51±¬ÁÏÍø

Our core objective is to advise, govern, oversee policy and direction and assist with the leadership and general promotion of the Foundation to support the organization’s mission and needs.

Board of Directors

The Foundation of 51±¬ÁÏÍø is an auxiliary organization of The California State University ("CSU") and serves as the philanthropic arm of the university. It is governed by the California Education Code §8900 et seq. and the administrative regulations of The CSU as outlined in Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.

The Foundation’s 2026-2027 Board of Directors:

Jeanne Adams, Director
Curator and Advisor
Committee: Governance Committee

Bob Behl, Director
Retired Entrepreneur and Angel Investor
Committee: Investment Committee

Cyd Crampton, Treasurer
Vice President, Financial Advisor, RBC Wealth Management
Committee: Investment Committee

Milo Drake, Student Director
Associated Students Executive Officer and Vice President of Financial Affairs, California State University, Monterey Bay

Gregory Gonzalez, Chair
Director of Agriculture, Thornhill Ranches
Committee: Governance Committee

Arlene L. Maki Haffa, Ph.D., Faculty Director
Professor, California State University, Monterey Bay
Committee: Audit Committee

Melissa Jarnagin, Ex Officio
Vice President for Administration and Finance, California State University, Monterey Bay

Steven Keller, Secretary
Senior Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch
Committee: Governance Committee

Susan Lansbury, Director
Advisor
Committee: Investment Committee

Jordan Leininger, Director
Cultural Heritage Collections Manager
Committee: Governance Committee

Michael LaPlante, Chief Executive Officer
Vice President for University Advancement, California State University, Monterey Bay
Committees: Governance Committee, Investment Committee

Caroline MacDonald, Director
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Pebble Beach Company

Ian N. Oglesby, Vice Chair
Mayor, City of Seaside
Committee: Governance Committee

Eric Peterson, Director
District Manager, Northern District, Driscoll's
Committee: Audit Committee

Carlos Vargas-Aburto, Ph.D., Ex Officio
Interim President, California State University, Monterey Bay

Debbie Sober, Director
Chief Nursing Officer, Montage Health
Committee: Audit Committee

Our Mission and Purpose

The Foundation is organized for the following public and charitable purposes:

• Foster, encourage, and promote the goals and purposes of California State University, Monterey Bay (“51±¬ÁÏÍø”) including providing strategic advice and counsel to the president and other university officers;
• Promote a greater and better understanding in the community of 51±¬ÁÏÍø’s role and policies as they relate to 51±¬ÁÏÍø’s higher education mission;
• Administer gifts, bequests, devises, endowments, trusts and similar funds, and provide short and long-term management of these investment funds; and
• Play an active role in fundraising and development processes in support of 51±¬ÁÏÍø;
• Provide financial assistance to 51±¬ÁÏÍø and its goals and purposes through gifts, loans, and allocations to 51±¬ÁÏÍø and its controlled affiliates;
• Do any other act or thing and engage in and carry on any other activity in any manner connected with or incidental to, or calculated to promote, assist, aid, or accomplish any of the aforesaid purposes.