In an interview, Sonoma State President Mike Spagna outlines plans for admissions, program stability, and the future of athletics and DEI.
Sonoma State’s next chapter is being written with enrollment and campus morale at the center, as new President Michael E. Spagna, known as “Mike,” tries to steady a university that has faced repeated disruptions.
Spagna took office in January after a tenure across California’s higher education system. most recently as interim president at Cal Poly Humboldt.. In his first months at Sonoma State. he says the immediate priority is providing a sense of hope to a community shaken by falling attendance and major cuts that removed dozens of degree programs and affected NCAA athletics.
That context matters because enrollment challenges in higher education rarely hinge on one factor. Misryoum reports that when students and families question the value of college, universities often have to combine outreach, admissions changes, and improved student support to rebuild trust.
In an interview conducted in early April. Spagna linked Sonoma State’s enrollment problems to broader shifts after the pandemic and to what he describes as a growing question among high school graduates about why college should be worth the investment.. He also pointed to instability at the top as a compounding issue. noting that the university has had multiple presidents in recent years and saying longer leadership tenures can help the institution regain momentum.
His strategy for increasing enrollment includes expanding “guaranteed admission. ” an approach designed to reduce uncertainty for students who meet set academic requirements and attend partner high schools.. He also described efforts to reopen “pipelines” that once brought significant numbers of students from parts of Southern California and the Central Coast. alongside recruiting efforts in places like San Diego. Los Angeles. and the Central Coast.. Meanwhile. Spagna said he is pushing the university to take its presence into high schools more aggressively. with the president’s own visits positioned as part of building confidence with families.
Behind those plans is a practical lesson in recruitment: students often choose based on clarity and support, not just academics.. Misryoum notes that when admissions pathways. early experiences. and job-focused preparation move closer to students’ first steps. universities can make the college decision feel less like a leap.
Spagna also emphasized that the university needs to help students land paid internships and jobs earlier. starting in the first year.. He highlighted dual enrollment as another way to ease the transition by giving students early exposure to college expectations and credit while still in high school.. He said the university is actively evaluating which strategies deliver the strongest return.
On athletics. Spagna said he expects a careful. outcomes-focused approach. while stressing the role sports can play in campus community life and in bringing people together beyond the classroom.. He referenced NCAA Division II expectations and described an athletic task force that proposed a slate of sports for potential return. along with plans that depend on available funding.. He said his team is working with state commitment funds and is aiming to determine whether the university can move forward by the end of June.
Diversity and program preservation are also part of the conversation.. Spagna said he is focused on “reimagining” areas that faced cuts. rather than framing the work as simply restoring past offerings.. He pointed to the structure of Sonoma State’s academic units. including a College of Education. Counseling. and Ethnic Studies. and connected these programs to preparing students to participate as critical thinkers in democratic life.
As the university moves through its rebuilding period. the bigger goal. according to Spagna. is not only to stabilize enrollment but to set Sonoma State on an upward path over the next couple of years.. Misryoum believes that if recruitment. retention. and program strategy align. campuses facing repeated disruption can recover faster than they expect. because students respond to visible momentum and consistent leadership.