Fresno State announced Monday morning that Vice President for Student Affairs Frank Lamas is retiring on Dec. 31, 2020.
In a campus email, University President Dr. Joseph I. Castro said Lamas has provided passionate student-centered leadership across the university for the past six years.
“During his service as vice president, Fresno State’s commitment to student success has been significantly strengthened. His efforts have contributed to a marked increase in graduation rates and decreased gaps in achievement between underrepresented and other students,” Castro said. “We are making steady progress toward our campus’ ambitious Graduation Initiative 2025 goals, in part, because of student-centered initiatives championed by Dr. Lamas.”
In 2015, the California State University launched Graduation Initiative 2025, and Fresno State’s goals is to have 35% of first-time freshmen graduate in four years and 69% of first-time freshmen graduate in six years. The university also aspires to have 34% of transfer students graduate in two years and 80% of transfer students graduate in four years.
Until December, Lamas will be “working remotely on some special work assignments including evaluation of our enrollment management strategies,” a university spokesperson said.
Lamas took a leave during the fall 2019 semester. He did not return to campus in the spring.
“Vice President Frank Lamas advised the university that he would need to be on leave through the end of the 2019 calendar year,” the university said March 2. “In January, he extended his leave until the end of February 2020. Last week, his staff was advised that Dr. Lamas will be working remotely until May 31, 2020.”
Fresno State also told The Collegian on March 2 that Carolyn Coon had been serving as acting vice president of student affairs and enrollment management and would continue those duties. In Castro’s email sent to faculty on Monday, he said Coon will serve in that position through at least June 30, 2021.
Lamas has worked in higher education at nine institutions over 42 years. Before his time at Fresno State, Lamas was the vice president for student affairs and dean of students at the University of Texas at Arlington for ten years.
He also served as interim vice president for student affairs and associate vice president for student affairs at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. He also served as an assistant professor at UT Arlington from 2012 to 2014.
In addition to his service in higher education, Lamas has served on several national and state boards including the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NAPSA).
Lamas posted a statement on Twitter announcing his retirement.
“I am thankful for the many mentors and colleagues who have supported me, and I have had the pleasure to work and get to know,” Lamas said in the statement. “I am particularly thankful to my wife, Debbie, and my family for their support.”