Dear Cal State East Bay community,
It is with mixed emotions that I write to share that Evelyn Buchanan has decided to retire as Vice President for University Advancement, effective September 15, to spend more time with family.
Many of you are already aware of Evelyn’s many accomplishments over the past four-plus years. Her leadership has positioned University Advancement for extraordinary momentum and long-term success. Thanks to the strength of the advancement team and the partnerships she has cultivated across campus, we are on track for another outstanding fundraising year — just two months into the fiscal year, we have already raised more than $6 million, halfway to our annual goal. This builds on the incredibly successful fundraising results of the past four years, including the transformative $50 million gift from MacKenzie Scott. These milestones reflect donor confidence and institutional and Board strength, and they establish a strong foundation for continued success.
Evelyn also strengthened the Educational Foundation’s visibility and engagement across campus and the region. Working with members of the Board, she recruited an exceptional, highly qualified group of directors committed to advancing our mission, and her leadership in revising the Educational Foundation’s by-laws and investment policy helped position the us for future financial sustainability and growth.
She has also helped assemble a marketing and communications team that is better positioned to raise the University’s profile during a challenging and unpredictable time for higher education. Under her leadership, we launched a rebrand, a new mascot, and enrollment marketing campaigns that have helped raise our profile and recruit new students to campus.
Evelyn’s leadership of the Career Empowerment Center is another lasting contribution that will benefit students for years to come and aligns Cal State East Bay with the recently launched CSU’s strategic plan and Student Success initiative.
Thanks to Evelyn’s careful planning, this moment of change is also one of continuity and stability. Upon Evelyn’s retirement, Dr. Michele Lahti will step into the interim vice president role. Having served as vice president for advancement at CSU Stanislaus from 2016-24 and most recently having served as interim vice president for advancement at Bellevue College in the Seattle area, Dr. Lahti brings extensive relevant experience to the role, and I am confident this will be a smooth transition.
Please join me in thanking Evelyn for her dedication, vision, and leadership, and in wishing her well in this next chapter.
Sincerely,
Cathy Sandeen
President
August 24, 2026