Ellen Junn is President Emerita of California State University, Stanislaus where she served from 2016-2023. Located in the rural and agricultural Central Valley region of the state, Stan State serves more than 67% first-generation, Pell-eligible undergraduates, women and historically under-represented minorities.

Dr. Junn’s 37-year history with the California State University — the largest and most affordable public university system in the nation — includes high-level appointments at five other CSU’s campuses. Although the Central Valley historically experienced lower rates of educational attainment, Dr. Junn worked diligently to remedy this trend by implementing a wide range of innovative programs that championed student success, especially for non-traditional scholars. Under her leadership, Stan State consistently earned regional and national recognition as a top-ranked university for social mobility, affordability and providing transformational and equity-based experiences for students.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in experimental and cognitive and developmental psychology and graduated cum laude from the University of Michigan. She earned her doctorate and master’s degrees in cognitive psychology from Princeton University and holds a management development program certificate from Harvard University. Her research and publications include early childhood education and advocacy, college teaching effectiveness, faculty development, and educational equity and diversity issues.

She is the first Korean-American woman in the United States appointed to lead a public four-year university, Dr. Junn spent her early years in Georgia during the 1960s and later in Michigan. She also serves as a Commissioner on the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), and is on the Board of the Association of College and Universities Educators (ACUE).

Current Term

2024 – 2027