Media Contact:
Tara G. Cunningham
Dillard University
tcunningham@dillard.edu
(504) 816-4024
Dillard University proudly congratulates Dr. Berenecea Johnson Eanes, Class of 1988, on her investiture as the ninth president of California State University, Los Angeles on Monday, August 18, 2025.
Dr. Eanes, who earned her bachelor’s degree in Public Health from Dillard University, is a trailblazer as the first woman to lead Cal State LA. She was appointed by the California State University Board of Trustees and began her tenure on January 8, 2024.
A distinguished leader in higher education, Dr. Eanes previously served as president of York College, City University of New York, where she guided a community of more than 1,100 faculty, staff, and administrators and managed a $91 million budget. She also served as a professor in the Department of Social Work.
Her appointment to Cal State LA marks a return to the CSU system. From 2012 to 2019, Dr. Eanes served as vice president for Student Affairs at California State University, Fullerton, where she advanced student success initiatives, oversaw campus infrastructure, and supported the university’s strategic plan.
Dr. Eanes holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Health from Dillard University, a master’s degree in Social Work from Boston University, and a doctorate in Social Work from Clark Atlanta University.
Dillard University celebrates this historic achievement and extends our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Eanes for her inspiring leadership and continued commitment to higher education. She embodies the excellence and resilience of Dillard graduates who are making a lasting impact on communities around the world.
