CSUB Foundation board of directors gets new chair

Alumna Connie Perez-Andreesen is first Latina to lead the board

By California State University, Bakersfield

July 6^th, 2023

Connie Perez-Andreesen vividly remembers the first time she stood before the board of directors for the California State University, Bakersfield Foundation.

While working as a certified public accountant (CPA), Perez-Andreesen was tasked with conducting an external audit of the foundation. When it finally came time to present the final audit in 2008 she remembers being nervous and feeling intimidated in front of the board.

Perez-Andreesen now finds herself in the opposite position. After serving two years as vice chair on the board, she has been appointed as the new chair of the CSUB Foundation, which supports the university through advocacy and fundraising.

“I didn’t grow up doing stuff like that, being in board rooms, so to now be in that role, in that seat — it’s still a little hard to believe,” Perez-Andreesen said. “It’s definitely an honor to be the chair for the foundation. I’m grateful for the opportunity because, for me, it’s a bit of a full-circle moment because I attended Cal State Bakersfield myself.”

She is taking over the role from Raji Brar, who is now serving as a member of the Board of Trustees for the California State University system. Brar passed the gavel to Perez-Andreesen during the June 27 CSUB Foundation board meeting before the latter’s two-year term officially started on July 1.

Perez-Andreesen, who is the chief administrative officer for the United Farm Workers (UFW), is the first Latina in the university’s history to lead the foundation.

“I want to make sure that I represent my community in a way that they would be proud of my term on the foundation board as chair,” she said. “My hope is that I won’t be the last and that other girls seeing someone in this role that looks like them will encourage them to get involved with the university. I think the board should be reflective of the student population.”

Perez-Andreesen brings years of experience through her work at the UFW and as a CPA to her new role. She has already been heavily involved with CSUB over the past few years. In addition to serving a term as vice chair of the board, Perez-Andreesen is also on the university’s Latino/Latina Advisory Council. She was inducted into the CSUB Hall of Fame last year.

“Connie understands our students’ dreams and aspirations because she was a Roadrunner herself and knows from personal experience that a CSUB degree unlocks endless possibilities for our alumni,” said President Lynnette Zelezny. “As a faithful champion of our students, Connie has shown her dedication in countless ways over the years. Now, as chair of CSUB Foundation Board, this visionary leader will have the opportunity to advance the university’s student-first mission as our Roadrunners and region rise to new heights together.”

Perez-Andreesen graduated with her bachelor’s in business administration with a concentration in accounting at CSUB in 2000. She said her experience at the university played a critical role in her successful career.

“My education from CSUB has provided me with so many amazing opportunities throughout these 23 years, both professionally and personally, that I felt the least I could do was to give some of my time and resources to help the foundation further its goals,” she said.

Brar believes it’s this attitude that makes Perez-Andreesen a great choice to lead the CSUB Foundation.

“As a fellow alumna, I know what it did for my life, and I know for Connie it was the same way. She understands the contributions CSUB made to her life,” Brar said. “When you’ve been personally affected in such a positive way, you want to make sure you can give back. You want everybody to have the same opportunities you’ve had. You need to have that drive when on the foundation board, and Connie has it. I know she would be the perfect fit.”

Longtime Bakersfield criminal defense attorney and former CSUB Foundation board member H.A. Sala agrees. Sala has known Perez-Andreesen for over two decades, becoming a friend and mentor as she rose from being a staff accountant to eventually becoming a UFW leader.

“It’s such a pleasure to hear she was appointed as chair of that board. The members of the board is a who’s who of the Bakersfield community, all very good people like Connie,” he said. “She brings such a diverse background and experience to that board that mirrors what this community’s about. She’s going to do an exceptional job for the university, and I’m very excited to see her leadership.”

CSUB Foundation board of directors gets new chair

‘The real deal’

While Perez-Andreesen has just started her two-year term, she is already in the process of setting goals for herself.

“There’s a lot of opportunities for fundraising, more community outreach, advocacy on the state and federal level. I’m excited to be able to go out there and advocate on behalf of the university,” she said.

Supporting the university’s first-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign is one of her major priorities. The campaign aims to raise $55 million by July 2024 to transform the university. Around $38 million — 70% of the goal — has been raised as of June.

Perez-Andreesen has already personally already invested in the effort, as she and her husband Joel donated $150,000 to support CSUB’s Center for Social Justice and the Roadrunner Scholarship Fund last year.

This gift, together with their previous donations to the university, brings the Andreesens’ total lifetime giving to more than $250,000.

“I’m definitely proud of my involvement with that campaign. I’m looking forward to getting us to the finish line during my term,” she said.

Perez-Andreesen wants to make in-person fundraising a bigger part of the campaign now that COVID-19 restrictions are behind the university, as she said it’s more effective to meet people in person.

She also believes there are several industries and areas of the community that CSUB could explore more deeply to help meet the university’s campaign goals.

“We live in a very giving community, but I think there are untapped areas we could probably explore, certain industries where we really haven’t received the level of funding I think we should have,” she said. “There’s a lot of talent we’re producing for employers in all industries, and it would be nice for them to see the value of supporting us financially. I want to meet with more industries and tell them what funding we need, what our goals are.”

In working with her firsthand on several sponsored fundraisers and political initiatives, Sala said Perez-Andreesen showed a remarkable aptitude for raising money and believes she will be a major asset to the campaign.

“She is going to be so instrumental in bringing substantial gifts to the university while at the same time promoting the interests of the university to develop innovative programs and educational opportunities,” he said. “She will not stop. She will communicate with everybody she knows and encourage them to make substantial contributions to the campaign.”

Sala said a big part of why Perez-Andreesen is a successful fundraiser is because people know she truly believes in the candidate or cause she is promoting.

“People know that she’s the real deal,” he said. “I don’t see that there’s a financial interest in what she does — she does it for altruistic reasons. That’s a great motivator for people to stand behind her and participate in these campaigns.”

'A passionate leader'

Increasing enrollment at the university is also a major goal for Perez-Andreesen. She wants to leverage her story as a Latina who grew up in a farm labor camp in Woodville to encourage prospective students from across Kern County to come to CSUB and get involved in their communities.

Perez-Andreesen also hopes to encourage more students and alumni to become involved with the CSUB Foundation, especially those from diverse backgrounds like hers.

“I want student leadership to see how we can help them and give them the opportunity to be part of the process of the foundation and learn some valuable skills,” she said. “I also want to make sure there are opportunities for more Latinas and Latinos to have a seat at the table.”

Perez-Andreesen said she’s looking forward to working more closely with Andres Chavez, the new president of the CSUB Alumni Association, to bolster alumni involvement with the CSUB Foundation, whether it be through giving or being directly involved with the board.

“We have a good working relationship with Andres,” she said. “I want to see how we can work together and help meet each other’s goals.”

Chavez, who is the executive director of the National Chavez Center in Keene, said he has already worked with Perez-Andreesen on a few projects through the Alumni Association board and that she’s proved herself to be hardworking and effective.

“Connie is a passionate leader whose previous experiences will serve the CSUB Foundation board well,” he said. “Being the first Latina to lead this organization is an important milestone for CSUB and our community, especially because Latinas make up such a large portion of the student population. Connie will be the first, but certainly not the last. I know her example will inspire others to lead.”

Perez-Andreesen is serving as chair in addition to other important duties, such as working full-time as well as being a mom to her 5-year-old daughter Valentina. She understands she is making a big commitment, but she believes she’s at the point in her life and career that she is ready to lead the CSUB Foundation.

“I definitely want to make my term an effective one where I’m meeting not only my goals but the goals of the president, the students and the board,” she said. “I want to make sure that we’re able to provide valuable opportunities to our current and future students.”