Hirshman Named President
Dr. Elliot Hirshman, provost and senior vice president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will be the next president of SDSU.
The California State University Board of Trustees named Elliot Hirshman, provost and senior vice president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, as president of San Diego State University.
"It is a tremendous honor to be chosen to serve as the next president of San Diego State," Hirshman said. "This university has unlimited potential and I look forward to working with students, faculty, staff and the community to continue building on its foundation of excellence."
Hirshman was one of three finalists for the position who spent last week visiting the campus. He will assume the San Diego State presidency this summer, and succeeds President Stephen L. Weber who has served as SDSU president since 1996. The CSU Board of Trustees will set Hirshman's compensation during its July board meeting.
"In the selection of Dr. Hirshman, San Diego State is getting a leader that brings both impressive academic credentials and strong administrative experience," said CSU Trustee William Hauck, chair of the presidential search committee. "Those factors, along with his exciting vision for the future of San Diego State, make him an excellent choice to steward the university into the next decade."
Outgoing SDSU President Stephen L. Weber said, "My thanks to Chancellor Reed and the search committee members for their good work. It is my privilege to pass on responsibility for serving a great university to President Hirshman. It will be Elliot's privilege to bring San Diego State to the next level of excellence."
CSU Trustee Linda Lang, who is chairman of the board and CEO of Jack in the Box Inc. and an alumna of SDSU, said, "Through its research, teaching and service mission, SDSU is deeply engaged in the San Diego community. I believe Elliot Hirshman is someone who can continue the considerable progress made by President Weber over the past 15 years."
Since 2008, Hirshman has served as provost and senior vice president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where he was responsible for all aspects of the academic program, including instruction, research and academic support services, as well as enrollment management, admissions, financial aid and Division I intercollegiate athletics.
"My colleagues and I are very happy for Provost Hirshman and the San Diego State University community," said Freeman A. Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. "He has done superbly here at UMBC. In fact, he has done an amazing job as provost, and we are much better because of his strong leadership. My colleagues and students salute San Diego State University for attracting such a fine President."
Previous experience
- Hirshman served as chief research officer at George Washington University from 2005 to 2008. He also served as chair, Department of Psychology, from 2002 to 2005.
- He was also chair of the Department of Psychology at the University of Colorado at Denver (2000 to 2002).
- He served as special assistant to the provost, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1998 to 1999) and was an American Council on Education Fellow in the Office of the Provost and President at Arizona State University.
Education
Hirshman received his bachelor's degree in economics and mathematics from Yale University and his master's degree and Ph.D. in cognitive psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles.
He was also a post-doctoral fellow at New York University on a National Institute of Mental Health Fellowship.
