President Richard Rush of the California State University Channel Islands announced Thursday that he will retire at the end of the upcoming school year, marking the end of his inaugural presidency and four decades of work in higher education.
In his convocation address, Rush said he was honored to “have held in trust — for the once and future students and the good people of Ventura County and the region — this marvelous idea of a university." Fifteen years ago, Rush was expected to not only lead at Channel Islands but also build a recognized presence for the CSU’s newest campus among California’s existing public institutions. Nine years as president of Minnesota State University and a key role in founding CSU San Marcos had already earned him a positive reputation in this “founder” role. Before he became a high-level administrator, Rush taught english literature and served as dean of San Diego State University.
Rush hired Channel Islands’ first faculty and senior administrative team and worked on strategic, academic, fiscal, and physical master plans for the university’s future. He commissioned improvements to roadways and infrastructure and acquired adequate land for campus expansion. Perhaps most importantly, he led the university effort to achieve initial accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, as well as the school’s most recent reaccreditation.