After over three decades of service at California Lutheran University, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Leanne Neilson has been recognized as Educational Leader of the Year from the Ventura County Leadership Academy.
According to Executive Director of the VCLA Pattie Braga, the association was founded by former Cal Lutheran Board of Regents member Priscilla Partridge de Garcia and annually honors six leaders active in the business, education, nonprofit and public sectors of the county. Neilson is the second Cal Lutheran employee to receive the accolade, following Dean of the School of Management Gerhard Apfelthaler’s win in 2022.
“We often undervalue our educators at all levels, and so, being seen is what I think this award means to them,” said Pattie Braga, executive director of VCLA.
Neilson was nominated from a pool of seven leaders in the educational field, with the organization receiving over 60 applications in total. The selection was led by a committee of VCLA alumni and board members, rewarding the top individuals impacting the area.
“One of the things that really stuck out with Leanne was that she does it, and she does it under the radar. She is a strong, guiding force of good, and she has been, she has been for years,” Braga said.
Neilson said she grew up in Southern California and began her professional career at Cal Lutheran in 1993, serving as a psychology faculty member for 11 years. Following her involvement in faculty governance and accreditation work, she shifted to administration in 2009. Neilson now serves as the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Cal Lutheran.
Neilson said the award can be credited to her longevity in the position, as well as her involvement in regional groups advocating for higher education.
“I have been in this role during times when we’ve seen lots of change happen, from a lot of growth in the first decade, and then hitting the pandemic,” Neilson said.
As provost, Neilson said she serves second-in-command under Interim President John A. Nunes, overseeing all aspects of academics, with responsibilities ranging from advising deans and faculty, monitoring grant programs and serving on the Faculty Affairs Equity and Inclusion Subcommittee.
Neilson said she credits the performance of the university’s academic affairs with the team of six academic deans, two associate provosts and program leaders she oversees.
“They’re passionate about Cal Lutheran, and everyone here is so committed to the students and to the student experience, and to our mission and our values; it’s a really great team,” Neilson said.
Manager of Academic Affairs Angela Naginey said she works alongside Neilson on the faculty search committee every year. Naginey said Neilson’s collaborative management style is what distinguishes her as Educational Leader of the Year.
“I started working here in June of 2023, in this office, … and I’ve had the opportunity to witness how much she does to get feedback from different constituents before a decision is made,” Naginey said.
Beyond Cal Lutheran, Neilson said she is involved in local organizations, serving on the board of TOArts and as a member of United Way’s Women United, an organization providing scholarships for single mothers in poverty to obtain their bachelor’s degree.
Neilson also volunteers in the college accreditation process through visits to neighboring colleges, serving as an outside evaluator at the Pacifica Graduate Institute and Mount Saint Mary’s University Los Angeles to assess each school’s standards of excellence.
Through her faculty mentorship and administrative involvement, Neilson said the most rewarding experience of her job is seeing students complete their academic programs.
“One of my favorite days of the year is commencement, graduation, because [of] the joy that you see in the students’ faces in their accomplishments and in their families. It really brings home why we’re doing this and what this is all about,” Neilson said.
Neilson will formally accept her award at the 22nd Annual Journey to Leadership Awards on April 24. She said she plans on using the momentum of the accolade to further expand the university’s impact.
“There’s always so much going on here, so I think just moving the institution forward and continuing to grow and build on the great successes we’ve had in the past,” Neilson said.
