Staff highlight: Dr. Kenneth “Ziggy” Siegfried

Q&A about how CSUB serves the community

By California State University, Bakersfield

June 14^th, 2021

How I make a difference: Kenneth "Ziggy" Siegfried

Though originally from Memphis, Tenn., CSUB's director of Athletics and AVP for Student Affairs, Dr. Kenneth "Ziggy" Siegfried, is eager to show his love for his adopted hometown of Bakersfield through his new role as chair of the board of Visit Bakersfield. Dr. Siegfried has been at CSUB for more than nine years. "The people I get the opportunity to work with at CSUB have definitely been the highlight of my career. From the top down, our faculty, staff and students are the most dedicated and passionate people I have been around. I also love our supporters, who take so much pride in CSUB and the city of Bakersfield."

Why Dr. Siegfied became involved:

"I love the city of Bakersfield and when asked to serve, I gladly accepted. There is much more to explore in Bakersfield than people nationally and regionally know. We are one of the largest agricultural-producing areas in the world. Something you ate today came from Bakersfield. There are also many great outdoor activities available in and around Bakersfield. This includes hiking, river rafting and much more."

Why it's important for Dr. Siegfried to give back to the community:

"Personally, I love Bakersfield and I want to be an active member of the community. I believe we have limitless opportunities here in Bakersfield and I want to be a part of us reaching our full potential."

How Dr. Siegfried helps CSUB strengthen our community

"The ability for growth at CSUB is the reason I wake up every morning and go to sleep every night, thinking about how I/we can make a difference. We are truly a university on the rise and there are not signs of us slowing down any time soon. I really love the impact that CSUB has and will continue to have on our community. We are in a stand-alone market with no other NCAA Division I universities within 90 miles. CSUB will continue to transform our community and that excites me greatly."

More about Visit Bakersfield:

Visit Bakersfield is funded annually by a small percentage of the city’s transient occupancy tax. Through marketing and sales, Visit Bakersfield is able to attract groups and leisure travelers to Bakersfield. Learn more about Visit Bakersfield here

"We focus on the Four Pillars of Success in our Athletics Department and one of those four pillars is engaging the community. As the director of Athletics/AVP for Student Affairs, I feel it is critical that we are immersed in Bakersfield and in Kern County. We feel CSUB Athletics is a great outlet for positive national exposure for our city and we want to play a large role in the continued growth of Bakersfield."