Sacramento State Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Joseph Sheley is leaving his position to become the interim president of CSU Stanislaus, the university announced Thursday in a press release.

Sheley said he was asked by Chancellor Charles Reed to serve as the interim president of CSU Stanislaus, replacing Hamid Shirvani, who had been president since 2005.

“I took the time to consider it and talk it over with my wife; it’s a really good opportunity to do something exciting and important,” Sheley said. “Once I did some homework, I actually felt very fortunate to have that opportunity. So, at this point in my career, it’s an opportunity I want to pursue.”

Shirvani, who is leaving Stanislaus to become chancellor of the North Dakota University system, sent Sheley his congratulations and wished him the best of luck in a press release.

“I am extremely pleased with Chancellor Reed’s selection of Dr. Joseph Sheley as the interim president. He is an excellent choice,” Shrivani said in a press release. “Provost Sheley has provided commendable service to CSU Sacramento and is a highly respected academic leader within the CSU system. I look forward to providing him with any assistance necessary during this transition.”

Sheley, an alumnus of Sac State, began here in 1996 as dean of the College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies. He served in that position until 2005. He then served as executive vice president from 2005-06 before being named provost.

“Joe has provided steadfast leadership of Academic Affairs during his time as Provost,” President Alexander Gonzalez wrote. “His efforts have helped us foster new cooperation across the University, and I have relied on his honest decision-making during the recent budget difficulties.”

Sheley said he has plans for what he wants to do at Stanislaus, which includes familiarizing himself with the community.

“Walking in the front door with nobody knowing me, the first thing I really want to do is get to know the people over there – faculty, staff, students community – (and) find out what’s important to them,” Sheley said. “I can see that they’ve got a really competitive student body, they’ve got good faculty, they’ve got a very nice campus and they’ve got a community that appreciates and supports them.”

Sheley begins his term at Stanislaus on June 11. He said he does not have specific personal goals, rather goals for the entire campus.

“It’s not a matter of what I want to do over there, it’s a matter of working with them to decide what we want to do,” Sheley said.

The main difference between Sac State and Stanislaus’ campus is enrollment size. Sac State’s enrollment is close to 30,000, while Stanislaus’ enrollment is 8,300.

Despite the difference, Sheley said he likes what he sees with the Stanislaus campus, as he has visited it in the past.

Sheley has a plan of action for his presidency – and it is a simple plan.

“The No. 1 goal is to listen,” Sheley said. “Not sit back and listen, but engage and listen. I really can let people teach me, but teach me rapidly – what’s on their minds, what they value – and then to try to work with that community and build priorities about what’s on their mind and what they value.”

Going from provost to president is a substantial move, but Sheley said he recognizes the difference between the positions. Responsibility is something he is focusing on as the interim president.

“The president’s job is generally a … different position than any I’ve held before – provost included,” Sheley said. “The provost is engaged in a lot of things. But in the end, it is the president whose decisions ultimately are the ones that people live with and it’s the president who comes to be identified with the campus. The responsibility is a more visible responsibility.”

Sheley said he is going to miss Sac State and, when he was a student, did not see himself returning to the university.

“To have come back here and watched it change – even in these really tough times – I’m proud of what everybody’s done to pitch in,” Sheley said. “We’ve managed not only to hold it together, but actually do an awfully lot of positive things during what are really challenging budget times.”

Gonzalez said in Friday’s press release Sheley’s committed leadership helped during some difficult times in recent years.

“His efforts have helped us foster new cooperation across the university, and I have relied on his honest decision-making during the recent budget difficulties,” Gonzalez said.

It would be easy to blame budget problems, but Sheley said he sees what the campus has managed to do in spite of them and he is proud of it.

The improved relationship between the university and alumni is something Sheley said he is most proud of in his time at Sac State.

“Students who are students now are having, to me, a much more genuine and involved university experience,” Sheley said. “I see the students on campus now for longer periods of time during the day. I see them sitting in groups. I see them more engaged in organizations. It means they’re going to carry away from here not just a diploma, but that relationship and that’s one that you keep for life.”

Working with students has been one of Sheley’s best accomplishments, he said.

“One of the nice things about being the provost is that you’re working with student groups … trying to keep them integrated – I’ve made a lot of friends,” Sheley said. “I have good colleagues here and this is my alma mater. I’m passionate about Sac State. I’ll miss that engagement with the university and the people here.”

John Kepley, special assistant to the president, said Sheley’s dedication to the students in the system is something he admires.

“He is very dedicated to the students of Sacramento State and students in the CSU in general,” Kepley said. “He’s an ideal story. He grew up in Sacramento. Sacramento State was kind of his only option back then for pursuing higher education.”

Kepley said Sheley was always there for him when he needed help.

“I think I’ll miss mostly that he’s ‘Joe,’” Kepley said. “To know that I always had somebody – if I had a question on the academic affairs side – I could always go to him.”

Sheley said interim positions are usually stated in one-year terms. And although Sheley said it is not necessarily his goal to be the president of CSU Stanislaus for the rest of his career, he could see himself being in the position until he retires.

“The nice thing about the interim is that nobody’s made promises in any way, shape or form to anybody. It gives everybody involved a chance to get to know each other,” Sheley said.

There is no word yet on who will replace Sheley as provost at Sac State.

Sheley said he is ready for the next step in his career.

“I’m going to Stanislaus and I’m giving ‘em everything I’ve got,” Sheley said.

Dustin Nosler can be reached at [email protected].