[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 68 (Thursday, April 18, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S2869]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO DR. JOLENE KOESTER

 Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, on Thursday, April 4, the 
California State University, Northridge's--CSUN--``Soraya'' performing 
arts center honored the four-decade career of former CSUN president, 
Dr. Jolene Koester. I rise today to celebrate the tremendous 
contributions she has made to the California State University community 
and to California at large.
  Dr. Jolene Koester was born in Plato, MN, as the eldest of five 
children. Dr. Koester was the daughter of an auto mechanic and a stay-
at-home mom; both her parents had never finished high school. But even 
in a rural town where, as she says, girls ``were never encouraged to 
consider a future outside of the home,'' Dr. Koester dreamed bigger.
  Early on, it was in the classroom where Dr. Koester found mentors, 
friends, and a passion for learning that would last her a lifetime. It 
is that same passion that carried her through her studies to earn a 
bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota, a master's degree 
from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Ph.D. in speech 
communication after returning home to Minnesota.
  Despite hailing from a small, Midwest town that wouldn't even fill 
half of the performing arts center she would one day help build, Dr. 
Koester set out on what would become a 40-year career with the 
California State University system.
  After starting as an assistant professor at California State 
University, Sacramento, Dr. Koester quickly rose through the ranks, 
holding various positions in the academic affairs division before being 
appointed to serve as provost and vice president for academic affairs 
in 1993. In 2000, Dr. Koester was appointed to become the fourth 
president of CSUN, one of the largest campuses in the CSU system and 
the only public university in the San Fernando Valley.
  Under her leadership as president, she helped expand CSUN's student 
population by over 25 percent, increased retention and graduation 
rates, and opened their brandnew, state-of-the-art 1,700-seat 
performing arts center.
  After retiring as president of CSUN in 2011, Dr. Koester made her 
return to the CSU system in 2022, when she was appointed to serve as 
the interim chancellor of the entire CSU system, the second woman ever 
to lead the 23-university system.
  On a personal note, as a proud San Fernando Valley-native, I have 
seen Dr. Koester's genuine commitment to the San Fernando Valley. 
Appointed in the wake of the Northridge earthquake and following a 
decade of social and political unrest, Dr. Koester brought a vision and 
a resilience to campus that matched the hopes of our community. Her 
service and dedication to our community has made us proud.
  Whether in a small town in Minnesota or at the largest 4-year public 
university system in the Nation, the guidance of one mentor or leader 
can change the trajectory of countless students' lives. For tens of 
thousands of students in California, Dr. Jolene Koester has been that 
leader.
  CSU Northridge, the CSU system, and the entire State of California 
will always be grateful for her contributions.

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