Liam Flenniken

“She is my most trusted confidant,” President John Nunes said. “She has her finger on the foundation of what makes Cal Lutheran who we are.”

California Lutheran University’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Leanne Neilson will be stepping down in June 2027 after 18 years in the position, with plans to transition into a role focused primarily on community relationships and donor relations, according to an April 7 email from the Office of the President. 

Neilson, who has been at Cal Lutheran for 33 years and provost for 18, said she had been contemplating retirement for “three or four years,” but was hesitant to leave in the midst of a presidential search. 

Neilson said she sat down with President John Nunes shortly after his arrival, notifying him of her intentions to soon retire. She said these conversations picked back up in December 2025, when she told Nunes, “this is the year.”

“Once [Nunes] was established as the permanent president, that’s when I started talking to him about it. And so we’ve been talking about it for some time now,” Neilson said.  

Neilson said she was initially intent on retirement, but after telling Nunes about her plans to still be involved in the local community, serve on nonprofit boards and attend community events post-retirement, he asked her to do so as a representative of the university.

Neilson said while nothing is confirmed, the position will likely entail cultivating relationships with nonprofit and higher education organizations that “Cal Lutheran needs to be connected with.”

Nunes said the new position has only been agreed to in principle, but that Neilson would report to him “with a dotted line” to University Advancement. 

“I could really use her help in helping Cal Lu to connect more meaningfully and deeply in this community,” Nunes said.

Nunes said Neilson’s biggest three responsibilities will likely be as a representative for the university at community events, as a university fundraiser and as a personal adviser. 

Nunes said Neilson was “immensely helpful” in helping his onboarding process when he arrived at Cal Lutheran and that she “epitomizes class” and commitment to the university’s mission. 

“She is my most trusted confidant,” Nunes said. “She has her finger on the foundation of what makes Cal Lutheran who we are.”

While there are plans for both an exterior search firm and an interior committee to fill her current position, Nunes said he first plans to consult students, faculty and the Board of Regents to find out what they are looking for in a prospective provost. 

“The first thing leaders do is listen,” Nunes said. “Higher ed is in a state of chaos and a state of crisis. … Who is the leader who will lead with grit and grace?”

Nunes said the search for Neilson’s replacement is “in many ways the most important hire” he’ll make in his time as president. 

“We need to make sure we get this right,” Nunes said. 

Nunes said his “mind isn’t made up” about desirable qualities in a successor to Neilson and reiterated the idea that he needs to first consult those around him and do what’s best for them. 

“I serve at the pleasure of the Board, and I serve best when I serve in a way that’s attentive to my colleagues, our students and our future. I just haven’t thought long enough,” Nunes said. 

Nunes said he is making an effort to create and maintain connections with retirees that can lead to mutually beneficial relationships going forward. 

Nunes said Neilson has a lot of “crystalized intelligence,” which he described as the ability to make quick decisions by recognizing patterns from years of experience, an attribute he said he does not want to “squander.”

“She’s got lots of energy, and she’s got a lot to give and lots of talent, and so it’s a great blessing that she’s able and available to continue,” Nunes said. 

Michael Hillis, a professor and dean of the Graduate School of Education, said Neilson has been the “least micro-managing” provost he’s worked for throughout his 33 years in higher education.

Hillis said the sense of trust he feels from Neilson is “freeing” and that it leads to a relationship fueled by open dialogue, including frequent meetings discussing “various issues.” 

“I don’t think people always appreciate how difficult the role of a provost is,” Hillis said. ”I’ve seen quite a few over my career, and I would put Leanne at the very top of provosts that I’ve worked with.”

Nunes said there will “of course” be alterations to Neilson’s salary and hours in her new position. While her new pay is unknown, Nunes said he expects Neilson to work about two-thirds of the time she’s currently working. 

“I’ve spent my whole career here. I love what we do, so the opportunity to stay involved at any level excites me. The opportunity to work closely with President Nunes is very exciting to me,” Neilson said. “I feel like I’m blending two things that I love. I love being involved in the community and making a difference beyond Cal Lutheran, but then to be able to connect that to Cal Lutheran, that couldn’t be any better.”