Former CSUMB dean named president of CSU Stanislaus

The California State University Board of Trustees has appointed Britt Rios-Ellis to serve as president of California State University, Stanislaus. Rios-Ellis currently serves as provost and executive vice president of Academic Affairs at Oakland University, a public research university in Rochester, Michigan. She will begin her new term July 1.

Rios-Ellis was the founding dean of Cal State Monterey Bay’s College of Health Sciences and Human Services, serving from 2014 to 2020. She led fundraising and strategic planning efforts. 

“I am both honored and humbled to serve this outstanding university alongside the talented faculty, staff, administrators and students at Stanislaus State, and to be the first new president selected under the leadership of Chancellor Mildred García,” said Rios-Ellis. “I am eager to get to know the Turlock and Stockton communities and work together to ensure that the positive impact of our students’ and the university’s overall success is felt profoundly throughout the region.”

Rios-Ellis succeeds Interim President Susan E. Borrego, who has served in the role since the retirement of President Emerita Ellen Junn in Summer 2023.

Rios-Ellis earned a bachelor's degree in political science and Spanish, a master's degree in health and fitness management, and a PhD in community health — all from the University of Oregon.

From 1994 to 2014, Rios-Ellis served as a faculty member in the Department of Health Science at California State University, Long Beach. During that time, she also served as founding director of CSULB’s Center for Latino Community Health, Evaluation and Leadership Training (2005 to 2015) in alliance with UnidosUS, where she worked to promote and advocate for the health, culture and well-being of diverse communities.

She was awarded a CSULB Outstanding Professor Award in 2013 for her significant impact on Latine health research and education. She was named Woman of the Year by the National Hispanic Business Women’s Association in 2010 and the Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 2009. Additionally, in 2008, she received the Sol Award from the Los Angeles County Office of HIV/AIDS Planning Prevention.