President's Message

Dear Students, In my walks across campus following last week’s presidential election, many of you expressed concerns about potential policy changes in the new administration that could negatively affect you or your families. As I said in my email to the community on Monday, Long Beach State is proud to be a diverse, secure and welcoming learning community, and we are committed to making sure every student…

Dear Campus Community, Our recent national election has created significant anxieties and uncertainties among some members of our community. Even in these early days we can anticipate changes in policies that might disadvantage or threaten the security of some of our students, faculty and staff. We will be prepared. Violence targeted at undocumented, Muslim, Jewish, underrepresented, and LGBTQ+ students has surfaced on campuses across the country. This is intolerable. We will be watchful and…

Dear Campus Community, Last Friday, Provost Jersky, Dean Parker-Jeannette and I had a productive and open meeting with about 40 faculty and staff members from the College of The Arts. The topic under discussion was free speech and arts censorship. I enjoyed the robust discussion and hope that the faculty and staff in attendance felt reassured about my strong support of free speech and expression, regardless of viewpoint and content, at our university, which is an ideal place for deep thought…

Dear Campus Community, My decision leading to the cancellation of the NWC performance at the Carpenter Center this year came after much deliberation and feedback from faculty, students, and community members. Last year I welcomed the same performance to the Carpenter Center. My thoughts then were that it would generate thought-provoking conversations about race relations. The university and ASI subsidized students so that many were able to attend for free. I personally visited with many of…