Elizabeth Moulds: President Gerth’s right-hand woman

Carolina Quijano

It seems that Elizabeth Moulds has been on campus forever. To some, 35 years is forever, but not many know that Moulds has been at the university much longer than that, starting her career here as a student herself.

“I grew up in the Bay Area and graduated from Sac State in 1963 with a degree in Social Science. I loved the idea of going to school in a state capital. After Sacramento, I attended UC Berkeley to get my Masters in Political Science. I?m a relic here,” Moulds said with a laugh.

Once Moulds finished at Berkeley, she began teaching at the College of San Mateo and at American River College before returning to the university.

“I began teaching government here and was promoted to chair of the government department. Being department chair was lonely, there wasn?t much interaction between me and anyone else.

Working now as vice president and chief-of-staff, I am able to work with various groups and I?m involved in interesting and difficult things on campus,” Moulds said.

Moulds co-founded The Center for California Studies in 1984 with Tim Hodson, who is now executive director of the center. The goal of the center is to make the most of the resources Sac State has for being located in the state capitol.

In 1966, Charles Goethe donated a house designed by world-renowned architect Julia Morgan to the university. As part of her job at the university and because she is a board member of CSUS Foundation, which is in charge of Goethe?s will, Moulds worked on the 3-year restoration.

“I had volunteers working with me and everything fell into place. The entire cost of the renovation came to over $1 million, and we received private donations and donations from people willing to do the work pro bono for services. The rest of the money comes from revenues from the house being rented out and used,” Moulds said.

Hodson said Moulds? sense of humor and ability to remain calm in any situation allows her to work well with people.

“Along with many other characteristics, Betty is extremely knowledgeable in everything, especially things surrounding this campus. That allows her to work well in any position she holds,” Hodson said.

Moulds looks back on all the careers she?s held at Sac State and realizes how fortunate she?s been.

“Many people change careers throughout their lifetimes and I?ve been lucky to be at a university that is flexible where I can change careers and still be able to work here. This is a good place, I?d recommend it,” she said.

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