Lynnette Zelezny (‘79, Psychology, ‘81, M.A. Psychology). In 2018 Zelezny made history by becoming the first woman president of California State University Bakersfield. In 2020 Zelezny was recognized as the Robert C. Maxson President of the Year by the California State Student Association (CSSA). In addition to her Psychology degrees from Humboldt State, Zelezny has earned a Ph.D. in Applied Social Psychology from Claremont Graduate University and an M.B.A. with distinction from the Craig School of Business at Fresno State. She has also earned professional certificates in management from Harvard University and in executive leadership from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Prior to joining CSU Bakersfield, Zelezny served for 30 years at Fresno State in roles that included provost, associate provost, dean and associate vice president in continuing and global education, associate dean for the campus’s Craig School of Business, and chair of the psychology department. Zelezny has served as a visiting professor at the University of Stockholm in Sweden, an American Council of Education Fellow at Towson University in Maryland, and as a Fulbright Scholar in Germany. An applied social psychologist, Zelezny has published research related to the environment, health, leadership, and student success for underrepresented students.