Frank Whitlatch, who has served as Cal Poly Humboldt’s Vice President for University Advancement for the last five years, has announced plans to leave Humboldt this summer. 

Details of a transition plan and timing for a search will be finalized soon.

Frank has served at Humboldt for 17 years, initially as the University’s first Associate Vice President for Marketing & Communications shortly after that unit was created. He came to Humboldt after serving in a similar role at CSU Sacramento. In Spring 2019 he was named Interim Vice President and was later appointed to the permanent position by President Tom Jackson Jr.

During his time, Frank has been deeply involved in the University’s fundraising, branding, marketing, alumni and community outreach, media relations, and crisis communications, among other responsibilities. 

Frank has shared that, while he will formally retire from CSU, he doesn’t plan to fully stop working and hasn’t settled on any longer term plans. He and his wife Amy are going on an “indefinite sabbatical” to slow-travel the world, something they have long hoped to be able to do.

“When Frank said he and Amy wanted to travel the world, I thought ‘Good for you.’ I was thinking about a nice month-long vacation, not a retirement,” says President Jackson. “Frank is an amazing person. A kind person. He is the person who has helped craft the many positive messages this University has shared over the past several years. His insights, advice, leadership, humility, and willingness to ask tough questions when helping steer this campus set the highest standard for all. This University, and all those who have had the privilege to work beside him, are substantially better because of Frank.”

Over the last five years, Frank has guided University and volunteer efforts to carry out the institution’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign - Boldly Rising - which has reached its goal one year early and will be celebrated this Fall. He played an important part in developing plans for the polytechnic transformation and with the successful effort to earn the state’s historic investment. Under his leadership, the division has carried out a brand update and broad marketing roll-out for the polytechnic transformation, which has been a major driver of positive outcomes including record student applications. In addition, he has worked to support a variety of efforts to generate additional revenue in addition to charitable giving - including grants, sponsorships, and industry partnerships.

During Frank’s time as Vice President, charitable giving on an annual basis has increased from about $5 million annually to more than $12 million annually. Donor engagement and overall participation has increased significantly, and the endowment has grown from about $30 million to $45 million. Due to these and other successes, the CSU recently moved Humboldt into the second of three tiers of campus advancement programs for peer comparison.

Frank is a two-time graduate of the CSU, earning a bachelor’s degree at CSU Chico and a master’s degree at CSU Sacramento. 

He says his positive college experience, particularly as an undergraduate at Chico, led him to a career in higher education. He relates to the challenges and successes of many CSU students, and has worked hard to help expand opportunities for students to pursue their goals. 

One thing Frank says he is very proud of is consistently giving back to Humboldt as a donor every year of his time on campus. In addition, he and his wife Amy were able to make their first major gift as part of the current Boldly Rising Campaign. 

“I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to be part of this University, and for the people I’ve been able to work with. All across campus, there’s a real commitment to students, and on the University Advancement team, there’s an incredible level of talent and passion,” Frank says. “Even though I’ve decided the time has come for me to step away, I know Humboldt will always remain a big part of me.”