Updates
Latest Update
Over the past year, the university convened an Athletics Consultation Task Force with the charge of exploring the future of athletics at Sonoma State University. Its work resulted in a white paper that recommended reinstating NCAA Division II competition. Moving in that direction, however, requires confidence that the program can be sustained through a sound financial model that supports its success long term.
As I shared during my January 30, 2026 virtual press conference, we have established an Athletics Fiscal Feasibility Committee to evaluate how NCAA Division II Athletics could be sustained in a way that aligns with the university’s academic mission and fiscal responsibilities. The committee, co-chaired by Dr. Mario A. Perez and Dr. Gerald L. Jones, will assess potential funding models, long-term operating costs, enrollment and student impact, and overall alignment with institutional priorities. Its membership includes students, staff, faculty, managers, former student athletes and coaches, and community members with subject-matter expertise in finance, academics, student success, and athletics. The committee’s final recommendation is expected no later than mid-June.
While we await the committee’s recommendation – and in light of the decision to postpone reinstatement until a sustainable plan is in place – I am extending Interim President Emily Cutrer’s approval of the Instructionally Related Activities (IRA) funding allocations as recommended by the Student Fee Advisory Committee (SFAC) for an additional year.
Therefore, for the 2026–27 academic year, IRA funding will continue to support the following seven programs: Career Pathways and Preparation, The HUB, Club Sports, Children’s School, Library Extended Hours, Performing Arts, and Arts Integration, along with funding for the annually supported program pool.
Archive
Dear Campus Community,
And so, we meet again, presumably out of the proverbial woods with fire season officially at an end, but with winter already moving in with rain and wind and colder weather. This past month has been predictably busy, not only with the daily operations of a major university, especially with our current budget issues, but also with meetings, events, and tours I have had the privilege of attending.
Dear Campus Community,
Despite the intense heat in Rohnert Park right now, it is, indeed, fall semester at SSU, with all of the fanfare and activity I associate with a robust and vibrant campus life. Which, given the past several years, is more than a simple observation – it is a statement of gratitude and hope.
Dear Sonoma State Campus Community,
I am truly honored to begin my journey today as interim president of Sonoma State University.
As a first-generation college graduate, I know firsthand how the value of a college degree can transform the life trajectory of a student, their family, and the extended community – oftentimes for generations.
Dear Campus Community,
As we finish the fall semester and many of you prepare to head home for the holidays, I am filled with appreciation for the perseverance, flexibility, and spirit of community you have shown during a time that still feels far from normal. Our Seawolf community is resilient and wonderfully resourceful, and I know that together we will continue to create a path forward.