San Jose State chooses 3 finalists for president

Originally published in the San Francisco Chronicle March 12, 2011.

By Nanette Asimov, Chronicle Staff Writer

The president of Cal State East Bay, Mohammad Qayoumi, is among three finalists to lead San Jose State University, among the most popular CSU campuses in the state.

He and two other finalists – Leroy Morishita, San Francisco State’s chief financial officer; and David Steele, dean of the College of Business at San Jose State – will participate in separate public question-and-answer sessions next week at San Jose State.

One of them will replace Interim President Don Kassing, whose one-year term ends this summer.

Qayoumi holds several degrees in engineering and has presided over an effort to transform his Hayward campus into a hub of science, technology, engineering and math education.

At San Francisco State, Morishita has emphasized expansion, acquiring 46 acres that include 959 apartments and open land.

Steele, former president of Chevron Latin America, has experience managing billions of dollars and thousands of employees.

Details about how to participate in next week’s sessions are at www.sjsu.edu/president/presidentialsearch.