The California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Vernon B. Harper Jr. to serve as president of California State University, Bakersfield, effective immediately.
Dr. Harper has been serving as the university’s interim president since December 31 following the retirement of President Lynnette Zelezny.
“I am honored and humbled to be entrusted to continue the stewardship of this extraordinary university that has had such a transformational impact on so many families across our region,” said Dr. Harper. “I’m thrilled to carry forward our student-centered work and strengthen partnerships across the university and throughout the region that will allow the CSUB community to reach new heights.”
Dr. Harper becomes the university's sixth leader to serve in the role in a permanent capacity.
“During his interim appointment, Dr. Harper has taken meaningful and inclusive steps to enhance access, academic excellence and student success at CSU Bakersfield," said CSU Trustee Douglas Faigin, chair of the CSUB Presidential Search Committee. “He has proven himself to be an equity-driven leader with a history of innovation in academic programming and student support. He will continue to identify and advance CSUB’s vision through a period of sustained growth and student success.”
During his tenure as interim president, Dr. Harper has launched a number of initiatives that support increased access and student success, including the middle and high school pre-admit program, making CSUB the first-choice destination for an increasing number of Kern County high school graduates. He also launched the Umoja Black Student Success Transfer Program in partnership with Bakersfield College to support student success, and CSUB will open its Black Students Success Center in the coming months.
Dr. Harper also began an initiative for CSUB to pursue the statewide Black-Serving Institution designation, has championed the `Runners on the Rise campaign, and has accelerated the completion of donor-supported facilities projects on campus.
Prior to his role as interim president, Dr. Harper served in several leadership roles at CSUB, starting in 2016, including as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, associate vice president of the same division, and dean of Academic Programs. He is also a professor of communications.
In his capacity as provost, Dr. Harper led initiatives that resulted in all-time highs in graduation and retention rates at CSUB; advanced diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives for faculty and students; built significant public-private partnerships to increase enrollment; and inspired successful philanthropic efforts and investments to advance student success.
Dr. Harper previously served as the associate vice president for Academic Administration (2012-2016) at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, where he led the opening of a branch campus located in downtown Philadelphia and worked with the Frederick Douglass Institute to develop the campus’s Diversity Strategic Plan to attract diverse candidates for faculty positions. Dr. Harper also served as associate provost at Wilkes University of Pennsylvania from 2009 to 2012, where he was responsible for regional accreditation, assessment and institutional effectiveness.
Before joining Wilkes University, Dr. Harper was an associate for Academic Affairs at the State Council for Higher Education of Virginia, the system administrative body of the 16 four-year institutions and 23 two-year institutions in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Dr. Harper earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from Pennsylvania State University, a master’s degree in rhetoric and communication from West Chester University and a doctorate in human communication from Howard University. He also served eight years in the U.S. Army Reserve and is the recipient of the U.S. Army Achievement Medal and the Martin Luther King Unity Award.
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