Several changes to academic departments, including new department heads, are final this fall. There will be some transitional leadership this summer.

The Industrial Design and Engineering Technology Department has been split in two. Professor John Schmidt continues as chair of the Industrial Design Department, while Assistant Professor Keith Norwood has been named chair of the Engineering Technology Department.

Technical Communications has been renamed Technical Communications and Media Production.

This summer's leadership changes include:
Biology: Professor Joan L. Foster is now chair.
Modern Languages: Professor Gudrun Clay is chair for the first five weeks this summer; Elizabeth Ordonez is chair for the remainder of the summer semester.
Psychology: Professor Ellen Susman takes over in July.
Teacher Education: Assistant Professor Kathleen Milligan takes over in July.

New department chairs starting this fall are:
Chemistry: Associate Professor Charles Tindall
Chicano/a Studies: Associate Professor Vincent C.de Baca
Communication Arts and Sciences: Professor Marilyn Hetzel
English: Professor Joan Griffin
Finance: Associate Professor Su-Jane Chen
Modern Languages: Associate Professor Rudy Garcia

About the transitional and new chairs, Interim Academic Affairs Vice President Joan L.M. Foster said, "The position of department chair is critical to the success of our students, so we are very grateful for their leadership and look forward to working with them."