Milton A. Gordon

Milton Andrew Gordon (May 25, 1935 – April 18, 2017) was an American mathematician and academic administrator. He served as the fourth president of California State University, Fullerton from 1990 to 2012, making him the fourth African American president in the California State University system. During his presidency, Cal State Fullerton grew substantially in enrollment and campus facilities. Before joining Cal State Fullerton, Gordon held faculty and administrative positions at Chicago State University and Sonoma State University.[1]

Milton A. Gordon
Born(1935-05-25)May 25, 1935
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedApril 18, 2017(2017-04-18) (aged 81)
EducationXavier University of Louisiana (BS)
University of Detroit (MS)
Illinois Institute of Technology (PhD)
OccupationsMathematician
Academic administrator
TitlePresident of California State University, Fullerton
PredecessorJewell Plummer Cobb
SuccessorMildred García
SpouseMargaret Faulwell Gordon
Children3

Early life and education

Milton Andrew Gordon was born on May 25, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois. His father was from the segregated South in Louisiana but had moved to Chicago to make a better home for his family.[2] He earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics and secondary education from Xavier University of Louisiana. Later he received a master's degree in mathematics from the University of Detroit and a doctorate in mathematics from the Illinois Institute of Technology.[1]

Career

Gordon began his career as an elementary school teacher in the Chicago Public Schools. Later he worked as a mathematics instructor at the Illinois Institute of Technology and served as director of the Afro-American Studies Program at Loyola University Chicago.[1][3]

He was also professor of mathematics and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Chicago State University.[1][3]

In 1986 he became vice president for academic affairs and professor of mathematics at Sonoma State University. He was appointed the fourth president of California State University, Fullerton, in August 1990,[4] and served as president until 2012.[1][3]

Gordon was the fourth African American president in the California State University system. He was also the first Black president at a predominately white university to succeed another Black president.[5][6] He led CSUF during a period of enrollment growth from about 25,700 to more than 36,000 students. He oversaw the addition of 13 academic degree programs, including a doctorate in education. During his presidency, CSUF undertook more than $636 million in campus construction, including the expansion of the Pollak Library and the construction of the Mihaylo College of Business and Economics. He supported the opening of satellite campuses in Santa Ana and Garden Grove, as well as the establishment of a branch campus in Mission Viejo, later relocated to Irvine. He served as president during a period in which Cal State Fullerton became the leading California university in graduating Latino students.[1]

Soon after Gordon became president, the California State University system faced a severe budget crisis involving planned layoffs and program closures.[7][8][9] Subsequent state funding changes reduced the extent of the projected cuts.[10] Nevertheless, the CSUF football program was discontinued in 1992 during the budget crisis.[11]

During Gordon's presidency, CSUF was the subject of several state audits that identified weaknesses in financial management and internal controls. A 1999 investigation by the California State Auditor concluded that the university had engaged in serious financial mismanagement, citing the misuse of donated and scholarship funds for expenditures such as meals, entertainment, gifts, vehicle maintenance, and other non-educational purposes. The audit also found that university officials had bypassed competitive hiring and contracting procedures, improperly transferred funds to a university foundation, and failed to comply with restrictions governing charitable donations and scholarship accounts. Chancellor Charles B. Reed and Gordon acknowledged errors in judgment but disputed the characterization of the findings as serious mismanagement and instituted reviews of campus business practices. A subsequent state audit released in 2006 found that, between 2001 and 2004, the university continued to experience waste, poor record-keeping, inadequate oversight, conflicts of interest in contracting, and weaknesses in financial controls, while some employees reported fearing retaliation for reporting misconduct. Gordon stated that he had begun implementing reforms after learning of the problems in 2003, increased financial oversight, and that several employees left the university following the investigation.[12][13]

During his tenure at CSUF, Gordon held leadership positions with several professional organizations including the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and the American Council on Education.[1] Iin 2019, CSUF's University Hall was renamed Milton A. Gordon Hall to recognize his accomplishments.[14]

Honors and awards

Personal life and death

Gordon married Margaret Faulwell in 1987.[15] He had three sons. He died on April 18, 2017, at the age of 81.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Xia, Rosanna (19 April 2017). "Milton A. Gordon Dies at 81; Former Cal State Fullerton President Oversaw Era of Increased Diversity and Growth". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  2. ↑ "Campus and Community Join to Celebrate the Life of CSUF President Milton A. Gordon". Los Angeles Sentinel. 19 October 2017 – via ProQuest.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Milton Gordon, Ph.D." HACU Hall of Champions. Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  4. ↑ "Mathematician, 54, Named President of Cal State Fullerton". Los Angeles Times. 16 May 1990. p. 15 – via ProQuest.
  5. ↑ Lindgren, Kristina (3 September 1990). "Changes at CSUF Include a Tall Man: University: A New President, a Campus Building Boom, Higher Gas Prices and Higher Tuition Await Students". Los Angeles Times. p. 1 – via ProQuest.
  6. ↑ Lindgren, Kristina (31 August 1990). "University's New President Warns of Cuts". Los Angeles Times. p. 7 – via ProQuest.
  7. ↑ Lindgren, Kristina (27 January 1991). "Cal State Faces Slash 'Almost Triple' 1990's: Education: Fullerton Campus Must Trim at Least $14 Million, the University President Says. Staffing, Enrollment, Materials and Academic Programs May Be Affected, Along with Football". Los Angeles Times. p. 1 – via ProQuest.
  8. ↑ Gordon, Larry (6 June 1992). "CSU Plans to Lay Off 2,200 Unless State Helps Education: Chancellor Says Tenured Faculty, Staff Will Lose Jobs if Funds Are Not Provided. He Calls for Tuition Hike, Early Retirement and Capping Budget Cuts at 6%". Los Angeles Times. p. 1 – via ProQuest.
  9. ↑ Lindgren, Kristina (30 August 1992). "Class Struggles: Budget Worries, Cutbacks Cloud Fall Semester at Cal State Fullerton". Los Angeles Times. p. 1 – via ProQuest.
  10. ↑ Cummer, Willson (30 October 1992). "Fullerton Cal State Cuts Not as Bad as Feared". Los Angeles Times. p. 3 – via ProQuest.
  11. ↑ DiGiovanna, Mike (8 December 1992). "CS Fullerton to Drop Football; Costs Cited: Economics: School President Says Move to Less-Expensive Division I-AA Is Planned for 1994". Los Angeles Times. p. 1 – via ProQuest.
  12. ↑ Gottlieb, Jeff (15 December 1999). "Audit Rips Cal State Fullerton; Scholarship Money Was Spent on Meals and Carwashes, Say Investigators. Nothing Serious, Says University". Los Angeles Times. p. 1 – via ProQuest.
  13. ↑ Mehta, Seema (27 October 2006). "Cal State Fullerton Audit Shows Past Fiscal Abuse". Los Angeles Times – via ProQuest.
  14. ↑ "Cal State Fullerton's Hall Renamed to Honor Former President Milton A. Gordon". Los Angeles Sentinel. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  15. ↑ Conway, Ann (3 March 2001). "In Home; Cal State Fullerton; The Official Home of the Campus President Is a Peaceful, Unpretentious Mansion. Living There, Though, Has Its Challenges, Milton Gordon Says". Los Angeles Times. pp. N1 – via ProQuest.
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