CSU Trustees Appoint Gayle Hutchinson as President of California State University, Chico

The CSU Board of Trustees has appointed Gayle E. Hutchinson as president of California State University, Chico.

The California State University Board of Trustees has appointed Gayle E. Hutchinson, Ed.D., as president of California State University, Chico. Hutchinson is currently the provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at California State University Channel Islands. Hutchinson succeeds President Paul Zingg, who is retiring in June and has served as president since 2004.

“I am honored and humbled that the CSU Trustees have appointed me as the next president of Chico State. I am thrilled to return to a university I adore and serve its vibrant campus community,” said Hutchinson. “I join the CSU community in recognizing President Paul Zingg for his many years of service and contributions within the CSU and at Chico State. I truly look forward to working with faculty, staff, students and the broader Chico community as we partner together and set direction for the future of the university.”

CSU Trustee Douglas Faigin, Ph.D., chair of the Trustees’ Committee for the Selection of the President, praised Hutchinson’s achievements. “Dr. Hutchinson has built her academic career at Chico State and has tremendous support on campus. She has a solid track record as a faculty and administrative leader and decades of successful experience in working with the broader campus community. Her passion for student success, shared governance, academic excellence and her knowledge and experience in the CSU and at Chico State make her the ideal choice for president. All of us on the Search Committee and Board of Trustees have no doubt she will lead the campus to new levels of success.”

In her current role as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at CSU Channel Islands, Hutchinson provides the academic leadership for the campus, directing and coordinating all academic programs and activities, and co-chairs the university’s Strategic Resource Planning Committee, which aligns fiscal resources with the strategic plan. Prior to that time, she chaired the development of the university’s strategic plan.

Hutchinson spent nearly 20 years in various instructional and leadership roles at Chico State. She served as dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, chairperson of the Department of Kinesiology, Academic Senate Chair, Statewide Senator and was a member of the President’s Diversity Council. Before that time, she was a member of the Chico State faculty, teaching kinesiology with a specialty in teacher preparation.

Prior to her service in the CSU, she served as the principal investigator and co-director of the Northern California Physical Education – Health Subject Matter Project, the project director for the Pacific Wellness Center and developed curriculum and taught physical education in elementary schools.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education teacher education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, a master’s from Teachers College, Columbia University in teaching analysis & curriculum development, and a doctorate of education from University of Massachusetts, Amherst in teacher education/staff development.

Laurie Weidner
lweidner@calstate.edu 
562-951-4800

Joe Wills
Public Affairs
jwills@csuchico.edu 
530-898-4143

Read the story via Chico State Announcements.(opens in new window)