Dr. Audra Spicer Named Interim President of CSU Global

The Board of Governors of the Colorado State University System today announced a transition in CSU Global leadership. Effective March 1, 2026, current Acting President Dr. Audra Spicer will formally step into the role of interim president. Dr. Spicer has more than 20 years of experience as an academic and business leader across the globe, including over a decade of leadership service at CSU Global. In addition to her role as provost and chief academic officer, she has served as acting president since November 2025.

Dr. Becky Takeda-Tinker, who was appointed the first president of CSU Global in 2010, served for 10 years, and returned as president and CEO in 2023, will transition into a new role as special assistant to the chancellor March 1, where she will offer her transformational knowledge and leadership in the field of online higher education to the CSU System.

The appointment of Dr. Spicer as interim president will provide ongoing steady leadership while the Board of Governors conducts the search for a permanent president, CSU System Chancellor Tony Frank said.

“The Board remains fully committed to CSU Global’s continued strength and growth, and is confident that Dr. Spicer’s experience, institutional knowledge, and commitment to student success will ensure stability and continued momentum as we conduct a thoughtful search for the university’s next permanent president,” said John Fischer, chair of the Board of Governors.

By state statute, CSU Global does not receive state funding and has gained recognition across the nation for its programs and student success services. The University was recently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the highest-ranking Colorado institution for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs at No. 17 in the nation, Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans at No. 10 in the nation, and Best Online Master’s in Education Programs at No. 25 in the nation.

CSU Global remains deeply focused on delivering strong career outcomes for its learners. Recent program-completer outcomes data show that more than 70 percent of undergraduate and graduate completers are employed in their field or a related field within three to five years of program completion, reflecting the University’s commitment to career-aligned, high-value programs. Under Dr. Spicer’s leadership, CSU Global is committed to advancing its mission of expanding access to high-quality education and supporting learner success, while maintaining operational continuity and institutional momentum toward continued preeminence in online education.

“I am honored to serve in this capacity,” said Dr. Spicer. “I look forward to continuing to work closely with our leaders and team members to advance our current initiatives and the University’s strategic direction, ensuring our students, faculty, and staff remain supported to enable their success. My priority is to champion CSU Global’s dedication to the CSU System’s land grant mission and academic excellence that leads to workforce success for our learners.”

“As an ongoing CSU Global leader since its inception, I believe that Dr. Spicer’s demonstrated leadership, expertise, and collaborative approach towards the University’s mission-achievement and innovation make her an ideal leader for CSU Global’s future and its team members,” said Dr. Takeda-Tinker.

In addition, Dr. Takeda-Tinker’s move to special assistant ensures that her institutional knowledge is available to the Chancellor during this period.

“On behalf of the Board of Governors, I want to express our deep gratitude to Dr. Takeda-Tinker for her extraordinary vision, entrepreneurial spirit, indefatigable drive and effort, and steadfast commitment to students. As CSU Global’s founding president, and one of the industry’s true pioneers, she helped build the country’s first fully online state university into a nationally recognized leader in access, innovation, and workforce-aligned education. Her impact on the CSU System and on thousands of learners cannot be overstated,” said Fischer.

“This transition honors Dr. Takeda-Tinker’s remarkable contributions to the CSU System over many years while ensuring strong and consistent leadership during the interim thanks to Dr. Spicer,” Chancellor Frank said. “We are grateful to both of them for their leadership in keeping CSU Global at the forefront of online higher education options in Colorado and beyond.”

The Board of Governors is committed to keeping the CSU Global community informed on the search process as updates become available.