New Interim President Michael E. Spagna at Cal Poly Humboldt

After the spring semester drew to a chaotic close, Cal Poly Humboldt sent an email on July 11 announcing President Tom Jackson stepping away from his position. On Aug. 9, the CPH chancellor’s office sent another schoolwide email announcing that they have now appointed interim President Michael E. Spagna. Spagna is said to bridge the gap between Tom Jackson and his future permanent replacement.

Regarding the timeline of their search, the chancellor’s office stated in the email, “At its September meeting, the CSU Board of Trustees will be asked to approve Spagna as interim president for approximately 12 months while the board conducts a national search for the university’s next regularly appointed president.”

Spagna began his role as interim president on Aug. 26 with the beginning of the fall semester. He sent an announcement on Aug. 28 introducing himself and provided some background about his career, “I’ve been an educator for most of my career, including teaching middle and high school students with special needs. From that experience, I know education can provide the intellectual and personal spark to inspire students to pursue their dreams while uplifting others.”

According to his LinkedIn profile, Spagna comes to CPH from CSU Dominguez Hills. There he was vice president and provost for seven years.

When El Leñador requested an interview with Spagna, the News and Information office of Marketing and Communications for CPH replied on Aug.19, “We don’t know what President Spagna’s interview plans are at the moment, but we’ll let you know when we have more information.”

Correction: This story was edited to clarify who News and Information is with.