Cal State LA President Berenecea Johnson Eanes has been named presidential sponsor of the American Council on Education (ACE) Women’s Network of Southern California, a regional leadership collective dedicated to advancing women in higher education. She succeeds Cal Poly Pomona President Soraya M. Coley, who began serving in the role in 2018.
The appointment places President Eanes at the center of a powerful regional network that shapes the future of higher education leadership across Southern California. As presidential sponsor, she will work closely with ACE Women’s Network leaders to expand mentorship, professional development, and pathways to executive leadership for women across colleges and universities in the region.
As part of her new role, Cal State LA will host the ACE Women’s Leadership Conference, welcoming higher education professionals from across Southern California for a day of connection, learning, and collaboration.
“Creating spaces where women leaders can learn from one another and build community is essential to strengthening our institutions and the communities they serve,” President Eanes said. “This work aligns deeply with Cal State LA’s mission and with Los Angeles itself—a region shaped by collaboration, resilience, and possibility.”
Now in her third year as president, Eanes has steadily expanded Cal State LA’s footprint as a civic and regional leader. She is the ninth president of the university and the first woman to hold the position. Since assuming office on Jan. 8, 2024, following her appointment by the California State University Board of Trustees, her leadership has emphasized student success, equity-driven innovation, and deep engagement with Los Angeles communities and partners.
Central to this progress is the leadership team President Eanes has assembled, bringing together some of the brightest minds from higher education, public service, and industry.
Together, they are advancing key initiatives focused on student achievement, workforce alignment, research excellence, and community impact—ensuring that Cal State LA continues to create pathways to opportunity and upward mobility for students across the region.
In 2024, Eanes was elected to the Board of Directors of the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU), an international organization of institutions committed to improving the social, economic, and cultural well-being of the cities they serve. Her peers selected her for the 2024–26 term in recognition of her leadership in advancing the mission of urban universities.
CUMU designated Cal State LA as an anchor institution for its sustained commitment to community transformation. The university is ranked number one in the nation for student upward mobility, according to the 2025 California Mobility Index.
“At its core, my leadership is about building opportunity—by working together, investing in people, and ensuring that students and communities across Los Angeles can thrive,” Eanes said. “Progress happens when institutions lead with purpose and partnership.”
Beyond campus, Eanes is deeply engaged in regional and national leadership, serving on the Board of Governors of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, and the Board of Directors of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.
Founded in 1977 by the American Council on Education, the ACE Women’s Network is a national system of state-based networks designed to advance women’s leadership in higher education. Southern California is one of two regions in California facilitating mentorship, leadership development, and collaboration among women leaders shaping the future of higher education.
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California State University, Los Angeles is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 22,000 students and has more than 260,000 distinguished alumni.
