CWU President James L. Gaudino announced that he will step down from his position as president. He will do so July 31, 2021.

CWU officials sent out a press release this morning, saying Gaudino would be making a campus wide announcement at 3:30 p.m. At 3:02 p.m. Gaudino emailed the campus community, informing that he would be stepping down from his position in 2021.  

“Serving you has been an honor. I look forward to our continued successes during the next year and a half, and, perhaps, as a faculty colleague in the years to come,” Gaudino wrote in an email to students at 3:02 p.m. “Even more, I look forward to many continued friendships.” 

At a press conference, Gaudino said for the next year and a half he will focus on the three goals outlined during his state of the university address in October: retention, diversity and sustainability.

Gaudino became CWU’s President in 2009. Prior to his position, Gaudino was the executive director of the National Communication Association and was a faculty member at Michigan State University’s advertising department. 

In his 11 years as president, Gaudino has overseen renovation and construction projects including Barto Hall, Samuelson Hall, Northside Commons and the recent groundbreaking of the new health sciences building.

“We rebuilt much of our physical plant with the support of the state Legislature and the Governor, providing the finest teaching and learning spaces available,” Gaudino said in his announcement.