New director of development has college advancement on her mind

Susan Andraus

Strong leadership, dedicated colleagues and a congenial environment are just some of the reasons why Susan Andraus is delighted to be the new director of development for CECS—a position she assumed in January. Add to that the opportunity to help advance a college that in her words, “is taking off,” and it all tallies up to an ideal job at the ideal time.

Andraus, a CSUN veteran who formerly served as director of corporate and foundation relationship for the university, is still feeling her way through the vocabulary and cultural changes inherent in a shift from general fundraising to a focus on engineering and computer science. But her experience working with corporations and foundations has proved a real asset. Also making her transition—and her job—easier are her colleagues, who she describes as clear thinkers, results-oriented and dedicated to students.

Another asset is the college’s philosophy of hands-on, practical education, which makes it relevant in today’s world. Industry donors, she has found, are especially taken with CECS students—they want to hire them. “We hear time and time again that our students are well-educated and can take their place in the world of engineering from the minute they set foot in an organization because they get hands-on experience in college,” she says. “They can go to local corporations and get right to work.”

Another key group of donors—alumni—want to support the college because they have warm feelings about it and feel very attached. “They want to give back,” she says.

That regard for CSUN engineering and computer science graduates will help drive efforts to increase private support for the college in the months to come. Not surprisingly, the state budget crisis is casting a long shadow, making it imperative that CECS increase philanthropic contributions to help sustain its upward trajectory. Its top priorities—scholarships, faculty startup funds and equipment—are particularly critical because it is imperative that the college have the most up to date equipment possible, and that is expensive. Compounding the need is the fact that many CSUN students are the first in their families to attend college, with few financial resources to pay for higher education.

In time, Andraus hopes to build on the college’s strong relations with industry and alumni to assemble a close-knit group of volunteers who will help open doors to potential donors and present the college in ways that resonate with businesses.

“I’m enthusiastic about this position because of the leadership and opportunities,” she says. “It’s a wonderful college.”