Cal State LA President William A. Covino was named to the executive committee of the Coalition of Metropolitan and Urban Universities, the organization announced Tuesday. The Coalition of Metropolitan and Urban Universities (CUMU) is an international organization of universities in large metropolitan areas that share common understandings of their institutional missions and values and commitments to improving their surrounding communities. The coalition’s executive committee selected Covino and Metropolitan State University of Denver President Janine Davidson to begin serving as members at-large through October 2019.
“On behalf of the executive committee, I want to thank Dr. Davidson and Dr. Covino for accepting their respective nominations,” said Bobbie Laur, CUMU executive director. “Both believe in the power of higher education to transform lives and are leading exciting initiatives that invest in their students while delivering on their public missions to positively impact change in their respective urban communities.” Cal State LA is one of only 30 universities in the nation designated as an anchor institution by CUMU as part of a new effort to uplift and transform the economies and social well-being of communities across the nation. “Cal State LA is dedicated to serving and enriching Los Angeles through the power of higher education. Our collaboration with CUMU underscores that mission,” Covino said. Since becoming Cal State LA president in September 2013, Covino has emphasized the importance of a curriculum that prepares students to transform the future and improve the quality of life in Los Angeles and beyond. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the nation for the upward mobility of its students. Covino is a member of a number of regional and national organizations including the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International, Association of American Colleges and Universities, Western Senior College and University Commission, Board of Directors for the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities, Council for Advancement and Support of Education, and UNITE-LA.
