Message to the Campus Community from President Horace Mitchell:

It is with regret and sadness that I inform you of the passing of our colleague, Dr. Kenneth Nyberg. Ken was diagnosed with lung cancer two months ago and passed away Wednesday, November 24, 2010.

Ken came to CSUB in 1980 as an associate professor in sociology and Director of Research and Sponsored Programs. He returned to the faculty full-time in 1985, was granted tenure in 1986, and was promoted to full professor in 1987. He served as chair of the Graduate Program in the Behavioral Sciences, Chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Director and Chief Scientist for the Applied Research Center, and was a member of the Academic Senate. His faculty awards and honors, professional associations, consultantships, and publications were many. He retired in 2006 and entered the Faculty Early Retirement Program the following year.

Ken received his bachelor of arts degree in sociology/philosophy from St. Cloud University, Minnesota, his master of arts in sociology from the University of Maine, and his doctorate in sociology from the University of Utah.

He is survived by his two daughters Kjerstie Buorne and Kaaren Nyberg; former wife, Janice Nyberg; son-in-law, Richard Bourne; two grandchildren, Linnea and Ryan Bourne; sister, Chris DeYoung; brother-in-law Robert DeYoung; and many nieces and nephews. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

A celebration of Ken's life will be held at Emmanuel Lutheran Church at 1900 Baker Street, just north of Old Town Kern on Saturday, December 18, 2010 at 2 p.m. In Ken's honor, the CSUB flag will fly at half-mast through Wednesday.