After working for Sacramento State for 23 years, Dr. Marilyn Hopkins, dean of the College of Health and Human Services, is leaving to become provost at Touro University-California on Dec. 1.

“Marilyn will be very difficult to replace,” said Evelyn Novak, the dean’s administrative analyst. “She has a very professional and knowledgeable side, but also a very fun and friendly side. We all will miss her.”

Hopkins graduated from Sac State with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing in 1970. From 1979-84, Hopkins attended the University of California, San Francisco, where she earned a Doctorate and Master of Science Degree in Nursing. By the 1980s, she decided that she wanted to continue to work at Sac State.

Though at first she considered teaching a temporary form of employment, Hopkins continued to teach for 23 years.

“I hoped to leave behind a legacy, where people would recognize me not by my own achievements, but by the success of my graduates,” she said.

Hopkins continued to work full-time as a faculty member until 1998 when she was selected for the associate dean position in the College of Health and Human Services.

As associate dean, Hopkins was responsible for a number of programs within the campus and throughout the community. Hopkins managed grant funds to support projects such as the AmeriCorps Project that created mentorship programs in low-performing elementary schools and also directed a grant that sent groups of students and faculty to work with high risk children, youth and families in the Folsom-Cordova School District.

“This position made me think and read a lot more about leadership and how it is different than management,” she said. “You have to own your leadership skills in order to help people.”

After working for as the associate dean for three years her predecessor left, but not before letting Hopkins know she should take his place.

“He was a great mentor to me,” Hopkins said. “He is the one who really pushed me to push myself, and encouraged me to apply for dean.”

“I was very pleased and honored,” she said. “I’ve always had a good sense of timing, but have also been very fortunate.”

Her new position required her to be responsible for seven different divisions and departments, over 5,000 students, 249 faculty and 34 staff, along with a budget exceeding $12 million.

Though she had many more responsibilities, her new tasks were the least of her worries.

“I never had trouble making decisions,” Hopkins said. “The presentation of myself as dean, and my ability to inspire students and faculty was much more difficult.”

Fred Baldini, Department Chair of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, began working with Dr. Hopkins in 2000 and said she had no difficulty inspiring her staff.

“She cares deeply about the programs and the college,” he said. “It has been a great pleasure working with her.”

Baldini recalled Hopkins efforts to motivate the administration on their retreats to the Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, Calif., back in better budget years.

“She took all the department chairs and the associate dean to meet in an environment that was extremely conducive to thinking outside of the box,” Baldini said. “She was always very proactive and a lot of fun.”

“This is a great opportunity for her and she’ll be greatly missed,” Baldini said.

Hopkins said she wishes the best to her faculty, staff and the students of Sac State.

“I’m very proud of what we’ve done together. I’m extremely proud of the students and the alumni that have graduated,” she said. “I encourage the students to keep studying. They will be leaders not only for today, but for the future.”

Sac State will begin a nationwide search for a new dean. The search is expected to last for a year.

Brittany Bottini can be reached at [email protected].