Meet Our President

Lynn Mahoney, Ph.D., SFSU President

As the 14th president of San Francisco State University, Lynn Mahoney leads one of the nation’s most diverse and dynamic public universities. 

Since joining SFSU in 2019, she has championed equity, student success and inclusive excellence as the cornerstones of the University’s mission. Under her leadership, SFSU has expanded efforts to close equity gaps, increase graduation rates and strengthen partnerships that connect students to opportunity across the Bay Area and beyond. 

A historian by training (she holds a Ph.D. in History from Rutgers University), President Mahoney has dedicated her career to advancing public higher education. Over the years, she has held academic and leadership roles at several institutions, including California State University, Los Angeles; California State University, Long Beach; and Purchase College, State University of New York.

At SFSU, President Mahoney works closely with students, faculty, staff, alumni and community leaders to ensure the University continues to serve as a gateway to social mobility and innovation. Her priorities include supporting academic excellence, expanding research and creative opportunities, and deepening the University’s impact on the region’s economic and cultural life.