Chico State President - Steve Perez

Steve Perez became Chico State’s 13^th president on July 1, 2023, after serving as the University’s interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. As president, he intentionally focuses on building and maintaining strong teams that will work hard every day to support the success of Chico State students, colleagues, and the region. 

Prior to coming to Chico State, Perez served as interim president from January to December 2022 at San Jose State University, where he kept the institution on an upward trajectory during a time of transition.  He was previously provost and vice president of Academic Affairs at Sacramento State. Over his two decades of service to that university, he also served as associate professor, professor, assistant to the president for special projects, faculty athletics representative, interim dean for the College of Business Administration, and interim provost. During his time teaching, Perez taught macroeconomics at all levels, as well as econometrics, sports economics, labor economics, and mathematics for economists. 

Perez and his wife, Tanya, revived the tradition of the President occupying the Albert E. Warren’s Center, Julia Morgan house, at Chico State when they moved in last August.  In September, he shared the house with the community by hosting two open house events. Steve has been a member of the San Jose Rotary and worked to support his communities in multiple ways. He is especially fond of the time he spent coaching his two sons’ Little League teams.