Loren J. Blanchard to serve as president of Cal State Ƶ
The California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees has appointed Loren J. Blanchard as the next president of Cal State Ƶ. He will assume the presidency on May 1.
Blanchard currently serves as president of the University of Houston-Downtown.
“I am deeply honored and profoundly humbled to be named Cal State Ƶ’s next president,” Blanchard said. “Ƶis renowned for being a student-centered university that fosters a culture of holistic support, community engagement and inclusive excellence. I look forward to joining the Beach community in the transformational work it does every day to turn dreams into reality for thousands of diverse and talented students.”
Blanchard succeeds Andrew Jones ‘82, who has served as acting president since August 2025 following the retirement of Jane Close Conoley.
“The committee was impressed with Dr. Blanchard’s demonstrated strategic and inclusive leadership style and strong commitment to student success,” said CSU Trustee Christopher Steinhauser, who chaired the president search committee. “We have every confidence that he will lead Cal State Ƶ adeptly, collaboratively, and with integrity and vision.”
Blanchard’s distinguished career in higher education spans 35 years. As president of the University of Houston-Downtown for the past five years, he led the university through a comprehensive strategic plan implementation and tracking process; increased institutional funding through grants, foundation gifts and legislative appropriations at both state and federal levels; secured support for expansion of the campus; strengthened community relations; built strategic alliances and optimized student success through integrated initiatives.
He previously served six years as the CSU’s executive vice chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, where he led the development of Graduation Initiative 2025, the CSU’s 10-year student success effort that resulted in improved educational outcomes across the system.
Blanchard’s other leadership positions included provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs at Xavier University of Louisiana, associate vice chancellor for Academic and Multicultural Affairs at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, and two roles within the University of Louisiana system: provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs and associate vice president for Accreditation, Leadership & Accountability.
A first-generation college graduate, Blanchard holds a bachelor's degree in speech pathology education from Xavier University of Louisiana, a master's degree in education from McNeese State University, and a Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Georgia.
