HAYWARD -- Leroy Morishita, who was a finalist last month for the top job at San Jose State, was named interim president at Cal State East Bay on Monday.
Morishita, 58, currently executive vice president and chief financial officer at San Francisco State, lost out on the San Jose State job when it went to current Cal State East Bay President Mohammad Qayoumi.
Qayoumi will take over his role as president in the South Bay on July 1, the same date Morishita will assume his duties as interim president in Hayward.
"I am honored to have been selected to assume the leadership of East Bay, and look forward to working closely with faculty, staff and students as we move forward," said Morishita, who was named interim president during CSU Chancellor Charles Reed's visit to the Hayward campus.
"I have a great appreciation for the opportunities East Bay has to offer and I am excited about the possibilities for its future," Morishita said.
Morishita, who completed an administrative fellowship at Cal State East Bay during the 1987-88 school year, said he would like to be considered a candidate for the permanent position, but added, "We'll have to see what the next year or so brings."
He has served in a variety of senior leadership positions at San Francisco State during his 29-year tenure at the campus. He has been serving in his current position since 2009.
Before that appointment, Morishita was chairman of the Cal State University Risk Management Authority and served on a number of systemwide and state committees on budget, investment, human resources and other policy issues.
Morishita, who grew up in Fresno, attended UC Berkeley and received a bachelor's degree in psychology. Morishita also holds a master's degree from San Francisco State in counseling and a doctorate of education from Harvard in administration, planning and social policy.