Broad Strokes, Few Details In Sonoma State President's First Address

ROHNERT PARK-COTATI, CA — Sonoma State University is moving to rebuild and redefine itself under new leadership, with President Michael Spagna laying out plans Friday to expand academics and explore a sustainable return for NCAA Division II athletics — his first public address since taking over a campus rocked by budget cuts, resignations, and declining enrollment.

“The engagement of Sonoma State’s communities, alumni, supporters, elected officials, and the media reflects the importance of this institution as an educational, economic, and social force in the North Bay,” Spagna said in a statement.

This was the first opportunity since Spagna was appointed in November to hear his strategy for turning around the troubled campus. However, Spagna’s first address offered more broad direction than specific details.

He outlined a high-level vision for new academic programs and a cautious return of Division II athletics.

• Revising programs to meet workforce needs, including integrating geology and environmental science
• Expanding health-related pathways, including nursing and a new interdisciplinary health science major
• Growing offerings for engineering and business students, with a biomechanical engineering minor and an online wine business MBA

“These initiatives reflect Sonoma State’s continued focus on student success and career preparation,” Spagna said.

Athletics, discontinued in January 2025, are also under review. After Sonoma State ended the sports program, the university received $8 million in one-time state funding for athletics.

To determine whether Division II sports can return sustainably, a "fiscal feasibility team" will study funding models, long-term costs, and student impact. This follows a study by an athletics task force that spent six months developing recommendations for the future of NCAA Division II athletics at Sonoma State.

“The Task Force report offers a thoughtful starting point for reimagining athletics at Sonoma State,” he said. “Any recommendation of this scale must be supported by a clear and sustainable financial plan before lasting decisions can be made.”

MORE: Amid Budget Cuts, Controversies New President Tapped For Sonoma State University