Leroy Morishita named Cal State East Bay's fifth president
- January 26, 2012
By Matt Krupnick
Staff Writer, Bay Area News Group
Leroy Morishita was named Cal State East Bay's fifth president on Wednesday, officially taking over a job he has held temporarily since July.
California State University trustees named Morishita, who spent nearly 30 years as a San Francisco State administrator, as the successor to President Mohammad Qayoumi, who last year was appointed as San Jose State's president. Morishita, 59, will continue to make his current salary, $276,055, until trustees determine his new pay level in March.
Morishita said his priorities include raising private funds to make up for some of the money lost through state budget cuts and making sure students are better aware of the financial aid and academic programs offered by the school.
"It's really trying to communicate to people that there still are opportunities available, despite the budget cuts," he said.
Morishita, who was raised on a grape and plum farm near Fresno, received degrees from UC Berkeley, San Francisco State and the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Cal State East Bay has campuses in Hayward and Concord.