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Michael E. Spagna, a longtime CSU administrator strongly committed to shared governance and student-centered outcomes, officially assumed the presidency of Sonoma State University today, becoming the 11th president in SSU’s 65-year history.
“My primary goal is to foster a spirit of optimism and enthusiasm for the university and the wider community,” Spagna said, while identifying priorities at the university including increasing enrollment; reviewing, supporting, and expanding the university's academic programming; and exploring opportunities to revive athletics as a vital component of campus and community life.
“I have always been impressed with the potential for Sonoma State University to be a true steward of place, serving to uplift the North Bay region in California,” he continued. “I have worked with many colleagues at the university over the years and have appreciated their dedication to its mission and service to the community.”
The CSU Board of Trustees appointed Spagna to SSU’s presidency on November 19, 2025. Spagna, who had been serving as interim president of California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt since August 2024, continued his service there until his successor, Richard J. Carvajal, formerly president of Valdosta State University, assumed office today.
At Sonoma State, Spagna succeeds Emily F. Cutrer, who had served as interim president since August 2024.
Spagna earned a Ph.D. in special education from the UC Berkeley and San Francisco State University joint doctoral program. He also holds a master’s in special education from UCLA and a bachelor’s in communicative disorders from Northwestern University, and said his interest and background in special education informs his administrative philosophy.
“I have always been attracted to supporting individuals who experience learning challenges – especially when it comes to navigating school structures and systems – and empowering their families to serve as effective advocates,” he said. “My career as a special educator has been fulfilling and is at the core of my broader philosophy and values.”
He also is an advocate for shared university governance and institutional transparency. “I am a firm believer that it is essential to share information in a transparent manner that promotes joint accountability and ultimately empowers stakeholders, both within the university and in the outside community,” he said.
Prior to Cal Poly Humboldt, Spagna was provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at CSU Dominguez Hills for seven years, and for nine years was dean of the Michael D. Eisner College of Education at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). Before becoming dean, he held several positions at CSUN over a 17-year period, including faculty president of the college, Eisner chair and executive director, and professor.
He has also served at the system level as provost representative on the CSU Admission Advisory Council and as commissioner for the CSU Commission of Professional and Continuing Education.
Spagna enjoys attending and participating in community events and exploring new restaurants, theaters, local businesses, and shops. He and his wife, Lisa Feldman – a retired career prosecutor in the U.S. Department of Justice who specialized in combatting cybercrime and elder fraud – have two children: a daughter, Sophia, who completed her degree at Rhode Island School of Design and works in the entertainment industry, and a son, Daniel, who is pursuing a degree in biology at the University of California, San Diego.
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Dear Campus Community,
These last few weeks have felt especially turbulent – both locally within our beautiful North Bay, and more broadly across the country – and I realize that this turbulence comes in the wake of several months of relative instability. 2020 is certainly a year that will stand out in our collective memory at Sonoma State.
Dear Campus Community,
As summer winds down and Sonoma State gears up for a new fall semester, we look forward to welcoming students back to classes and reconvening the Sonoma State community—even though we will be largely engaging remotely. We may not be together in person, but we will be together in spirit and in our dedication to learning and education.
Dear Sonoma State Campus Community,
I am writing with an update about fall 2020 now that our plan for academics, housing, and dining has been approved by Chancellor Timothy White and the CSU Chancellor’s Office. As you know, classes, academic support, and student, faculty, and employee services will largely be virtual, but below is a summary of the main elements of the plan: