President, California State University, Los Angeles
Dr. Berenecea Johnson Eanes, trailblazing ninth president and first woman to lead California State University, Los Angeles, was appointed by the CSU Board of Trustees to serve as president, effective Jan. 8, 2024. Dr. Eanes arrived with a lifelong conviction that higher education is "one of the most important social justice issues of our time." Cal State L.A. already stands at the pinnacle of that mission—ranked No. 1 in the nation for upward mobility and serving more than 22,000 remarkably diverse students who mirror the future of Los Angeles and the nation.
Former president of York College, City University of New York, Dr. Eanes set a collaborative tone through a campuswide listening tour that strengthened community partnerships and opened doors of opportunity for thousands of first-generation scholars. Bringing that same spirit to Cal State L.A., she has forged alliances that will spur innovation across the arts, sciences and civic life. Her scholarship in social work centers on real-world impact—examining enrollment patterns, the pandemic's effects and the evolving value of public higher education—ensuring her decisions are grounded in both data and compassion.
Prior to York College, as vice president of Student Affairs at Cal State Fullerton, Dr. Eanes reimagined student programming and implemented initiatives that increased six-year graduation rates by 30 percent and four-year rates by 65 percent. She championed immersive learning, holistic wellness and an unwavering dedication to equity and consistently turned bold ideas into measurable gains for students who might otherwise be left behind—leadership that earned her the prestigious CSU Wang Family Excellence Award.
Returning to the CSU as president of Cal State L.A., Dr. Eanes leads with both head and heart alike. She sees every Golden Eagle as a catalyst for progress in their families and communities, and she challenges the campus community to dream audaciously while doing the hard work of transformation. Under Dr. Eanes’ visionary leadership, the university will reach new heights, proving that when we empower dreams, we truly transform lives.
Dr. Eanes earned a bachelor’s degree in Public Health from Dillard University; a master’s degree in Social Work from Boston University; and her doctorate in Social Work from Clark Atlanta University.