Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (Administrator IV), Presidents Office

Job Description

California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) invites inquiries, nominations, and applications for the position of Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (Provost). The next Provost will partner with newly appointed President, Dr. S. Terri Gómez, in bringing to life an exciting new vision of the future for the University. CSUSB seeks an ambitious and innovative academic leader who will bring a high level of enthusiasm for strengthening and magnifying CSUSB's impact in the Inland Empire, the Coachella Valley, and beyond.

The University

CSUSB is the preeminent center of intellectual and cultural activity in the inland region of Southern California known as the Inland Empire (IE), set at the foothills of the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains. The University is part of the California State University system, the largest system of higher education in the country, with two campuses in San Bernardino and Palm Desert , located in two of the largest counties in the United States CSUSB has grown from its founding in 1965 as a state college with an inaugural class of 293 students to a major metropolitan university with approximately 19,000 active students and 2,400 employees.

The University is supported by a budget of $315 million, consisting of $197 million from the state’s General Fund allocation and $118 million from campus generated revenue. The University also has an endowment of approximately $75 million and in 2025/26 faculty were awarded a total $48 million in research contracts and grants, across all divisions.

CSUSB’s commitment to diversity, access, value, and excellence are reflected in numerous national and international recognitions, awards, and rankings at all levels of the University. The University was recently ranked #2 in social mobility by The Wall Street Journal and is regularly listed among the best colleges and universities in the western United States, according to The Princeton Review, Forbes, and U.S. News & World Report in their respective annual rankings. The University is also the recipient of the 2024-27 Seal of Excelencia from the Excelencia in Education organization, which focuses on ensuring America’s future by increasing Latino college completion.

Palm Desert Campus

In the early 1980’s, citizens of the Coachella Valley recognized the economic, cultural, and social benefits that a four-year university would bring to the region and organized to meet that need. Shortly thereafter, the state legislature approved funds to establish what was then called the Coachella Valley Center (CVC). The CVC opened in Fall 1986 with 80 students. Years later, under the leadership of then President Albert Karnig, a unique public-private partnership was established between the state and community members of the Coachella Valley to support the development of the campus. In November 1994, the CSU Board of Trustees accepted a donation from the city for land upon which to construct a permanent campus. With the move to the permanent campus, the campus officially changed its name to the Palm Desert Campus (PDC) of California State University, San Bernardino. In the fall of 2013, the Palm Desert Campus opened its doors to its first freshman class, becoming the Coachella Valley's only four-year public university. In 2015, the City of Palm Desert donated an additional 114 acres, making the total size of the current campus approximately 169 acres.

Position Summary

Reporting to President Gómez and serving as a member of her cabinet, the Provost will serve as CSUSB's chief academic officer and will be responsible for developing and implementing, in collaboration with faculty, a compelling vision for how a comprehensive regional university can best serve its students and expansive community during a period of rapid technological, societal, and political change. The evolving national educational landscape requires that the Provost be a strategic and forward-thinking leader with the agility to navigate short- and long-term challenges while maintaining a steady focus on the core mission and values of the University. The Provost must be transparent in their actions, function with integrity, and communicate with clarity, authenticity, and promptness. The Provost must be a proven champion of students, faculty, and staff and passionately communicate the University’s priorities to campus stakeholders and beyond.

The Provost, in collaboration with faculty, will define the University’s academic priorities, align annual goals with the values of the institution, actively participate in annual and long-term University budget planning, and skillfully and effectively leverage the University’s revenue streams to derive the maximum benefit and impact. The Provost will be a fierce advocate for the university’s academic, research, and teaching mission and will assist the President, academic deans, and others in garnering philanthropic and grant support for strategic initiatives.

A full leadership profile will be available here when completed.

Application / Nomination Process

The Search Committee will begin reviewing applications immediately. Applicants must submit a current curriculum vitae and a letter of interest that describes their relevant experience. Submission of materials via email is strongly encouraged. Nomination letters should include the name and contact information of the nominee. All nominations, applications and related materials will be handled with strict confidence.

Applications and letters of nomination should be submitted by email to:

Alberto Pimentel, Managing Partner

Emy Cruz, Partner

Sal Venegas Jr., Partner

Email: apsearch@spaexec.com

Refer to code “CSUSB-Provost” in the subject line

SP&A Executive Search

6512 Painter Avenue

Whittier, CA 90601

CSUSB considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, or protected veteran status.

Advertised: Oct 26 2026 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: