To: Faculty, Staff, and Students
From: President Ashish Vaidya
Date: 11/17/22
Subject: University Announcement
Dear Campus Community:
It is with bittersweet emotion that I write to announce my intent to depart the university effective December 19, 2022.
It has been a privilege and honor to lead this university over the past four and half years. Thanks to the great work of the faculty, staff and students, I believe we have made significant contributions to student success and regional stewardship. Driven by Success by Design, we have achieved record retention and graduation rates, exemplary results in the Commonwealth's performance funding model, completed the most impactful capital campaign in our history, launched meaningful public private partnerships, and successfully resolved the untenable pension crisis. The fact that we executed on so many fronts, while navigating a global pandemic, speaks volumes about this institution’s resilience and tenacity.
Nevertheless, Nita and I have been away from California for nearly 8 years now and we are ready to return home to our roots and explore opportunities there.
The Board and I have determined that this is a good time for a leadership transition as the university embarks on a multi-year repositioning effort in response to changing market and financial pressures impacting all of higher education.
I would like to thank the entire campus community as well as Chair Boehne and members of the Board for this opportunity. Nita and I are grateful to the community for welcoming us into the region as well.
I look forward to presiding over my final commencement in a few weeks.
Sincerely,
Ashish Vaidya
