By After a 26-year-long career at Cal State Long Beach, Interim President Donald J. Para announced he will be retiring at the end of the academic year.
In an email sent to CSULB faculty earlier this month, Para said he had thought of retirement for several years and planned to wrap up his time at The Beach in 2014.
“I was deeply honored when Chancellor White offered me the opportunity to serve as interim president of CSULB last May,” Para said in the email. “I could not pass up this extraordinary chance to serve the university that I love; although, for some years I had planned to retire in 2014. Serving as president of CSULB has been a gratifying and rewarding conclusion to my career at CSULB.”
In his years at CSULB, Para served as dean of the College of the Arts, Chair in the Department of Music and as the provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.
Para took over as interim president of CSULB in June 2013 after former President F. King Alexander left CSULB to become the system president of Louisiana State University and the chancellor of LSU A&M College.
Para also revealed in the email that a group of finalists for the CSULB president position, who will be interviewed by the California State University Board of Trustees in a closed session later this month, have been chosen.
Once a new CSULB president is appointed, Para said he plans to assist the new president and Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs David Dowell with the transition.
“I will do everything I can to make the transition to the new president as seamless as possible and will be available to assist the president and the interim provost as needed after my retirement,” he said.
Para said that he is grateful to the campus community for the role it has played in his life.
“I will never forget your generous comments and wishes of support,” Para said. “I have been a part of this campus, in one capacity or another, for 26 years. This association has been a blessing in my life. I love this campus and have been honored to have served this very special place.”
