Three finalists have been announced for the role of Cal State Fullerton’s provost and vice president of academic affairs.
The role will oversee executive management, academic affairs and inclusive excellence. The provost and VPAA will serve on the president’s cabinet, with the role being primarily focused on leadership and research-based guidance within campus executives.
The finalists for the role are University of Washington Tacoma’s Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Andrew Harris, Northern Illinois University’s Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Robert Brinkmann and Georgia Southern University’s Dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences Ryan Schroeder.
Harris previously served as dean of the College of Liberal and Creative Arts at San Francisco State University, dean of the School of Arts and Humanities at Keene State College and associate provost for Faculty Affairs and executive assistant to the president at Bridgewater State University.
Brinkmann previously served as vice provost for Research and dean of Graduate Studies/director of Sustainability Studies at Hofstra University, where he has also held the position of director of Sustainability Studies and director of Sustainability Research. He also held a position as interim associate dean for Faculty and Program Development at the University of South California.
Brinkmann is currently the vice president of the Northern Illinois Research Foundation, with a background in environmental sciences.
Schroeder previously served as the chair of the department of Sociology at the University of Louisville, and as the interim dean at Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies at Georgia Southern University.
The search follows the announcement of current CSUF Provost and VPAA Amir Dabiran’s retirement in March 2025 after his 40 year residency. Before filling his current role, Dabiran served as CSUF’s vice president of information technology and chief information officer from June of 1985 to March of 2023.
“Throughout his more than four decades at Cal State Fullerton, Dr. Dabirian has been a tireless advocate for academic excellence, innovation, and student success” a March 25, 2025 message from President Rochon announcing Dabirian’s retirement said.
The previous search to fill the role of provost and VPAA was initially launched last semester and failed in April 2025, in which Dabiran continued operating in the role until the search relaunched this fall.