The Colorado State University Board of Governors named Tony Frank as Chancellor of the CSU system and also voted to combine the roles of the Chancellor so that Frank can still serve as president at the Fort Collins campus.

The board has authorized incoming Chair Bill Mosher to negotiate the terms of a contract with Frank for the additional duties included under the chancellor role. The chancellor serves as chief executive officer for the CSU system including the CSU-Pueblo and Global campuses. Frank will work with the board on system operations and legislative strategy; serve as the primary spokesman; and work to increase engagement of alumni, donors and the business community.  

“I know we’re asking a lot of him, but the Board is dedicated to making sure that appropriate resources from across the CSU System are leveraged to ensure this strategy is successful for the students we serve, our institutions and for Tony,” Mosher said in a press release.

Before 2009 the position of System Chancellor was normally held by the president of the Fort Collins campus. Joe Blake became the first sole chancellor of the System in 2009, followed by Martin.  Frank, the 14th president at CSU, has served in various roles at the University since 1993, ranging from a faculty member, researcher, department chair, associate dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, vice president for research and provost and senior vice president.

“The institutions of the CSU System are a powerful social and economic force in Colorado and beyond, and they are grounded in one important goal – transforming the lives of students through the power of higher education,” Frank said in a press release. “I’m honored and privileged to serve as chancellor of a System with three wonderful institutions that are each aligned behind that foundational notion and that are committed to delivering on that goal and enhancing Colorado’s future through teaching, research and service.”

Collegian Reporter Skyler Leonard can be reached at news@collegian.com or on Twitter @skyler_leonard.