By Barley Lewis-McCabe

Out of every Cal Poly Humboldt president, none have been like Michael Spagna.  Spagna has something few other presidents have had — and that’s a term limit. 

Recently, a letter was written by faculty in the environmental sciences and management department detailing qualities they would like to see in the new president, and how they feel Micheal Spagna fits the bill. That letter was shared with other departments, who were encouraged to write their own. At the time of publishing, this second letter, which expands on broader issues, has been signed by over 350 faculty, community members, students and even Julie Fulkerson, former mayor of Arcata.

An important thing to note is that Spagna is prohibited from applying, as per his contract agreement and CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia’s order. But, he is able to be nominated for consideration — which is what the letters are doing — as well as showing the qualities the community looks for in a new president.

When Tom Jackson stepped down, Spagna was appointed as the interim president. His job was simple — build back trust between the administration and faculty and students, but mostly hold down the fort until the official president showed up.

But why do people feel this way? What makes Spagna such an appealing figure to so many? The magic words for most faculty are shared governance, which can be boiled down to the practice of consulting the people who will be affected by a decision before it’s made. Spagna was routinely said to be a strong proponent of the practice by faculty who have worked with him, while previous presidents have disregarded shared governance and made large-scale decisions without consulting the people who will be most affected by them. When asked for a statement on the push for him to be considered as the next president, Spagna reflected on the support he’s seen from the community.

“Faculty have been welcoming and responsive, and I’m truly honored to have their support and their faith in me to lead Humboldt,” Spagna said via email. “A significant part of this effort requires being in community with not only faculty, but also students and staff. What that means is listening to and learning from them, while understanding their previous and current experiences to help this university better meet its educational purpose.” 

In his short time here, Spagna has been seen at community events, arts productions, seminars, and has spoken to reporters. 

When discussing the important qualities in a president, Allison O’Dowd, Environmental Sciences and Management chair, discussed the importance of having a qualified, empathetic president, particularly one who has prior experience in education. 

“It’s important to have a president who has a history in academia, who’s actually taught classes, they know what that’s like,” O’Dowd said. “Someone who can be in our shoes in terms of relating to students and faculty, and see’s the mission of the university to be education.” 

It’s not like he appeared out of nowhere — he has over 35 years in the CSU system, working both as a professor and administrator.

Spagna listens. He’s met with department chairs to understand the needs of the university, and stressed the importance of the faculty perspective. In these meetings, Spagna has discussed his plans to expand the university’s health programs and strengthen community involvement with faculty. Along with that, he has shared ideas on how to actualize the ambitions of a polytechnic university. 

Mary Virnoche, a sociology professor, expressed hope for Spagna’s consideration. 

“I imagine Chancellor Garcia knew exactly who she was appointing to serve as our interim President,” Virnoche said. “He is the leader we needed on this campus on the cusp of tremendous change. I hope the Chancellor will consider the capacity, momentum, and support that President Spagna has built as she makes decisions about our President.”

Students have the ability to be involved in the search for the next president. If you feel strongly in one way or another, email presidentsearch@calstate.edu, Chancellor Mildred Garcia herself, or CSU Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff Danielle Garcia to voice your opinion on what you want in the future president of Cal Poly Humboldt.

Barley is a freshman journalism major, Photojournalist, and untraditional reporter, they like to cover interesting stories that center on social change, and human impact.