Dean’s Message

Meet The Dean

Dr. Deborah ThienGreetings! I’m so pleased to welcome you to the College of Liberal Arts. I’ve been a professor in the CLA since 2006 and the dean of the college since Fall 2022, and I still find myself impressed and delighted with the professors, staff, and students with whom I have the honor of working each day.

The CLA is the largest college on campus and one of the biggest in the entire California State University system. We house 29 departments and programs, and support 11 centers and institutes, where faculty and students research first amendment issues, the impacts of future automated tools on human operators in our National Airspace System, and the latest in translation tools, among many other pursuits.

Our distinguished faculty not only publish research in top journals, but also, they write books and win awards for teaching and mentoring students. You might find some of them familiar: you’ve probably heard them discussing everything from election results to pop culture on local and national news, read their articles in newspapers and magazines, or seen them providing expert analysis on TV. Esteemed Africana Studies professor Dr. Maulana Karenga created the Kwanzaa celebration.

Our students are just as impressive, participating in research competitions, internships, study-abroad programs, and clubs that enhance what they learn in the classroom. They also shine on the national stage; our Moot Court team, in the political science department, recently won its third national championship.

We are so proud of what we do here in the College of Liberal Arts. We can’t wait to meet you!