FULLERTON – California State Fullerton officials have named Willie Hagan, the school’s current vice president for administration and chief financial officer, as interim president until a permanent replacement for outgoing chief Milton Gordon is selected.

Hagan, 61, will begin as interim president Jan. 9. Gordon will begin a trustee professorship in spring and officially retires at the end of 2012.

Hagan, who earned $201,064 last year, joined Cal State Fullerton in 1996, overseeing the university’s administrative functions and has provided increasing levels of service to the campus during a period of unprecedented growth. From 2000 to 2003, he also served as interim vice president of university advancement and was instrumental in the reorganization of that division. Beginning in 2005, Hagan assumed responsibility for university financial operations, serving as the chief financial officer for the university.

Fullerton, with 35,500 students, has the largest enrollment of all 23 CSU campuses.

Gordon, 76, announced his retirement in September. Gordon, who earned $294,615 last year, has served as campus president for past 21 years. During his tenure, the look of the campus has changed dramatically, with the opening of several renovated and newly constructed buildings, including the Performing Arts Center, Pollak Library and the Mihaylo College of Business and Economics. It’s totaled some $636 million worth of new and rebuilt facilities and parking structures.

CSU trustees selected a committee in October to lead the search for a permanent replacement. CSU officials said they hope to name a new president before the start of the 2012-13 school year.

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