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The California State University Board of Trustees has selected Murray State University President F. King Alexander '87 to be the sixth president of California State University, Long Beach.

"It is an honor and a privilege to succeed a highly popular and respected president. The students at Cal State Long Beach are serious about their educational opportunities and I am committed to doing everything possible to enhance their success," said Alexander. "In my judgment, the faculty and staff are dedicated to students and the advancement of this university and the surrounding communities.

"I believe that the value and priorities of Cal State Long Beach are consistent with my own. For this reason, I am proud and humbled to have been selected as the next president of this fine institution. I will strive to continue building on the positive momentum of programs and achievements that distinguish Cal State Long Beach throughout the state and nation today," he said.

"Dr. Alexander has the right combination of an excellent academic background and superb administrative experience to take the helm of Cal State Long Beach," said Bob Foster, CSU trustee and chair of the presidential search committee. "He is a strong supporter of student success, is energetic and a visionary who can enhance the campus reputation that outgoing President Bob Maxson built. All members of the CSU Board of Trustees welcome him to the CSU system and are eager to work with him."

Alexander, who was one of four finalists for the position, will assume the Long Beach presidency shortly after the first of the year. He succeeds President Maxson, who is retiring after 11 years as president.

During his 15 years in higher education, Alexander has been recognized as an expert in higher education finance and public policy. He has been the president at Murray State University in Kentucky since 2001. He is also a current Foundation Fellow at Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford, and a faculty affiliate at both the Cornell University Higher Education Research Institute and the University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs. Previously he was the coordinator of the Higher Education Program at the University of Illinois, where he also was an assistant professor. In addition, Alexander served as the director of annual programs and the coordinator of external programs, both at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

His Ph.D. is in higher education administration from the University of Wisconsin at Madison; his master of sciences in educational studies/comparative education from the University of Oxford (England). Alexander's St. Lawrence degree is in government; he was also a member of the basketball team while an undergraduate.

California State University, Long Beach

Posted: November 3, 2005