Dr. Joyce Ester Named 7th president at Governors State University

New president announced the day after former president's passing

UNIVERSITY PARK, Ill., June 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 1, Governors State University (GovState) Board of Trustees (BOT) will welcome Dr. Joyce Ester as the University's seventh president to succeed Dr. Cheryl F. Green, who passed a month after retiring.

Well-versed in the world of higher education, Dr. Ester brings more than 30 years of experience in various roles throughout academia that addressed academic and student affairs, faculty and staff governance, and financial management.

Dr. Ester has served as President of Normandale Community College (Normandale) in Bloomington, Minnesota, since 2014. Normandale is the largest college in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, serving more than 14,000 credit student annually.

Before joining Normandale, Dr. Ester served two years as President of Kennedy King College, part of City Colleges of Chicago. She has also served as Associate Vice President for Student Services for Bakersfield College, Assistant Vice President for Judicial Affairs and Division Planning at California State University Fresno, and Assistant Dean of Students/Judicial Affairs at University of California, Santa Barbara.

Beyond Normandale, Dr. Ester is also the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Higher Learning Commission, and a Gallaudet University Board of Trustees member.

Noting the timing of Dr. Ester's appointment —a day after Dr. Green passed in April —Board Chair Jim Kvedaras said the announcement brought mixed emotions.

"It's a very bittersweet day on campus,'' Kvedaras said at the time of the vote. "Our recently retired president Dr. Cheryl Green passed as we are poised on the verge of selecting a new president,'' he said.

A native of Phoenix, Illinois, Dr. Ester holds a Ph.D. in Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara; a Master of Arts in Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara; and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Northern Illinois University.

She said she is excited to follow her passion for higher education in the area she still calls home.

"It's an honor to be officially selected as the 7th president of Governors State University. I am ecstatic to contribute to GovState's vision and mission in partnership with a strong community of students, staff, faculty, and supportive community members. Together, we will continue to foster an environment of academic excellence, innovation, and inclusivity."

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SOURCE Governors State University