New administrators assume posts

by Jaclyn Loveless

Two new administrators have been hired to replace two longtime CSUB employees.

Shelley Ruelas has been hired as the new vice president for student affairs. Her predecessor, George Hibbard, retired last fall after 38 years of service to the university.

And Jacqueline Mimms, who started her job in December, is now CSUB's associate vice president for enrollment management.

Mimms succeeds Homer Montalvo, the former associate vice president for admissions and enrollment services, who retired after 35 years as an administrator. The position has been renamed and restructured to fit the growing needs of the campus.

Ruelas, who was born and raised in Fresno, formerly was a psychologist and residential life coordinator at Arizona State University where she had been since she received her doctorate in counseling psychology from the University California, Santa Barbara in 2000. She also received her master's in the same discipline from UCSB in 1996, and earned her bachelor's in psychology and education from UC San Diego in 1993.

"Dr. Ruelas brings a strong background in the areas of student development, student life and organizational change, as well as outreach, retention, and diversity issues in higher education," said CSUB President Horace Mitchell. "She has the experience to help CSUB achieve its vision of excellence."

In addition to her duties in the counseling and consultation department at ASU, Ruelas became the residential life coordinator in 2003. From 1998 to 1999 she was the recruitment coordinator for Project ABRE, or Avenues of Bilingual Resources in Education, at UCSB. She was the assistant director for the Partners in Learning/Summer Bridge San Diego Collaborative at UCSD from 1993 to 1994.

Her professional service and affiliations have included the American Counseling Association, the Minority Undergraduate fellowship Program at ASU, the Maroon and Gold Student Achievement Program at ASU, and the Chicano Faculty and Staff Association at ASU.

Even though Ruelas is just getting settled in her office she has found that her initial impressions of the campus are being confirmed. "I was very impressed by the dedication and the motivation of the faculty and staff in making the student experience at CSUB a positive one. It's still my priority to capitalize and contribute to that energy."

In an effort to improve student life at CSUB, she plans "to work closely with the larger university community and assist students in becoming increasingly engaged with the campus. My focus is on students' personal, cultural, and civic development; and of course, their ultimate successful graduation from CSUB." She also plans to add some creativity into the mix. "We want to know what the students want. We need to hear their voices. We'll look into some of the various learning activities on campus, as well as what events have worked well in the past."

Ruelas is looking forward to working with CSUB's faculty and staff and believes the overall vision for the campus is an "integrated effort."

The vice president for student affairs reports directly to the president and has responsibility for campus programs, services and activities that support the educational mission of the university by promoting student development, and enhancing the quality of the student experience and campus life. Areas reporting to the vice president for student affairs include the Student Union, student activities, food services, counseling center, health center, residential life, career development, services for students with disabilities, children's center, Associated Students, Inc., and the bookstore.

Mimms, a California native, is responsible for providing leadership for the campus' outreach, admissions, enrollment and retention efforts. "Dr. Mimms has the extensive background in executive management at both a campus and systemwide level to help us achieve our goals and further our vision to collaborate with our community partners," Mitchell said. She reports to the provost. Other areas reporting to her are financial aid, Educational Opportunity Programs, Summer Bridge, advising, testing, orientation and educational federal grant programs.

Mimms wants to increase the marketing for CSUB. "We have some hidden gems here people don't realize," she said.

Mimms came to CSUB from her position as the assistant vice president for student affairs in the systemwide University of California Office of the President, where she had been since 1999. Previously at UC Riverside she was the assistant to the executive vice chancellor from 1986 to 1987, the executive officer-director of the budget from 1987 to 1994, and the assistant vice chancellor for campus relations from 1994 to 1999.

Mimms holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and education and a master of science degree in health-care administration from CSU Los Angeles, and a master's and doctorate in educational administration from UC Riverside.