Brian Jersky, Ph.D has been named as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, Cal State Long Beach (CSULB) announced Monday. Jersky replaces David Dowell, who will retire at the end of the 2015-2016 academic year, while Jersky will begin on June 1.
“It is an incredible honor to have been selected as provost at a university as prestigious as Cal State Long Beach,” stated Jersky. “The university has a long history of success in its mission to educate a richly diverse population of students. I look forward to working with the faculty and my new colleagues in the administration to help continue to improve student outcomes and assist the university in fulfilling that mission.”
Jersky has spent the previous four years as the dean of the College of Science at Cal Poly, Pomona. Previously he served as senior lecturer in the statistic department at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia and dean of the School of Science at Saint Mary’s College of California. Jersky spent 15 years at Sonoma State University serving in several capacities, including assistant professor of Mathematics, chair of Mathematics and director of academic planning and resources in the School of Science and Technology, according to the release.
Jersky began the pursuit of his career in higher education at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa where he earned bachelor of science degrees in Mathematical Statistics/Economics and Mathematical Statistics and earned both an M.S and Ph.D. in Statistics from Cornell University.
“Dr. Brian Jersky has impeccable academic credentials and a deep commitment to student success,” said President Jane Close Conoley in a statement. “I am excited he will be our next provost.”
Jersky’s new responsibilities will include leading the Division of Academic Affairs in “continuously strengthening a rigorous academic environment supportive of faculty opportunity and student success, supervising the division’s analysis of academic programs and assessment of student learning in the ongoing accreditation of the university and its academic programs,” according to the release.
“I’m confident Dr. Jersky will advance our university by developing innovative ways to encourage and support faculty and students in their aspirations for excellence,” added Conoley.
Dowell, who has served as interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs since July 2013, will retire after 37 years at CSULB. He held a variety of positions including vice provost and director of strategic planning, associate dean for the College of Liberal Arts, chair of the Department of Psychology and professor of psychology. During his tenure as the university’s chief academician, CSULB reached all-time highs in both graduation rates and the number of students earning degrees annually, stated the release.
“I’d like to see Cal State Long Beach achieving a transformative education for all the outstanding students who come to us, for the benefit of the many communities we serve,” Jersky stated.
Above, left: Photo courtesy of CSULB.