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Andrew Jones ‘82, California State University executive vice chancellor and general counsel, will serve as Cal State ������Ƶ’s acting president, effective Aug. 25.

California State University Chancellor Mildred García announced Jones’ appointment on Tuesday, Aug. 19. Jones will lead the campus pending the appointment of a permanent successor for President Jane Close Conoley, who is retiring after more than a decade of service.

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“I have every confidence that EVC Jones’ breadth and depth of experience – and his demonstrated commitment to the CSU’s student-centered mission – make him ideally suited to lead Cal State ������Ƶ through this time of transition,” García said.

Jones has served the CSU with distinction for more than 25 years, leading the CSU’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) since his appointment in January 2018. In this role, Jones has also served as the secretary of the CSU Board of Trustees – one of the five statutory officers of the board – and has contributed his expertise to many issues of board governance and leadership over the years.

Prior to serving as general counsel, Jones served as the CSU’s deputy general counsel, as team leader for the OGC’s Business & Finance Team and as counsel for various CSU campuses, including serving for almost 10 years as counsel for CSULB. For 15 years, he served as assistant secretary of the Board of Trustees before being appointed secretary. He also served for almost a year as the CSU’s interim vice chancellor of Systemwide Human Resources.  

As general counsel, Jones played a pivotal role in helping the CSU system navigate uncharted legal waters during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has advised the Board of Trustees during critical leadership transitions, provided guidance and direction for managing campus protests and geopolitical unrest, and equipped all 22 CSU universities with tools to respond to unprecedented challenges to higher education under the federal administration.  

Jones is a proud alumnus of Cal State ������Ƶ, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business before earning his law degree at UC Davis.  

The search process for The Beach’s next regularly appointed president is ongoing. Jones is not a candidate for the position.  

“Please be assured that the Board and I remain optimistic and are united in our resolve to identify a truly outstanding leader to serve as this extraordinary university’s next president,” García said. “The search for a campus president is among my most important responsibilities as chancellor, as it is for our Board of Trustees. It is a responsibility that we take very seriously, and our expectations are extremely high. We are moving forward with an unwavering commitment to identify the next, best leader for the extended Cal State ������Ƶ community.”