Interim President Spagna talks about goals for Cal Poly Humboldt

Michael E. Spagna was appointed the new interim president of Cal Poly Humboldt by CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia, starting his term on Aug. 26. Spagna has been an educator for well over 30 years, teaching K-12 and higher education, with an education specialty in reading disorders and dyslexia. 

“I came in with an understanding that relationships were gonna have to be built and that there was gonna have to be a restoration of trust,” Spagna said. 

Before coming to Cal Poly Humboldt, Spagna was a professor at Cal State Northridge for 24 years. More recently Spagna was the provost and vice president at Dominguez Hills during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he taught out of a trailer for two years.  

During his time at Dominguez Hills Spagna shared that their history of student activism is very similar to Cal Poly Humboldt’s.

When asked if he will be implementing new policies affecting students, Spagna shared that in his 33 years being a part of the CSU system there has always been a Time, Place and Manner policy, but says it is unique to have a systemwide policy. Over the summer, Chancellor Garcia directed all 23 CSU campuses to implement this system wide policy. 

Administration at Cal Poly Humboldt must conform with certain aspects of the new system wide policy but there is a degree of “freedom” where local changes can be made in the addendum. Cal Poly Humboldt can decide which areas are considered public spaces, limited spaces and off-limit spaces. 

The SAC quad is an example of a public space but if that space has already been reserved for a university event and other students attempt to protest at the same time, they will not be able to do so. 

Spagna believes an education campaign regarding the systemwide TPM policy would be helpful to get everyone at Cal Poly Humboldt involved. Other goals Spagna has for the next year include: rebuilding trust between the president and students, help with healing the trauma from last semester’s events and making strides towards finding a suitable long-term president that will continue to work with students.

On Oct. 10, the CSU chancellor and the permanent president search committee will host a Town Hall to ask the community what qualities they are looking for in a future permanent president. Details of the event and time have not yet been determined. 

“This campus receives the president it deserves, that he or she will come in and will know what this campus is, as opposed to picking someone who looks good on paper,” Spagna said.

As interim president, Spagna has the full authority and can make decisions on budgets, buildings and programs. Spagna signed a contract agreeing to not apply to be the permanent president, this a standard part of being an acting or interim president at any CSU. 

Spagna explained that there is a difference between an acting president, an interim president, and a permanent president; but all three have full authority. The chancellor appoints the role of acting president in an emergency situation for a month, then the acting president appears before a board of trustees, who vote to make them interim president for up to a year. If a permanent president is found, they could begin at any time before July 1 of 2025. 

Making connections with cultural centers

Looking for ways to better serve the Latine and BIPOC communities, Spagna has met with Associate Vice President of the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion office, Dr. Rosamel Benavides-Garb and his staff to have these conversations.

No definite plan has been announced but Cal Poly Humboldt is pursuing a Seal of Excelencia. This is a national certification given to institutions that go above and beyond to serve Latino students.

“There are some pockets, from what I have seen, of cultures that are not represented and I’d like to have that as an ongoing conversation,” Spagna said. 

Spagna is still new to campus but wants to be in spaces where students can approach him, ask questions and talk through their concerns. He shared his point of view from the Sept. 6 Palestine vigil held at the SAC quad saying, “I’m a big fan of going with the flow and so I wanted to respect the student’s want, to be in community and do a vigil.” 

Spagna was in Eureka when he heard about the vigil and came back to Cal Poly Humboldt campus to sit for three and a half hours to show his support. Although he was open to student engagement Spagna said no students came up to him, but he was there if they needed him. 

Spagna quoted Osama Abuirshad, the executive director of American Muslims for Palestine saying, “Students are the conscience of America.” Spagna wants to see students grow to their full potential. 

“I’m here because I love the fact that we have students, many of whom are first generation students, where this is a transformative opportunity to reach their dreams,” Spagna said.

Students can see their new interim president in action on Instagram @humboldtprez