Leroy Morishita, SF State’s executive vice president, was appointed interim president of Cal State East Bay today by California State University Chancellor Charles Reed. Morishita will take over at Cal State East Bay July 1.

“Dr. Morishita is a rare combination of visionary and pragmatist—qualities that will serve him well as East Bay’s leader,” wrote University President Robert A. Corrigan in an email, announcing Morishita’s departure. “(They are) qualities very much in demand during this most challenging time for public higher education in California.”

Morishita, who has been with SF State for 29 years, will take over for current East Bay President Mohammad Qayoumi who will become president of San Jose State University, according to a press release on the CSU website. Qayoumi will be San Jose State’s fourth president in eight years, said Cal State East Bay spokesman Barry Zepel.

Morishita was also a finalist for the San Jose State job, but the chancellor and the board of trustees chose Qayoumi instead. Still, Morishita is excited about his upcoming opportunity.

“I am honored to have been selected to assume the leadership of East Bay, and look forward to working closely with faculty, staff and students as we move forward,” Morishita said. “I have a great appreciation for the opportunities East Bay has to offer and I am excited about the possibilities for its future.”

Reed, who was at Cal State East Bay to meet with various segments of the university’s population and was picketed by faculty over the budget cuts, made the announcement around 10 a.m., according to  Zepel.

“He sounds terrific,” Zepel said. “I have not met him yet, but everything I’ve heard about him is that he’s wonderful.”

Morishita is the chief financial officer for SF State and is the primary administrator in charge of forming the annual budget. There is no time line for when, or if, a permanent president will be chosen, Zepel said. However, Morishita is well-qualified to be president of Cal State East Bay; originally from Fresno, he received a master’s degree in counseling from the University and a doctorate in administration, planning and social policy from Harvard University. In his nearly three decades working for SF State he has been involved in such areas as budget planning, investment and chairing the CSU Risk Management Authority.

“We are confident that Leroy will transition seamlessly into the position as president, and know that East Bay will have an experienced and proven leader with a familiarity of the campus and the CSU system,” Reed said.