Since assuming her new role as president of CSUN on June 11, Dr. Dianne Harrison has had a busy summer.

Harrison’s calendar included meetings with the university community, departments, faculty and staff (more than 1,100 contacts), Associated Students, leadership, students at convocation (more than 4,300 students).

“I will be (getting) involved in the business community, the local community college, partners we have – such as K-12 partners, elected officials, those individuals who can help us at times when we need it, or we can help them,” Harrison said. “I can’t tell you how many places I’ve been (where they say), ‘We’ve had so many CSUN graduates.’ It’s a good partnering that needs to take place in many different elements of the community.”

Other meetings included some with board members for the CSUN Foundation and alumni foundation, president’s associates and donors.

“I think that for an institution that has been around as long as CSUN, that has over 200,000 alumni, I’d like to see many many more actively involved with this institution,” Harrison said.

She also met with the university’s senior leadership team of the President’s Cabinet and deans, both one-on-one and in groups.

In addition, Harrison attended a CSU-wide board of trustees meeting and attended the CSU presidents’ retreat with the chancellor.

Her first official visit to campus was on March 27, when she gave her first formal address to the university.

The President’s Calendar (courtesy of the president’s office)

Since officially beginning her appointment as president of California State University, Northridge on June 11, 2012, Dr. Dianne F. Harrison’s schedule this summer has encompassed the following:

• Visits to divisional and department offices and events and meetings with faculty and staff (totaling more than 1,100 contacts with faculty and staff during this period)
• Update meetings with the university’s senior leadership team (President’s Cabinet and Deans), both one-on-one and in groups, and with her staff related to scheduling
• Meeting with A.S. leadership and students (totaling more the 220 contacts with students plus welcoming 4,300 students at freshmen orientation)
• Reaching out to and meetings and events with university friends, supporters and donors, including:
  • Members of the external university community, including members of the boards of the CSUN Foundation and Alumni Association boards, President’s Associates, and donors (totaling about 200 contacts)
  • Local and regional business and community organizations and leaders, related to the university’s position as a leading employer and civic institution in the Valley that provides education, programs, services and human capital to the community and to businesses (totaling about 400 contacts)
  • Local elected officials (6 individual meetings)
• Required CSU-wide commitments, including:
  • Board of Trustees meeting
  • CSU presidents’ retreat with the Chancellor
• Travel to meetings related to the President’s current professional commitments:
  • American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ annual meeting
  • Commissioners’ meeting of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Note also that in advance of her formal start on June 11, President Harrison visited the campus and had scheduled meetings on March 27, April 13, and May 4. The March 27 visit was her first official visit to the campus following the announcement of her appointment as president and included her first formal address to the campus community.

March 27

First visit to CSUN following the March 22, 2012 announcement of appointment:

• Meeting with Interim President/Provost
• Meeting with President’s Office staff
• Tour of the campus
• Working lunch with the President’s Cabinet
• Meeting with A.S. President
• Open meeting with senior leadership of the university, including deans, associate vice presidents and other senior divisional leaders and with campus members of the Advisory Committee for the Selection of the President (approximately 75 people)
• First address to campus community, followed by open house reception with the campus community (attended by approximately 500 people)
• Interview and photoshoot with Marketing & Communications for public relations purposes
• Visit to University House (the President’s official residence)

April 13

This visit was in preparation of Dr. Harrison’s arrival to campus.

• One-on-one meetings with four members of the President’s Cabinet
• One-on-one meetings with three members of the President’s Office staff (Chief of Staff, Director of Administrative Operations, President’s Office, President’s Secretary/scheduling assistant)
• Briefing meeting with CSUN Police Chief
• Visit to University House to prepare for move

May 4

This visit was in preparation of Dr. Harrison’s arrival to campus.

• One-on-one meetings with four members of the President’s Cabinet
• Transition planning meeting

Week of June 11–16

• Divisional showcases for:
  • Academic Affairs (45 people)
  • Student Affairs (260)
  • Administration and Finance (149)
  • University Advancement (50)
  • Information Technology (40)
  • University Corporation (8)
• First formal President’s Cabinet meeting
• Meet and greet with Associated Students (13 people)
• One-on-one update meetings with four members of the President’s Cabinet
• Meeting with the Chief of Police
• Lunch with a member of the California State University, Northridge Foundation Board
• Weekend breakfast with co-chairs of the Special Task Force on Engagement (6 people)
• Two-day commissioners’ meeting of the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (out of state)

Week of June 18-22

• Three-day annual CSU Executive Council retreat in San Jose, CA
• Two scheduling meetings with President’s Office support staff
• One-on-one meetings with two members of the President’s Cabinet
• Group meeting with all 10 university deans
• President’s Cabinet meeting

Week of June 24-30

• Scheduling meeting with President’s Office support staff
• President’s Cabinet meeting
• Working transitional/teamwork meeting with the President’s Cabinet
• Meeting with Faculty President
• Five one-on-one meetings with members of President’s Cabinet
• Meeting with university’s General Counsel
• Meeting with Alumni Association President
• Meeting with visiting member of CSU Board of Trustees
• Six one-on-one meetings with members of the Boards of the CSUN Foundation and the Alumni Association
• Foundation and Alumni Board luncheon (7 guests)
• Foundation Board member reception hosted by Foundation Board member (7 guests)
• Two briefing meetings regarding to the university’s communications and positioning/branding efforts
• Three briefing meetings with miscellaneous senior university administrators
• Valley Economic Alliance’s Valley of the Stars Gala (350 attendees)

Week of July 1-7 (CSUN closed July 4)

• President’s Cabinet meeting
• One-on-one meetings with six members of the Cabinet
• Tour of Student Affairs departments (45 people)
• Meeting with Congressman Brad Sherman
• Lunch with the leadership of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association (8 people)
• Lunch with 5 CSUN Foundation Board members
• Briefing on athletics with Athletics Director and Vice President for Administration and Finance

Week of July 9 – 14

• Scheduling meeting with President’s Office support staff
• Meeting of the President’s Extended Cabinet (consists of the President’s Cabinet, deans and faculty president)
• One-on-one meetings with two Cabinet members
• Tour of KCSN
• Meeting on campus with State Senator Alex Padilla
• Meeting with key university volunteer
• 2012 Summer Council Meeting of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) (Out-of-state conference for which President Harrison served as co-chair)

Week of July 15 – 21

• Board of Trustees meeting of the California State University at the Chancellor’s Office
• Meeting of the CSU Technology Steering Committee at the Chancellor’s Office
• Scheduling meeting with President’s Office support staff
• One-on-one meetings with 6 President’s Cabinet members
• Lunch with university donors Mike and Linda Curb
• Meeting with local NAACP branch president
• Two visits to Student Affairs areas of Housing, Children’s Center, and Counseling (20 people total)
• Telephone meeting with Executive Director of Big West Conference
• Briefings on university’s website activities and planning
• Lunch meeting with L.A. Daily News executive editor Carolina Garcia
• Visit to office of California Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield
• Meeting with college dean
• President’s Associates’ dinner (125 attendees)
• Dinner meeting of the Trusteeship (professional women’s organization) (6 people)
• Visit to Upward Bound Student Recognition Ceremony (95 high school Upward Bound students, 160 parents, and 40 CSUN students and staff)

Week of July 22–28

• President’s Cabinet meeting
• Scheduling meeting with President’s Office support staff
• One-on-one meetings with 6 Cabinet members
• Working meeting with 10 deans
• One-on-one meetings with 2 university deans
• Meetings in downtown Los Angeles with:
  • L.A. Councilmember Mitch Englander
  • L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky
  • L.A. County Supervisor Michael Antonovich
• Meeting in downtown L.A. with Senior Vice President of Education and Workforce Development at Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
• Induction to the Board of Directors for the Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA) (40 people)
• Dinner with members of the Foundation Board of Directors (14 people)
• Alumni Association Reception hosted for President Harrison (22 people)
• Conference call with the Executive Committee of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (President Harrison is a California Commission member)
• Meeting with Faculty President regarding the state budget
• Meeting with Professor Steven Loy regarding the 100 Citizens Program

Week of July 22–28
Family sick leave
Week of August 6–11

• Deliver welcome greeting to 170 students attending First-Time Freshman Orientation for undecided/undeclared students (this is the first of seven freshman orientations that will encompass the President welcoming an anticipated 4,300 freshmen students)
• President’s Cabinet meeting
• Scheduling meeting with President’s Office support staff
• One-on-one meetings with 6 President’s Cabinet members
• One-on-one meetings with 3 deans
• Lunch with members of the women’s soccer team (44 people)
• Exit meeting with outgoing Director of Government and Community Relations
• Meeting with the Faculty Senate Executive Committee (9 people)
• Lunch with Big West Conference Executive Director
• Meeting with the Faculty Athletics Representative
• Meeting in downtown L.A. with senior officers of the L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce (2 people)
• Delivered remarks at staff farewell (40)
• Update meeting on university branding/positioning efforts
• Briefing on Alumni programming