CSULB has hired Daniel Montoya as the new vice president for university relations and development. Montoya will officially start his role on October 10th.
The decision comes after almost 10 months since the previous VPURD, Michele Cesca, left for University of Southern California.
Jeff Cook, who served as interim VPURD during the hiring process, will return to his position as associate vice president for strategic communications.
Montoya has had a long history of development leadership since 2005. For five years until 2010, Montoya managed different development positions at San Diego State University.
Following his time at SDSU, Montoya spent less than a year at University of California San Diego. There he was the director of development and external relations.
However, after his short time at UCSD, Montoya would return back to SDSU for almost 10 years.
Montoya’s most recent position was as the executive director of development at Loyola Marymount University.
With his new position as the VPURD, Montoya will be tasked with directing funding and spending, as well as the community and alumni relations, especially when it comes to donations.
Montoya has emphasized his passion for philanthropy and donations. He often cites his own life when asked how he would engage the CSULB community together.
“I’m a product of the CSU, I graduated from San Diego State and I’m a veteran,” Montoya said, when questioned at previous forums. “That’s important because I understand what it’s like to be a transfer student and what it’s like to be a nontraditional student.”
With a long history in the San Diego area, Montoya does not have as much history when it comes to understanding the largely diverse Long Beach community.
Montoya has mentioned that he has had some exposure to the Long Beach community through his previous navy service. There is a naval weapons station in Seal Beach, right next to Long Beach.
In the official email announcement of Montoya’s hiring by president Jane Close Conoley, the first challenge Montoya will face is the “largest comprehensive fundraising campaign in CSULB’s history.”