Leslie Eric Wong (born 1949) is an American academic, university administrator, and psychology professor. He was President of

Northern Michigan University Northern Michigan University (Northern Michigan, Northern or NMU) is a public university in Marquette, Michigan. It was established in 1899 by the Michigan Legislature as Northern State Normal School. In 1963, the state designated Northern a uni ...

and

San Francisco State University San Francisco State University (commonly referred to as San Francisco State, SF State and SFSU) is a public research university in San Francisco. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers 118 different ...

Personal and educational background

Wong is of Chinese and Mexican descent. After graduating from

Bishop O'Dowd High School Bishop O'Dowd High School is a Catholic, co-educational, college preparatory school in Oakland, California, administered by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland and named for the late auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, Jam ...

Oakland, California Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast of the United States, West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third ...

, Wong received his B.A. from

Gonzaga University Gonzaga University (GU) () is a private Jesuit university in Spokane, Washington. It is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Founded in 1887 by Joseph Cataldo, an Italian-born priest and Jesuit missionary, the ...

in 1972, his master's degree in experimental psychology from Eastern Washington University in 1974, and his doctoral degree in educational psychology from

Washington State University Washington State University (Washington State, WSU, or informally Wazzu) is a public land-grant research university with its flagship, and oldest, campus in Pullman, Washington. Founded in 1890, WSU is also one of the oldest land-grant uni ...

in 1986.

Career

From 1974 to 1988, Wong taught psychology at

Pierce College Pierce College may refer to: * Pierce College (Washington) * Los Angeles Pierce College ** Pierce College station See also * Peirce College * Franklin Pierce University Franklin Pierce University is a private university in Rindge, New Hampsh ...

, a community college in

Tacoma, Washington Tacoma ( ) is the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. A port city, it is situated along Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Pa ...

. Wong was also women's varsity tennis coach at Pierce from 1975 to 1981. Wong later was a psychology professor at

The Evergreen State College The Evergreen State College is a public liberal arts college in Olympia, Washington. Founded in 1967, it offers a non-traditional undergraduate curriculum in which students have the option to design their own study towards a degree or follow a p ...

from 1988 to 1996 and was a dean at the college from 1990 to 1996. Wong joined the University of Southern Colorado (now

Colorado State University Pueblo Colorado State University Pueblo (CSU Pueblo) is a public university in Pueblo, Colorado. It is a member of the Colorado State University System (CSU System) and a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). History 1933 to 1959 The idea for startin ...

) as provost and academic vice president in 1996 and was interim president of the university from January to June 30, 1997. Wong returned to his previous provost position and stayed until 1999. From 1999 to 2004, Wong was vice president for academic affairs at Valley City State University in North Dakota. From 2004 to 2012, Wong served as president of Northern Michigan University. Wong was named by the California State University Board of Trustees as the 13th president of San Francisco State University on May 10, 2012, and began his new position as president on August 1. Dr. Wong announced on October 1, 2018, that he would retire on July 1, 2019. In 2017 Wong was accused of permitting the exclusion of Jewish student pro-Israel activists from campus activities. Although San Francisco State blamed a "self-organized and self-appointed planning committee", a lawsuit alleged that university administration was complicit. Wong said: "Am I comfortable opening up the gates to everyone? Gosh, of course not.” In 2019 the university reversed its anti-Israel policy, and Wong apologized, stating that "Zionists are welcome on our campus."

Personal life

Wong is married to Phyllis Wong.

References

External links

San Francisco Business Journal interview

NMU during Dr. Wong's tenure
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wong, Leslie E. Living people Presidents of San Francisco State University Northern Michigan University faculty Evergreen State College faculty Gonzaga University alumni Eastern Washington University alumni Washington State University alumni Pierce College people Colorado State University Pueblo faculty People from Oakland, California 1949 births American academics of Chinese descent American academics of Mexican descent