Dear campus community,
It is with great pleasure that I announce Cesar Portillo has been appointed to serve as the next chief of staff at Eastern Washington University. Cesar brings over 25 years of experience in diverse sectors, including higher education, to this role. I am confident that his knowledge and strategic leadership experience will enhance our campus community and contribute to Eastern’s success.
Cesar has served in numerous leadership roles, most recently as the chief human resources officer at Community Transit in Everett, where he demonstrated exceptional leadership, overseeing a multitude of functions including human resources, labor relations, training, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Cesar spearheaded transformative initiatives such as reorganizing the human resources department and developing data-driven programs that significantly improved recruitment, engagement, and employee satisfaction. His collaborative approach and focus on aligning strategies with organizational goals have consistently yielded positive outcomes. Prior to his role at Community Transit, Cesar served as an associate vice president for human resources and chief diversity officer in the California State University System where he led comprehensive human resources programs while championing diversity and inclusion efforts. His achievements include increasing faculty diversity, modernizing recruitment processes, and establishing innovative staff development initiatives.
With extensive experience in both academia and administration, Cesar embodies the qualities necessary to excel as our university’s chief of staff and is well-equipped to lead our administrative operations effectively. His visionary leadership style, combined with his ability to foster collaboration and innovation, will help to continue to propel our institution forward. Additionally, his dedication to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion ensures that Eastern remains a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of our campus community.
Please join me in welcoming Cesar as he begins his appointment on May 6.
In gratitude,
Dr. Shari McMahan
President
