Dear Student Affairs family,

I'm excited to announce the appointment of Dr. Norma Larios as Interim Associate Vice President & Dean of Students, effective Monday, Aug. 18. Dr. Larios has served CSUSM for 20 years in progressive leadership roles, giving her an understanding of our campus culture, values, and community.

For the past six years, Dr. Larios has held the role of Assistant Vice President for Divisional Operations in Student Affairs, overseeing budget administration, personnel, strategic planning, assessment, marketing and communications, and business operations. In this role, Dr. Larios serves as the division’s senior manager for urgent and sensitive matters elevated to the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA), including high-stakes student cases, crisis response, and policy and compliance issues—while also collaborating with senior leaders across the division and campus to advance strategic initiatives and coordinate responses to complex student needs, all in support of student safety, belonging, and success. She has also been instrumental in the division’s Reimagination Initiative, which aligns divisional goals and outcomes with the current budget climate by fostering creativity, driving innovation, and creating opportunities for advancement through the strategic use of existing talent. In leading this work, Dr. Larios has guided multiple reorganizations, advancing the division with empathy, care, and compassion.

Simultaneously, she has served as Interim Associate Vice President for Student Academic Support Services (SAAS) for the past two years, overseeing programs that support specialized student populations—including first-generation, low-income, Pell-eligible, formerly incarcerated, migrant and seasonal farm working backgrounds, immigration-impacted students, and students with documented disabilities. These programs, the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), TRIO Student Support Services, and Project Rebound, will continue to report to Dr. Larios now under the Office of the Dean of Students. As Dr. Larios assumes this interim role, the Office of the VPSA is determining how her responsibilities will be addressed. In the meantime, Erica Perez and Dr. Erik Ramirez will serve as points of contact, and a more concrete plan will be forthcoming.

Dr. Larios holds a B.A. in Sociology and an M.A. in Sociological Practice from CSUSM, as well as a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy from Texas Tech University.

I am confident that our students and campus will be in great hands under her leadership. I want to thank the entire team in DoS for their outstanding work, especially during this time of transition. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Larios.

In community,

Viridiana Diaz, Ed.D.

Vice President for Student Affairs