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Chico State's New President Is A Familiar Face, And The University's First Female Leader

Courtesy of Chico State
Gayle Hutchinson has been named president of Chico State.

Chico State on Wednesday announced who its new president will be, and she’s the first female president in the university’s history. Gayle Hutchinson’s arrival will also be a return.

Hutchinson originally joined Chico State in 1990 as a professor of kinesiology. She later served as chair for that department, chair for Chico State’s Academic Senate, and the dean of the department of Behavioral and Social Sciences.

Three years ago, she left to serve as provost and vice president of Academic Affairs at CSU, Channel Islands. She says she couldn’t be happier to be coming back.

“I’m doing the happy dance,” she said. “I love Chico State, I love the community of Chico and the North State, and I just can’t wait to return, roll up my sleeves and get to work with everybody.”

And there’s plenty of work to be done. In December, the Academic Senate issued a statement of no confidence in outgoing president Paul Zingg and other members of the administration.

Hutchinson says she’s aware of the feeling of an erosion of respect between faculty, staff and administration on the Chico State campus. She intends on meeting with all levels of the school community to address those concerns and start off on the right foot.

And she’s well aware that Chico State doesn’t just serve Butte County.

“I would like to say hello, North State,” she said. “And I welcome the opportunity to meet and discuss concerns and challenges and opportunities and ways that we can work together. I think it’s important that the university be very much engaged in the community, and will welcome those partnerships and relationships.”

She’ll take over after President Zingg’s retirement this summer.

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