Message from Eduardo M. Ochoa, President, California State University, Monterey Bay on March 9, 2021

After a long and distinguished career at our university, Vice President Kevin Saunders will retire on March 31. Mr. Saunders' leadership of the Division of Administration and Finance and the University Corporation was transformational. His commitment to supporting our university's academic mission throughout his tenure is unparalleled among his peers.

During his watch, the campus made remarkable strides and bold entrepreneurial moves, including several new buildings: Business and Information Technology; College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, Promontory; and the new Otter Student Union opening this fall. He also oversaw the complete removal of remaining blighted Fort Ord structures, acquisition of Ryan Ranch and CSUMB at Salinas City Center buildings, and the leasing of CSUMB at North Salinas educational center.

Under his leadership of the University Corporation at Monterey Bay, the campus has received regular and significant annual financial contributions in addition to a variety of contracted support services like East Campus housing, food services, and the bookstore. The Corporation has also supported our faculty's contracts and grants activities in Academic Affairs and other campus divisions.

CSUMB has grown and blossomed during Kevin's time at the helm. We will miss his acerbic wit and his passion for supporting our students and the faculty and staff who serve them. We are all very grateful for his contributions and wish him well in his future endeavors.