Date: 09/26/2006

San José State University, in consultation with California State University Chancellor Charles B. Reed and the Executive Committee of the SJSU Academic Senate, has appointed Fred Najjar as SJSU's vice president for University Advancement. Najjar has served in this role on an interim basis since December 2005.

University Advancement plays a key role in shaping SJSU's future by seeking private funds that support its academic mission; strengthening state, city, and community partnerships; expanding alumni membership and outreach; and marketing SJSU to the larger community. Private giving to SJSU totaled more than $25 million in 2004-2005 and topped $27 million in 2005-2006.

"SJSU fund raising has been the highest ever over the past two years," said SJSU President Don W. Kassing. "With momentum increasing as we approach our 150th anniversary, the university is poised to reach new heights in external relations and fund raising. I am confident that such will be the case under Fred's leadership in University Advancement."

Najjar came to SJSU in 1989 as director of housing services. He later served as executive assistant to the vice president for Student Affairs and as associate vice president for Student Affairs. In 2000, he joined University Advancement where he has served as SJSU Alumni Association executive director, associate vice president for alumni affairs, and associate vice president for development and alumni relations.

Najjar serves on many university committees and boards, including the San José State University Tower Foundation for philanthropy and the San José State University Foundation for research. He also works with numerous community organizations and professional associations including the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, the Rotary Club of San Jose, the Beyond Martin Luther King collaborative with the city of San José, and the American College Personnel Association, which named him an Outstanding National Leader in 1989.

Before arriving at SJSU, Najjar was associate director of residence life at Arizona State University and director of residence halls administration at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He has a master's degree in counseling and student personnel administration and a bachelor's degree in public administration from Virginia Tech.

Photo of Fred Najjar.

Offering rigorous coursework and research opportunities in 134 areas of study, San José State is Silicon Valley's largest institution of higher learning with 30,000 students and 3,000 faculty and staff members. SJSU is part of the California State University system, the nation's largest senior system of higher education. SJSU's 154-acre downtown campus anchors the nation's 10th largest city.