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Looking back, looking ahead
195 Plays2 months ago
President Jane Close Conoley, nearing retirement, discusses CSULB's transformation, growth and future.
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Transcript
Introduction to 'At the Beach' Podcast
00:00:17
Speaker
Hello, I'm Dan Montoya, Vice President of University Relations and Development. Welcome to another episode of At the Beach. This podcast shares news of accomplishments, personal stories, and ways listeners can be involved with Cal State Long Beach. It's produced by URD.
Introducing Dr. Jane Close Conley
00:00:33
Speaker
Today, I'm so delighted to welcome back our first ever guest, Dr. Jane Close Conley, the President of Cal State Long Beach. In case you hadn't heard, she recently announced she's retiring after more than a decade at the beach.
00:00:47
Speaker
During her time as president, Dr. Conley has successfully led the campus' community through an extraordinary era of change and achievement, leaving behind a legacy of growth, innovation, and steady stewardship through unprecedented challenges, from economic volatility and housing shortages to a global pandemic that forever reshaped higher education.
00:01:10
Speaker
It's wonderful to have you back, Jane, but it's a little bittersweet for all of us. We're happy for you as you take your next steps on your next journey, but your retirement will be felt by us in many different ways. Welcome back, Jane. Hey, I'm glad to be with you, Dan. Yes, my decision to retire is bittersweet for me as well. I really love being president of Long Beach State.
00:01:33
Speaker
Well, that's great. um you know and And as you know, your announcement was felt by many and and there was so much good feedback, so much love coming back to you. And some of the questions that they asked and and maybe we're asking is why and why now?
Dr. Conley's Retirement Decision
00:01:52
Speaker
Well, you know, I've been working at one thing or another since I was about 13 or 14, and now I'm 77, and I knew I wanted to have more time with Kali and our family. We've made a lot of sacrifices along both our careers in terms of time with each other, with ah our children now, our grandchildren, our children's spouses. We have ah sisters, a sister-in-laws in Texas and New York. And, you know, it's very clear, um and obvious that we don't have infinite time with each other at this time. And so I thought this was a good time to really connect with these loved ones while they were still here. I've lost both of my older brothers. And so
00:02:33
Speaker
I've kind of become aware that time is precious and I don't have the freedom in in my role as president to just, you know, take off and and do a, you know, a week-long visit. And now I will, after June. That's great. Now, I remember us, sharing you sharing this story with me and your husband, Collie Connolly.
00:02:54
Speaker
About a year ago we were in in Las Vegas at at the ah basketball tournament. And we were in the car and you you guys were talking about how you selected where you went in terms of what university you guys would serve and so on and so forth. And I thought it was so amazing and a really great game plan that you guys had in choosing where you went.
Career Journey of Dr. Conley
00:03:19
Speaker
Could you share a little bit more about that? Yeah, sure. that Thanks for remembering that story. Colleen and I call it our three year no wine contract. It was, that's W-H-I-N-E. ah When we finished graduate school together, we met it we met in our doctoral programs and we were finishing about the same time. He actually finished a ah semester ahead of me, I think. And so we were talking about, well, what what are the next steps? So we both wanted academic jobs. So we thought,
00:03:48
Speaker
OK, whoever gets the first academic offer will go there. But if the other person doesn't like it or doesn't get a position that is fulfilling, ah we'd only stay there three years, and then the other person ah would choose where to go. But they couldn't whine for three years. So um so our first ah I got the first academic offer, and that was at Syracuse University.
00:04:12
Speaker
This was a tough move for Collie. He's a Texan and very snowy that year, 146 inches of snow. And um ah when three years were up, we were packing the U-Haul to get back to Texas. And so we we we we came back to Texas. I worked at Texas Women's University and Collie worked at University of North ah Texas. And we stayed there five years and then then i I chose a different spot, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. And Colley came, started a private very successful private practice. So he's been really the flexible and resilient one in this contract for sure. That's great. Well, you know, it it almost all well this makes sense, you know, and he retired recently too from from in his career. And then, so so what's next, Jane? What's next for you and
Post-Retirement Plans
00:05:04
Speaker
Colley?
00:05:04
Speaker
yeah Yeah, I haven't had much time to plan that. i was The big decision was announcing it. and But just in the short term, i we have a big trip planned with some friends from our days at Texas A and&M. we're going to go to We're going to start a ah cruise in Auckland, New Zealand, go to Australia, and then go to Indonesia.
00:05:24
Speaker
I've been a colleague, I have been to both New Zealand and Australia, but years ago, and never been to Indonesia. So and this will be a 30 day cruise. So we feel like that will be ah ah um a kind of landmark thing. We'll see how we can handle that. Well, you have a navy background. Yes, you've been on ships for more than 30 days.
00:05:41
Speaker
But, you know, I think that's a big deal. But I think what I really look forward to are the smaller things we have. but Our grandson, Jack, is in Omaha, Nebraska, and he plays he plays varsity high school tennis. It'd be great to be able to just hop on a plane and watch him play in a tournament in the same way that our our younger youngest grandchildren play a lot of soccer. They were up in San Francisco. yeah You know, that's we could go to their games and we wouldn't need a big Oh, how are we going to schedule it? How will it work? So um I think I'm looking forward to that freedom to, you know, ah go see my sister in New York or go to Texas and visit my sister-in-laws and also all the friends we have in Texas. So yeah, definitely well deserved. um Let's, let's so walk a little bit um through your journey income in coming
Becoming President of Cal State Long Beach
00:06:33
Speaker
here. You know, when, when you were first selected president,
00:06:38
Speaker
How did you feel at the time when you know taking on Cal State Long Beach as your presidency? Well, I was really excited, but I was also a little scared. ah This by was by far the biggest university. I'd been in an administrator but ah for quite a while, but i've been like my college in Texas A&M was 8,000 students. That's a big college, but nothing like, at this at that point, it was 36,000, I think, here. So I was a little bit scared. um But i've the more I learned about Cal State Long Beach, I knew it was the best fit.
00:07:13
Speaker
at that point in my professional career. I you know i had written books, written articles, gotten grants, and but I really found myself really wanting to be more involved with promoting educational attainment ah among you know all the populations of students we had here in California. So it was a good time. I i felt I'd accomplished a lot in writing and research, but now really wanted to really have hands-on with populations of students, especially who have been underserved by our educational system right yeah i mean and when when you as you started going through the years and and learning more was your presidency what you expected
00:07:57
Speaker
Well, you know, i had some I had a year, almost a year of preparation being the interim chancellor at Riverside. So they weren't they they they it wasn't entirely surprising. um I loved to um a getting to know all the students, or as many as I could, the faculty and the staff, and I've loved getting to know the alumni as well.
00:08:22
Speaker
ah We face the same challenges here that other campuses do. um I think ah the challenges we've had now with free speech, that that's been a little bit surprising um and really were leaning in to try to figure out how to do that.
00:08:42
Speaker
i you know the I knew from eight years at UC Santa Barbara that the budget cycle in California is kind of boom and bust. This current bust is a bit surprising, going from way surplus money to way structural deficit money. so so that But ah you know there's surprising moments, but most of the surprises have been good surprises, so that's good. So talk to us about some of the highlights and some of the things that you're most proud of.
00:09:12
Speaker
Well, I'm really proud um about how often we are mentioned in the top 10 in the whole nation ah for promoting social mobility among our students.
Social Mobility Achievements
00:09:23
Speaker
We have a large percentage of our students who come from pretty basic economic backgrounds. And we measure that by whether or not they're eligible for Pell. And Pell grants are available to students living below the federal poverty line. so i think the latest numbers I recall are about 57% of our students um fall into that category. So ah it's been great to know that we've been able to add to the their success. And I often reflect on my own background where my parents didn't get a chance to have much education, but they valued it very much. And I've been able to lead a life that they could hardly imagine in terms of
00:10:07
Speaker
you know, the resources I have, the travel I've been able to do, so I really feel like i my experience was that education was the pathway to the American dream, and I'm really proud that Cal State Long Beach has continued that.
00:10:21
Speaker
That's great. and And I know you, you touched a little bit on some challenges, but what, what were some of the biggest challenges that you faced at at the beach? Um, and were you able to slay some of those dragons like that that that were before you? Yeah. Well, I have mentioned a few, but one um that is probably not in front of mind of most people is that you know we're celebrating this year our 75th anniversary as a university founded in 1949. And many of our buildings, the average age of our buildings is about 50 years old. Right.
00:11:01
Speaker
anybody who owns a home or ah would know that every 20 years or so there's something big that has to be replaced and the state has not been able to give us money to keep maintaining the buildings as well as I would like and so we've done a lot in the last 10 years in terms of infrastructure and renovation and upgrades but that remains a dragon that is um is hard to slay. my The latest estimate I got was that we if somebody gave us $600 million, dollars we would be able to fix everything on campus. so ah That's a lot of money. So that's a $600 million dollars dragon I'm still trying to figure out.
00:11:40
Speaker
Yes, I would hope somebody is listening and say, oh, I got that check for you. Hey, yeah. Or even six people listening would be good. Yeah. So you are the first female president at Cal State Long Beach since since your appointment. You've championed women's causes and those often underrepresented groups on and off campus. How is the beach doing when it comes to serving these groups and transforming lives?
00:12:06
Speaker
Well, yeah, I was the first woman permanent president. There had been an interim woman before me. So I can't claim, you know, actually first, but, you know, more than half of our faculty now are women. And so that's great. And when we're hiring, especially our assistant professors, the ratio is more women being hired. We have more women students than we have male students, so those are all um good things. We have more women in leadership roles now than when I started. um I do worry, i the flip side of that is that fewer men are coming to college, so um um I am trying to get get get my brain wrapped around that. um
00:12:48
Speaker
So I think, um in a general way, women are doing well. But you know you've mentioned other groups, and we have done surveys and focus groups. And I know that ah there are special challenges that are faced by women of color. um Some of our trans women have reported you know a special challenges and stereotyping. So it's not um you know it's it's it's pretty good, but there's still more work
Supporting Diversity at the University
00:13:16
Speaker
to do. we have a lot of efforts now with our Latino, Latina students, our black students, our Asian students, with our LGBTQ plus students. And, you know, I know that's not always popular with ah every group, but, you know, I think every parent wants his or her
00:13:36
Speaker
a child to feel a sense of belonging and inclusion and have the same opportunities that ah that are available to all students. And so that's where we put our energy. We want all students to do well, but we know certain students face special barriers and challenges, so we have to program for them too.
00:13:56
Speaker
Right. and And you've done a great job. I've seen so much growth, even in the short time that I've been here. But leading an institution of this size is, you know, 40,000 plus people, students, faculty, staff, and even volunteers, which we don't always count for.
00:14:15
Speaker
is it's a daunting task and so as you came in to this role and you know were you prepared for all that came with that? yeah Others might have a better picture of that than I do but you know I already mentioned that I did have some on-the-job training at University of California.
00:14:35
Speaker
Riverside. So that was helpful. um ah But the others's is there's still a lot of stuff I don't know about, but what I was prepared to do was to really get to know the great people who were here and use them and really work on building a team around me that ah that were filled with experts. you know where We have experts on finance and human resources and building and design and academic and student affairs, fundraising, communication, information technology. I don't have to be an expert on all those, but I ah had to find people and and try to coalesce them into a team to do it. So I think that's the secret of success as a large organization.
00:15:21
Speaker
is not to believe that I'm in charge of everything, but but that I ah have a good level of knowledge about a lot of stuff and can come in to be supportive or give advice or throw up my hands and dismay and whatever is necessary. So again, there's so much that that you oversee and so much coming at you all at one time.
00:15:48
Speaker
at any given time, how have you managed to balance it all? you know And you have a ah great relationship with Collie and your family and your executive team with you know a lot of the community members throughout Long Beach. How do you balance it all? what How have you approached that?
00:16:11
Speaker
Well, I can spell the word balance, but I have not actually always achieved it. But I am fortunate. You mentioned Kali. He's really been a great balancing force. You know, he's the person who arranges vacations and trips to see family. And of course,
00:16:28
Speaker
We all know if we have children, that they are a balancing act. When they're young, they they they demand attention. They demand um ah help and support. So that, being surrounded by people both who facilitated connections and also people who um
Balancing Professional and Personal Life
00:16:46
Speaker
were depending on me, really, really helped with ah
00:16:52
Speaker
creating at least the illusion that that I have some balance. And and now the they um our grandchildren are a great force to wanting to be connected and to you know divide time ah away from work and to really be focused. What I have found as a psychologist, especially,
00:17:14
Speaker
A lot of times people hang out with each other, but they're not really paying attention to one another. So one of the things that has helped me is to be very mindful about when I'm with ah my children, my grandchildren, my spouse, my relatives, is I'm not checking my phone. I'm not, I'm really, I'm in it ah with them. And that, you know, that's very relaxing for me ah because I'm not, my brain isn't going in 50 different directions. And I think it builds better relationships.
00:17:44
Speaker
Yeah, and I've noticed that about you, too. You're very present in the moment and with whoever you're with. And so I think that is that is wonderful and and speaks to your leadership. Now, if you had an opportunity to give advice to the future president of Cal State Long Beach.
00:18:05
Speaker
What, what would you might, what would you tell them to kind of consider as, as they get to learn this community? Let's say it's it, maybe it's somebody not from Long Beach, but what, what would be your advice to them to, to do in the first year?
00:18:24
Speaker
Yeah. ah
00:18:27
Speaker
You know what they say about free advice. How much how much is that worth? But, you know, I would i would encourage um i've encouraged myself and I'd encourage my successor to um to lean into this community, the internal community of our faculty, staff and students.
00:18:45
Speaker
who are fabulous people, but also the the alum community and the friends and the you um in our city and in our greater Long Beach area. I was just at an event earlier today and I was reminded that we're surrounded by alums. We have thousands of alums, right, within our, you know, 50 mile radius. And most of them, or at least all the ones that talk to me, love their, they love their alma mater. And so really leaning into those relationships and using those relationships to learn more about the university and and also explore other opportunities for the university. Because the more you get to know people, sometimes that results in internships for our students or
00:19:29
Speaker
research opportunities for our faculty so you know I'd say you know just don't don't stay in your office you know be be out there whether it's walking around campus and meeting students or going downtown and hanging out with the rotary or the chamber of commerce and certainly with the city of Long Beach the city of Long Beach has been so so so supportive of us. but So yeah, no, I think that's great advice and you're right I mean we have such a great community here in Long Beach is a wonderful place and It's you know, you're living it in a good position So I think it's it's a great opportunity for whoever that might be When you leave your office for the last time, what are you going to remember most in your days as president? Well, I think I'll remember the people the most um I think um
00:20:23
Speaker
you know i'll I'll remember the occasional, like even walking to this podcast room, I was stopped by four or five students and one said, oh, I hadn't seen you in person. It's good to see you in person. So I'll remember those moments of when a student comes up and introduces him or herself or their selves and really wants to make a connection. And so that that feels good because i at the end of the day, that's why we're here.
Facilitating the American Dream
00:20:52
Speaker
So I'll remember that, I'll remember that that ah Cal State Long Beach was a place that has a singular focus on student success. That's great. And what's the biggest takeaway as being president of Cal State Long Beach that you will take with you?
00:21:09
Speaker
Well, I think um I haven't actually calculated this, but it's probably we have graduated 10,000 or more students ah every year. it was It was lower when I first got here. It was 7,000 or 8,000. Now we're over 10,000. So I think the biggest takeaway was that it will be that I was part of that process that I, in so in some small ways, facilitated.
00:21:36
Speaker
ah Whether or not because we have a basic needs program or scholarship money or just that I went out um You know somebody just said to me I was in the audience when you talked about X and I wanted to ask you questions about that So I I think that will be my biggest takeaway that maybe I was part of that ah American dream for many of our students. Yeah, I think so and You know, I there's a lot of memorable times just in this short time that I've been here of when you speak to people, how they relate to you, how they approach you, how they want to learn more about you. And, you know, when and you're so approachable, I think that's one of the magic ah components of who you are as president. So
00:22:24
Speaker
Okay, we're we're celebrating 75 years of success, and and we're doing all the celebration. But after it's all said and done, and and you and Collie head out to the Land Down Under in Australia, and do you think how how do you want to be remembered? if If anything, what would you like them to say of you?
00:22:45
Speaker
Well, you know universities are funny places. We we do revere history, but we we constantly have new people. So I don't have any illusions that people will remember Jane Close Conley for very long.
Vision for the University's Future
00:22:56
Speaker
But um ah certainly I'll remember ah my time here. you know ah You know very well that we commissioned a book on for our 75th anniversary. and And I'm on the last few pages of that book. So that's kind of exciting. and So um I think it'll take some time to see whether some of the ah things that I've been passionate about really stick. I really want me to be remembered as somebody who was
00:23:25
Speaker
ah compassionate to ah the real situations of our students that was collegial and tried to be authentic um in my relationships with others that I cared about the community, I care about the planet, that we've done a lot of work in sustainability as you know and we've introduced ourselves as a dual mission university that we care about lifelong education now as much as we care about 18 to 24 year old education and we've certainly moved into ah ah so excellent traditional teaching and pedagogy, but also high end, high innovation teaching. And I think that's what the future is asking of us. And I'm really optimistic that people are rising to the occasion to really be that engine for social mobility and educational attainment for California.
00:24:15
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, again, those those are definitely I can see how you will be remembered for many of that. And but I think in my mind, the thing that sticks out to me the most, I think, is during commencement. And I see your face just light up as these students go by and and and we hear the chance from the families and um year after year after year, you know, we've graduated at least 12,000 students and they come through and your face is just like just so joyful and and you're wearing your your black and yellow shoes and and you're there and and it's a grind because it's six whole days but
00:24:59
Speaker
I just see how you light up, and and you've had a role to play in all those students yeah walking that stage. Well, you were nice enough to mention that at the last commencement, and that it really got me thinking. Yeah, it's a a shaking 10,000 or 12,000 hands ah is a little daunting, but ah iss the best day of the it's the best day of the year, right?
Joy in Student Success
00:25:20
Speaker
i mean there's so 10,000 students, there' there's probably 80,000 family and friends and supporters in the stadium. And and it's what's they've been it's what they have been working for. And and they did it. And it took a lot of hard work. um And I just want to, I hope that at least for some, I played some small part in their success. Yeah, I think you did. it and And I think you've been not just a champion. The thing a lot of students and people don't realize is it's tough to be a president. But at the same time, you have the power to influence so many things that are favorable to our students.
00:25:58
Speaker
And i I don't know, I think about the work that we do as generational change and generational dream makers because, you know, as first generations coming through here and graduating and going on, the likelihood of their children to have degrees is a lot greater and then it carries on so on and so forth.
00:26:16
Speaker
So, you know, in my eyes, you're a silent superhero of of change because you help provide, not just at Cal State Long Beach, but for all the years that you spent in higher education. I mean, there's so many students. 49 years. That's a long time. yeah and there's And there's so many students who have come ah across your path, you know, and colleagues too. yeah And I think, wow, what an amazing portfolio of work. It feels good. You know, it's funny, it's fun. So fun to run into, you know, most of my teaching career was with doctoral students. So you'd meet them at conventions and ah American Psychological Convention, especially or
00:26:56
Speaker
and just to see their success. You know, we have have two young, ah not so young anymore, I guess, but two of college students who visit us every year, you know, they're both full professors, one's the chair of us a department, and you just see, wow, that, you know, we were part of that, yeah and all that that has meant to their families.
Remaining Connected to the Community
00:27:16
Speaker
Yeah, and I think i think as even as as you leave Cal State Long Beach as president, and there will be others who will continually come up to you and say thank you for all that you've done to inspire my life and so on and so forth. And just because you're not president or more doesn't mean you're not part of this community. So I hope you will come back and join us. And you know, there's always a floor seat at the pyramid. That's good. i ah I'll keep my shoes for sure. So yeah. yeah No, we we really look forward to coming back at key times. um Not to be in the way, you know. Of course. But ah but we love we love a lot of people here. And we have friends from our days at UC Riverside that actually have bought a little condo on Ocean Boulevard.
00:28:05
Speaker
ah way up in one of those towers and they're only here part of the year. So we've already made some plans that we can come down for events and stay in their place. Yeah. So we're plotting and planning to stay connected to the city of Long Beach and the and Cal State Long Beach. Well, that's good because, you know, you're you're a part of this community. This is home. This is one of your homes throughout your journey. And so we, you know, Jane, we really appreciate you. I'm forever grateful for the opportunity you've afforded me and I know so many others. So thank you so much. And we appreciate you sharing your your life with us and on also sharing this podcast with us. Sure. My pleasure.
00:28:44
Speaker
So thank you for listening. This concludes another edition of At the Beach. I'm your host, Dan Montoya, Vice President for University Relations and Development, that produces this podcast. We also want to shout out our friends here at the library who produce who allow us this podcast room to record these podcasts.
00:29:02
Speaker
Thank you for listening, and Jane, in keeping with the tradition of starting our first episode, will you please please close us out with a Go Beach on three? One, two, three. Go Beach!