permanent Assistant Vice President for Student Success. Dr. Beth Manke has been doing wonderful work in the area of Building a Student Ready University with colleagues Erin Booth-Caro and Dr. Juan Benitez and community member Jeff Williams. The Long Beach Community Internship Program has had a successful semester and is funded generously by Mike and Arline Walter for a summer pilot. I see this as one of many strategies we can implement to better position our students for professional success.

Please reflect on areas of Beach 2030 in which you may be able to contribute or lead. We have a lot to do to Build an Equitable and Empowering Culture, Reimagine Faculty and Staff, and Build a Growth Strategy. The most successful educational organizations reach out to include more voices during difficult times. They don’t retreat from shaping their next futures. I am confident in our continuing innovation and creativity.