New Advancement VP sees great opportunity

By Mark Muckenfuss

Mike LaPlante says he is excited about the growth opportunities for Cal State Monterey Bay. 

“With available land and a growing enrollment, we have an opportunity to build or renovate buildings to enhance the student experience," said LaPlante, CSUMB’s new vice president of Advancement. He started June 1.

He said he looks forward to working with the campus leadership to “reinvigorate” the current Ripple Effect Campaign, a transformative effort that celebrates the powerful role that community partnerships and philanthropy play in shaping CSUMB’s future.

He also noted a few of the key initiatives outlined in the recently completed strategic plan for the campus, including expanding the nursing program and growing the Agricultural Plant and Soil Sciences department, both of which are positioned to address local workforce needs. 

“These are two really exciting directions to go that will lead to growth and foster community partnership,” he said. 

LaPlante spent a good portion of his professional life in athletics, both in marketing and as an assistant athletic director. He started out in the CSU at San Diego and then Cal Poly San Luis Obispo before moving to Colorado State University. A former football player – a rotator cuff injury cut short his quarterbacking career at the University of Evansville – working in athletics seemed a natural fit. But when he began to see how much of his time it demanded, it started looking less attractive. 

“There were long hours and not much family time,” he said. 

He and his wife, Korin, had three school-aged children at the time. So, when a chance came to move into advancement, he took it, first at Colorado State, then at Western Colorado University. 

A native of Toledo, Ohio, LaPlante earned a bachelor’s degree in sports management at Bowling Green State University. He later earned an MBA at Colorado State.

Moving to CSUMB, he said, was a chance to return to an area close to his wife’s hometown of Danville. 

“I feel blessed to be able to work in an area like this,” he said of the Monterey region. “It is spectacular. I felt, at first, like I turned in the mountains for the ocean, but, after exploring the area, I think you get both here. Although wearing hoodies in July is new to me,” he added with a smile.

In addition to the environment, he was drawn by what he heard from CSUMB President Vanya Quiñones. 

“I think Vanya and her leadership team have crafted a solid vision for Cal State Monterey Bay,” LaPlante said. “Sharing that vision with our community and alumni will undoubtedly inspire them and ultimately transform this campus.”

An important element in that, he said, will be promoting the unique aspects of what CSUMB has to offer. 

“Identifying our pride points, our points of distinction, and really defining those is critical,” he said.

He’d also like to stretch CSUMB’s reach in terms of new partners.

“Along with our neighbors on the Monterey Peninsula, Santa Cruz and possibly Silicon Valley could be opportunities for us,” he said. “But what I’m truly excited about is engaging with our alumni and encouraging them to get involved.”

And that involvement isn’t necessarily limited to monetary giving. 

“Alumni engagement plays a critical role in strengthening our university,” he said. “Something I learned along the way that I like to share with alumni to suggest ways for them to get engaged is called the four T’s: time, talent, treasure and testimony.  Whether it’s sitting on advisory boards, offering to be a guest lecturer, helping with internships, mentoring a student, creating a scholarship or simply sharing the good word of Cal State Monterey Bay with a neighbor, all alumni can make an impact.

They can be, he said, an army of educated ambassadors for their alma mater.

“We want them to be flying the flag,” LaPlante said. “Once an Otter, always an Otter.”