Michael E. Spagna succeeded Tom Jackson, Jr. as interim president of Cal Poly Humboldt on August 26, 2024.

Spagna had been provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at CSU Dominguez Hills since 2017 where he provided strategic leadership and oversight for the University’s academic vision. He also served at the system level as provost representative on the CSU Admission Advisory Council and as commissioner for the CSU Commission of Professional and Continuing Education.

Prior to joining CSUDH, Spagna held several positions at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) over a 25-year period, including professor and dean of the Michael D. Eisner College of Education.

Prior to his service at CSUN, Spagna served as consultant to the California State Department of Education; coordinator of the Services to Students with Learning Disabilities program at University of California, Berkeley; learning disabilities specialist and lecturer at Chabot College in Livermore, California; and special education teacher at Landmark West School in Culver City, and at the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA.