May 7, 2025
Dear Campus Community,
It is with great excitement and heartfelt pride that I announce the appointment of Dr. Jessica Lavariega Monforti as the next Provost for Cal State Channel Islands.
Dr. Lavariega Monforti is a dynamic academic leader, a deeply committed teacher-scholar, and a national advocate for inclusive excellence in higher education. A first-generation, Pell-eligible community college transfer student of color, Dr. Lavariega Monforti embodies the very values we champion at CSUCI. Her lived experience is deeply rooted in public education, and her professional journey reflects a resolute commitment to student-centered learning, equity, and opportunity.
Since Fall 2024, Dr. Lavariega Monforti has served with distinction as our Interim Provost, following her impactful tenure as Vice Provost and Accreditation Liaison Officer. In this time, she has led with clarity, compassion, and vision—guiding the Division of Academic Affairs through a significant period of transition. From implementing the Academic Master Plan and advancing the University’s 2030+ strategic vision, to strengthening shared governance and division-wide communication, her leadership has been both stabilizing and transformative.
Among her many accomplishments at CSUCI, she co-led our successful reaffirmation of WSCUC accreditation, expanded support for non-tenure-track faculty, built a robust culture of assessment, and deepened our commitment to equity and student success through initiatives like GI2025, graduate studies growth, and cross-divisional retention strategies. Her leadership has been marked by thoughtful collaboration, transparency, and responsiveness to the needs of our students, faculty and staff.
Beyond CSUCI, Dr. Lavariega Monforti has served as Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at California Lutheran University, Chair of Political Science at Pace University, and Associate Dean for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas–Pan American. Her academic contributions include over 50 scholarly publications and more than $10 million secured in grant funding to support student achievement, faculty research, and institutional transformation. A past president of the Western Political Science Association and a co-founder of the national Women of Color in Political Science Workshop, she is widely recognized for her leadership in advancing equity in higher education.
In her own words, Dr. Lavariega Monforti leads with "a student-centered approach, ethical decision-making, and a collaborative spirit." She has expressed deep enthusiasm for working alongside our community to address enrollment, academic growth, financial sustainability, and faculty and staff well-being, while continuing to build on the University’s legacy of access, innovation, and social mobility.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Lavariega Monforti on her appointment. I am confident that her permanent leadership as Provost will propel our University toward even greater strength and purpose, grounded in the values that define CSUCI.
With gratitude to the search committee and to all who participated in the process, and in anticipation of good things to come under Provost Lavariega Monforti’s leadership.
Sincerely,
Richard Yao, Ph.D.
President