The release of the California Governor’s final budget offer of $142 million to the California State University system will give Sonoma State the opportunity to hire nearly 45 new professors in the next three years. 

The students at Sonoma State could reap the benefits of this opportunity to add to the existing pool of tenure-track professors. 

Provost Andrew Rogerson revealed that Sonoma State is already on its way to increasing the number of professors in an effort to offer more class sections and relieve overflowing courses. 

Rogerson explained that just this year, Sonoma State was already able to hire 11 new professors, none of which are a part of the possible 45 future hires. 

The Hutchins School of Liberal Studies welcomed Dr. Mercy Romero as an Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies and American Literature/American Studies. The Philosophy department added Dr. Joshua Glasgow as an Assistant Professor. 

The Biology department welcomed Dr. Sean Place as an Assistant Professor. The Department of Mathematics and Statistics welcomed Martha Shott as an Assistant Professor. The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies welcomed Dr. Emily Ascencio as an Assistant Professor. The Counseling Department welcomed Dr. Tiffany O’Shaughnessy as an Assistant Professor. The Sociology Department welcomed Dr. Brian Gillespie as an Assistant Professor. 

Sonoma State also welcomed Ms. Caitlin Plovnick as the newest Librarian. 

Along with these new professors, Sonoma State welcomed three visiting professors: Dr. Jennifer Casey to the Chemistry Department, Dr. Erik Nielsen to the Department of Sociology and Dr. Renata Schaefer as the International Business and General Management Visiting Professor. 

These professors bring degrees from all over the country from universities such as University of Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis, UC Riverside, University of Pennsylvania, UCLA and many more. 

Upon meeting the new hires, President Ruben Armiñana conveyed his hope for the next few years.

“Professors are starting to retire and these new faculty will bring their own educations and experiences to the university, as well as creative approaches on how to improve the curriculum,” said Armiñana. 

In regards to the future hires, Provost Rogerson will meet with the Dean’s Council in the next year to decide which departments will get new faculty. 

The council will meet and discuss where the need for more course sections or advising might rest. 

“Right now there is need in the Mathematics Department and the Chemistry department but the council will make the final decisions based on a variety of factors,” said Rogerson. 

Rogerson also explained that the decisions will be made in a two year period, meaning that certain department needs that are not met in the first round of hires, will be met in the next academic year.

Furthermore, these new hires will have no direct effect on student fees, since these hires are subsidized from the Governor by the state of California.  

Sonoma State students and teachers alike could benefit from new faculty that could bring new and creative insight into existing courses.