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Steve Bacon is set to become the interim Dean of Social Sciences and Education on August 1 as Kathleen Knutzen, the current dean will be retiring at the end of the spring quarter.
“I am truly honored to serve SSE,” said Bacon. “[I’m] excited there’s new challenges next year with quarter to semester.”
Bacon is not a CSU Bakersfield graduate. However, he is a Bakersfield resident.
Bacon has been with CSU Bakersfield for 24 years, where he started as a part-time lecturer.
Bacon’s education started off at UCLA, where he majored in study of religion and pre-med.
He then received his master’s degree in clinical psychology at San Diego State and went on to receive a PhD in clinical psychology at the University of Minnesota. He also completed a Post Doctoral Fellowship in pain research at UCSD School of Medicine.
After completing his education, Bacon returned to California and since Bakersfield was his home and an affordable place to live, he chose to stay.
Bacon has been the associate dean since August of 2013.
After his part-time position, he started a full-time position and that led to a tenure path.
Since he is the interim for now, the position will still need to be filled for a full-time.
“It’s an open question but it is probable I would throw my name into the ring,” said Bacon.
As interim, Bacon has some things that will be on his agenda to execute and continue.
“[I want to continue] the values and policies of Dean Knutzen. That includes continued participation with the community, maintaining good relationships with the community and continue to strengthen the quality of our program and continue to be a very student centered school,” said Bacon.
There are other initiatives that Bacon hopes to see developed during his time as the interim dean.
“One initiative is a Quality of Life Center. It would reach out and work with community groups and become an important resource for our community,” said Bacon.
Bacon also has immediate goals he wishes to accomplish. Some of those goals include getting through the changes next year and working to keep students in school and graduating on time.
Bacon expressed his gratitude and his excitement for next year’s opportunities.
“I am appreciative of the support from the faculty and staff, and I look forward to work with a group of colleagues that are so dedicated to our students,” he said.
