Extended Education dean’s career has focused on social mobility

By Roger Ruvolo

When CSUMB began to expand opportunities in international studies and extended education, it found one candidate who had built her career in those two key areas. 

The result: On July 1, Yimin Wang became the new dean of the College of Extended Education and International Programs. 

The university’s description of the job highlighted a desire for a leader able to create and implement new programs in both areas. 

Just right for Wang – that’s pretty much what she’s been doing during her 18-year career. In fact, she was doing it before graduating. Wang’s career began in Singapore at the National Institute of Education. She started developing online and interdisciplinary courses while she was completing her PhD in education policy studies at Indiana University Bloomington, in 2014. 

Since then, she has dedicated her career to improving and expanding access to social mobility for students of all backgrounds and aspirations.

She held leadership roles at the University of Illinois, Illinois State University, and Weber State University before becoming vice provost for global affairs at Northern Arizona University in 2022.

At NAU, Wang worked with academic colleges to expand the university’s portfolio through the development of international collaborative programs delivered in innovative online, hybrid and in-person formats. 

Wang co-led NAU’s 100% Career Ready Initiative, integrating various strategies into a student-centered, career-ready framework in collaboration with local, regional and global industry partners. The initiative received a Strada Foundation Innovation in Career Services Grant.

“I really enjoy the deep collaboration between my college and other colleges at CSUMB,” Wang said. “Every one of our programs – whether degree or non-degree – is developed and implemented in partnership with another CSUMB college.”

“The creativity that emerges from this kind of collaboration and interdisciplinarity has been truly inspiring,” she added.

Among Wang’s outside interests is hiking, and she’s enjoyed hikes along numerous coastal and mountain trails. She’s also learning belly dancing – “a way to learn to laugh at myself,” she said.