Sonoma State names new president Michael Spagna had been interim president at Cal State Humboldt since 2024
By Jason Walsh S
Among Spagna’s top priorities will be to stabilize and reverse recent lowering-enrollment trends. Since 2015, SSU’s enrollment has dropped by 38%, SSU officials told NBb in August. Peak enrollment in 2015 was 9,408 students; in the 2024-25 school year, enrollment was down to around 5,800.
onoma State University last month announced the hiring of Michael E. Spagna as its new university president. Spagna has been serving as interim president of California State Polytechnic
University, Humboldt since 2024; prior to that he spent nearly two decades
California State University (CSU) Trustee Mark Ghilarducci described Spagna as an “engaging and respected leader” and commended him for his record of building trust and fostering collaboration. “Sonoma State’s success is critically important to the CSU, and the committee was confident that Dr.
in various leadership positions at California State University, Northridge. Spagna will serve as the fourth president of SSU in the past four years. Spagna said he’s looking forward to continuing SSU’s legacy of “educational excellence” and strengthening its “deep
connection to the community.” “I welcome the opportunity to
Spagna possesses the experiences and qualities to lead the university at this consequential moment in its history,” said Ghilarducci, who chaired the presidential search committee. Spagna earned a Ph.D. in special education from the UC Berkeley and San Francisco State University joint doctoral program. Spagna will begin in his new role with SSU Jan. 20, 2026. For more information, visit sonoma.edu .
collaborate with SSU’s dedicated faculty, staff, students, alumni and stakeholders in launching a new and exciting era for the university,” said Spagna in an announcement of his hiring. Spagna joins SSU following a year of turmoil for the state university. In January, interim university president Emily Cutrer announced the school was facing a $21 million budget deficit and said cuts to staple degree programs, longtime faculty and the university’s Division II athletics program would be necessary.
50 NorthBaybiz
December 2025
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