CSUF Names New Vice President of Academic Affairs

Cal State Fullerton officials named Mary Kay Tetreault as the university’s new vice president of academic affairs Wednesday.

Tetreault has filled the position on an interim basis since July, after Don A. Schweitzer, former vice president of academic affairs, died at a conference in Washington.

She will take office on July 1, Cal State Fullerton spokeswoman Paula Selleck said.

Seventy-four candidates were considered by a 10-member search committee, which recommended Tetreault, Selleck said. Tetreault, 55, also has served for six years as dean of Cal State Fullerton’s School of Human Development and Community Service.

Tetreault said she looks forward to setting a new tone for academic affairs and improving the quality of education by working with deans, faculty and students.

“It’s difficult to lead academic programs” during budget cuts, Tetreault said. “But it’s ironic that sometimes the times of real budget constraints push people to rethink what they’re doing and why they’re doing it. We have to think about how to allocate resources so we’ll continue to serve students.”

Part of her work at Cal State Fullerton has included bringing together focus groups of university students this spring to comment on their campus experiences.

Tetreault, who oversees the groups with Vice President of Student Affairs Robbie Nayman, said they will continue this fall and will let administrators know what students consider important at the university.

Tetreault also is an author, and her most recent book, “The Feminist Classroom,” will be released in August. The book, highlighting six college professors who try to improve education for women and underrepresented minorities, was co-written by Wheaton College Prof. Frances Maher.

Originally from North Platte, Neb., Tetreault attended Benedictine College and the University of Chicago. She earned her doctorate in education at Boston University.