William B. Langsdorf
Encyclopedia
Dr. William B. Langsdorf was the founding president of California State University, Fullerton
. At the time of his appointment in 1959, the campus was known as Orange County State College. Langsdorf came to Orange County State College from Pasadena City College
where he had held the position of assistant principal from 1939 to 1950 and then principal from 1950 to 1959.
Langsdorf served as president of Cal State Fullerton from 1959 to 1970 when he transferred to the Cal State System's Chancellor's Office in Long Beach
and became Vice Chancellor
for Academic Affairs. Langsdorf's tenure at Fullerton marked a period of enormous growth for the institution. During Langsdorf's tenure as president the enrollment grew from a few hundred students to more than 16,000 full-time equivalent students. This also was a period of extensive construction that transformed the college from a small collection of temporary buildings on 238 acre (0.96315268 km²) of orange groves to a campus with several permanent facilities including the Letters and Science Building (now McCarthy Hall), a performing arts building, a visual arts center, a library, a humanities building, a administrative building (now Langsdorf Hall, former Business Administration building), and a large physical education and athletics complex that included a gymnasium, swimming pool, tennis courts, and athletic fields.
In 1970, President Langsdorf transferred to the California State College Chancellor's Office where he served as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for several years. Langsdorf died at age 93 in 2002.
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton is a public university located in Fullerton, California. It is the largest institution in the CSU System by enrollment, it offers long-distance education and adult-degree programs...
. At the time of his appointment in 1959, the campus was known as Orange County State College. Langsdorf came to Orange County State College from Pasadena City College
Pasadena City College
Pasadena City College is a community college in Pasadena, California, USA, located on Colorado Boulevard. PCC is the third largest community college campus in the United States. PCC was founded in 1924 as Pasadena Junior College. In 1954, Pasadena Junior College merged with another junior...
where he had held the position of assistant principal from 1939 to 1950 and then principal from 1950 to 1959.
Langsdorf served as president of Cal State Fullerton from 1959 to 1970 when he transferred to the Cal State System's Chancellor's Office in Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
and became Vice Chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
for Academic Affairs. Langsdorf's tenure at Fullerton marked a period of enormous growth for the institution. During Langsdorf's tenure as president the enrollment grew from a few hundred students to more than 16,000 full-time equivalent students. This also was a period of extensive construction that transformed the college from a small collection of temporary buildings on 238 acre (0.96315268 km²) of orange groves to a campus with several permanent facilities including the Letters and Science Building (now McCarthy Hall), a performing arts building, a visual arts center, a library, a humanities building, a administrative building (now Langsdorf Hall, former Business Administration building), and a large physical education and athletics complex that included a gymnasium, swimming pool, tennis courts, and athletic fields.
In 1970, President Langsdorf transferred to the California State College Chancellor's Office where he served as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for several years. Langsdorf died at age 93 in 2002.