Stories from Sonoma / President Michael E. Spagna
SSU's new president is optimistic and enthusiastic about what the future holds for the university and its students, faculty, staff, and communities
Sonoma State University welcomed Dr. Michael E. Spagna as the university’s 11th president on January 20, 2026, with the new leader promising a continued focus on student success, career preparation, and community involvement.
“The engagement of Sonoma State’s communities, alumni, supporters, elected officials, and the media reflects the importance of this institution as an educational, economic, and social force in the North Bay,” Spagna said.
Spagna, who joined Sonoma State after serving as interim president of Cal Poly Humboldt since August 2024, was provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at CSU Dominguez Hills, and served at the system level as provost representative on the California State University (CSU) Admission Advisory Council and as commissioner for the CSU Commission of Professional and Continuing Education. Previously, he held several positions at CSU Northridge over a 25-year period, including professor and dean of the Michael D. Eisner College of Education.
Prior to his service at CSUN, Spagna served as consultant to the California State Department of Education; coordinator of the Services to Students with Learning Disabilities program at University of California, Berkeley; learning disabilities specialist and lecturer at Chabot College in Livermore, California; and special education teacher at Landmark West School in Culver City, and at the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
He holds a Ph.D. in special education from UC Berkeley/San Francisco State University, a master’s degree in special education from UCLA, and a bachelor’s degree in communicative disorders from Northwestern University.
“Having served in the California State University system for 35 years, I have always been impressed with the potential for Sonoma State University to be a true steward of place, serving to uplift the North Bay region in California,” Spagna said. “I have worked with many colleagues at the university over the years and have appreciated their dedication to its mission and service to the community.”
The new president is clear-eyed about challenges facing the university, and named some initial goals:
- Providing stability at the leadership level for the entire university
- Fostering a spirit of optimism and enthusiasm for the university and the wider community
- Increasing enrollment
- Reviewing, supporting, and expanding the university's academic programming
- Exploring opportunities to revive athletics as a vital component of campus and community life.
“My career has involved providing consistent, engaged, and compassionate leadership at all three of my previous CSUs. This includes a strong commitment to share governance, championing student-centered outcomes as the highest priority, and building and maintaining relationships with the broader community,” Spagna said. “I am a firm believer that it is essential to share information in a transparent manner that promotes joint accountability and ultimately empowers stakeholders, both within the university and in the outside community.”
SSU’s new president and his wife, Lisa Feldman – a retired career prosecutor in the U.S. Department of Justice who specialized in combatting cybercrime and elder fraud – also plan to be out and about in their new community. “I really enjoy attending and participating in community events, exploring everything from new restaurants to theaters to local businesses and shops,” he said. “I aspire to participate in more outdoor activities, especially having spent 16 months in beautiful Humboldt County!”