Mildred García

Mildred García
9th Chancellor of the California State University System
Incumbent
Assumed office October 1, 2023
Preceded by	Jolene Koester (acting)
5th President of California State University, Fullerton
In office 2012–2018
Preceded by	Milton Gordon
Succeeded by	Fram Virjee
9th President of California State University, Dominguez Hills
In office 2007–2012
Preceded by	Boice Bowman
Succeeded by	Willie J. Hagan
1st President of the Berkeley College System
In office 2001–2007
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Rose Mary Healy
Personal details
Education	New York City Community College (AS) Baruch College (BS) New York University (MA) Columbia University (MA, EdD)
Academic background
Thesis	Community College Student Persistence: A Field Application of the Tinto Model (1987)
Doctoral advisor	Robert Birnbaum
Academic work
Discipline	Education
Institutions	Arizona State University Montclair State University Pennsylvania State University Teachers College, Columbia University City University of New York Berkeley College California State University, Dominguez Hills California State University, Fullerton

Mildred García is the current chancellor of the California State University system. She is also the former president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) in Washington, D.C.

Early life

García was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She is a first-generation college student.

Education

García earned an A.A.S. from New York City Community College, a B.S. in Business Education from Baruch College, City University of New York, a M.A. in Business Education/Higher Education from New York University; an M.A. in Higher Education Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University; and a Doctor of Education degree, also from Columbia.

Career

Garcia held academic positions at Arizona State University; Montclair State University; Pennsylvania State University; Teachers College, Columbia University; and at the Hostos, LaGuardia, and City Colleges of City University of New York.

García became the first system-wide president of Berkeley College in 2001 and served until 2007. From 2007 to 2012, García was president of CSU Dominguez Hills—the 11th female president and first Latina president in the California State University system. From 2012 to 2018, she held the post of president of CSU Fullerton.

García was the president of AASCU, a Washington, D.C.-based higher education association of 400 public colleges, universities, and systems from 2018 through 2023. She became chancellor of the California State University system on October 1, 2023.

Awards

• Alfredo G. de los Santos Jr. Distinguished Leadership Award, American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE), 2019