Monthly Updates
January 9, 2026
Dear Colleagues,
As we move into the final stretch before go-live, we want to provide clarity on leadership alignment, team structures, and what you can expect in the weeks ahead.
This month’s update begins with something special: a message from the SF Bay Region presidents as we enter this next phase of the Network. We’re grateful for their partnership and pleased to share their message and reflections below.
A Message from the Network Presidents
January marks a defining moment for the San Francisco Bay Region Network. As our universities prepare for the January 30 launch, we are entering a new phase of collaboration—one that strengthens our shared infrastructure while preserving the unique identities and missions of each university.
As presidents of the SF Bay Region universities, we affirm our collective commitment to the Network and the opportunities it creates for our universities today while strengthening their long-term sustainability.
Emily Cutrer, Outgoing President, Sonoma State University
Michael Spagna, Incoming President, Sonoma State University
Lynn Mahoney, President, San Francisco State University
Cathy Sandeen, President, Cal State East Bay
Current Highlights
Leadership Transitions and Organizational Alignment
On January 1, Network MPP reassignments officially took effect, marking a major milestone as we move toward go-live. Leaders and managers across Information Technology and Procurement & Accounts Payable now have established reporting structures within the Network. Updated organizational charts are available on the Network website to support clarity as we enter the final weeks before launch.
Support Center Readiness and Go-Live Preparation
The Network Support Center (NSC) remains on track for its January 30 launch. As a shared “front door” for service requests, the NSC will provide consistent, reliable support across the region and serve as the central entry point for IT and Procure-to-Pay assistance.
Teams are finalizing supervisor guidance, day-one job aids, and help resources to ensure employees have the clarity and support they need during the first weeks of transition.
Weekly Communications & Go-Live Readiness
Beginning this week and continuing through January 30, the Network will provide weekly communications to help our university communities understand what to expect as we transition into shared operations. These messages will offer clear, timely information about changes, where to go for help, and how the Support Center and regional teams will operate beginning January 30.
In addition to written updates, the Network will host information and help sessions for campus community members and end users in IT and Procurement & Accounts Payable. These sessions will provide opportunities to learn more about the new service model, ask questions, and receive guidance as we approach go-live.
As part of this readiness effort, we will share:
- Demonstrations of the new Network Support Center website: Employees will get a preview of the Support Center’s layout, ticket pathways, and key features before launch. These demos will show how to submit requests and where to find information once the site goes live.
- Clear guidance on how support will work on day one: As we build up to go-live, communications will outline the services provided by the Network Support Center, how issues will be escalated, and when local university resources will still apply. These updates will also include links to support materials as they become available.
- Support for East Bay and San Francisco State Procure-to-Pay transitions: As East Bay and San Francisco State implement their Procure-to-Pay go-lives on January 26, just a few days before the Network go-live date on January 30, the Network will provide targeted communications and daily office hours during the initial launch window. These sessions will offer real-time assistance and troubleshooting, ensuring employees have access to immediate support.
- Targeted guidance for in-scope employees: Managers in IT and Procurement & Accounts Payable will begin convening their new teams prior to go-live to support alignment, preparation, and early team building. These sessions will help ensure staff understand how regional collaboration will work on day one and where to go for support as the Network launches.
- Consistent messaging across all three universities: To ensure shared understanding and reduce confusion, all communications will be aligned across the SF Bay Region universities, with coordinated timing and consistent framing.
Additional communications will follow go-live to reinforce key messages, share early observations, and highlight improvements as the Network stabilizes.
Looking Ahead Together
Quick Poll: To better tailor our upcoming communications, we invite you to share what would help you understand the changes the Network will bring:
- Open office hours with Network leaders
- More written documentation and guides
- Short video tutorials
- Drop-in information sessions
Click here to vote – it takes less than 10 seconds.
Your feedback will help us refine support as we prepare for January 30.
As we begin 2026, we want to thank every colleague who has contributed to this work. The Network’s progress reflects the insight, resilience, and collaboration of staff and managers across all three universities.
January 30 marks our first operational step together. It is the beginning of a new model that we will refine, strengthen, and grow through continuous learning and shared commitment. We look forward to building this future with you.
In partnership,
Jeff Wilson
Project Lead, San Francisco Bay Region Network
Vice President, Administration and Finance and CFO
San Francisco State University | Sonoma State University
Karen R. Moranski
Vice President of Regional Network Transformation
San Francisco Bay Region Network
Monthly Update Archive
Milestone Updates
Management Personnel Plan (MPP) leaders identified for Phase 1 Network units were formally notified of their Network organizational alignments and reporting relationships. These alignments provide clarity and continuity as the Network moves toward implementation, with aligned leaders scheduled to begin in their Network roles effective January 1, 2026, in advance of the Phase 1 go-live.
As implementation planning advanced, the presidents approved detailed organizational charts for key Phase 1 Network units, including the Regional Network Transformation Office, Information Technology, and Procurement & Accounts Payable. This approval marked a significant milestone in establishing the foundational structure necessary to support the Network’s initial launch.
The presidents confirmed January 30, 2026, as the official go-live date for Phase 1 of the Network, marking a key transition from planning to execution. During this period, the presidents also affirmed the general direction of Network operating models and organizational structures, authorizing continued refinement in partnership with campus leadership while maintaining shared governance across the three universities.
Following the June kick-off, the three Network university presidents confirmed the initial functional scope for Phase 1 of the San Francisco Bay Region Network. Information Technology (IT) and Procurement & Accounts Payable (P2P) were identified as priority functions for implementation by January 2026. The presidents also affirmed a more intentional, phased approach to Human Resources operations, recognizing dependencies on broader CSU initiatives, including the implementation of a single CHRS instance.
Since the formal approval from the Board of Trustees of the California State University System, President Emily Cutrer of Sonoma State University, President Lynn Mahoney of San Francisco State University, and President Cathy Sandeen of California State University, East Bay met in June 2025. This official kick-off meeting brought together leaders from the three universities to set the Network vision and guiding principles, discuss implementation priorities, finalize governance, and map out project timeline. As more updates become available, we will prepare to share them through the Network website and will continue to keep all stakeholders informed of progress and new developments.
Following the initial Network proposal from the three university presidents in March 2025 to Chancellor García, the Network was officially presented to the Board of Trustees of the California State University System in May 2025. At this meeting, the Network received formal approval to move forward. The Network item, beginning on page 27, outlines the rationale for creating a single effective and cost-efficient organization of administration and finance functions and describes a timeline for the first four functional operations (human resources, procurement, financial aid, and IT help desk, IT project management, and IT applications support) to be completed by January 2026. In addition, it names all three presidents as equal executive sponsors and SFSU Chief Financial Officer, Jeff Wilson, as the Network project lead. In the coming months, Jeff Wilson will convene a communications team to develop a website and share continuous updates so stakeholders across the three universities will have synchronous access to information.
The San Francisco Bay Region Network comprises of Sonoma State University, San Francisco State University, and California State University, East Bay. The Network was initially shared by the three Network university presidents in March 2025 as a written commitment to the Chancellor García to create single administrative network integrating a range of transaction operations. The Network represents a creative and innovative collective response to the current landscape where urgent budget conditions and persistent demographic declines similarly and negatively impact the three campuses.
Communications Archive
Dear Colleagues,
This message continues our series of brief weekly updates, highlighting what is most relevant as we approach the San Francisco Bay Region Network (SFBRN) January 30 go-live.
As we enter the final days before launch, these updates are intended to provide clarity on what to expect and where to find support as the Network transitions into shared operations for select services.
Countdown to Go-Live
10 days to go
In the days and weeks ahead, our focus remains on:
- Preparing for the launch of the Network Support Center on January 30
- Supporting Procure-to-Pay go-lives and other ongoing initiatives across the Network universities
- Ensuring university communities and Network teams are prepared for go-live
Network Support Center: What to Expect
Beginning January 30, the Network Support Center (NSC) will serve as the shared front door for IT support across Cal State East Bay, San Francisco State University, and Sonoma State University.
As a reminder from last week’s Network Support Center announcement, the NSC is designed to make accessing support simpler and more consistent across the universities. At go-live:
- There will be one phone number, one email, and one ticketing system for IT support
- Requests will generate a ticket and be handled by Network staff working collaboratively across the three universities
- The primary change is behind the scenes, as teams coordinate work across the universities to provide consistent service
The goal of the NSC is straightforward: to support employees in doing their jobs effectively, while system and application consolidation continue over time.
A screenshot preview of the NSC experience is available here to help familiarize you with what submitting a request will look like.
Procure-to-Pay (P2P): Reminder and Resources
As a reminder, Cal State East Bay and San Francisco State University will go live with Procure-to-Pay (P2P) on January 26, shortly ahead of the Network’s January 30 launch.
Faculty and staff whose roles involve purchasing, approvals, travel, or reimbursements are encouraged to review the full P2P memo and take advantage of available training sessions and office hours. These resources provide detailed guidance on timelines, system changes, and where to get help during the transition.
Network Teams and Service Model
To support transparency and collaboration, we have published organizational charts for Network IT and Procurement and Accounts Payable teams. These charts are intended to help university partners understand how teams are structured and how shared services are organized across the three universities.
Network Information Sessions — Open to All
Network leadership will host SFBRN and Network Support Center information sessions, open to all faculty and staff across Cal State East Bay, San Francisco State University, and Sonoma State University.
These sessions will:
- Walk through the Network Support Center
- Explain how to access IT and Procure-to-Pay support after go-live
- Provide an opportunity for questions and discussion
Sessions will be held virtually via Zoom once a week for the next three weeks. The first session will take place this week:
Thursday, January 22
12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Thank you for your continued focus and collaboration as we prepare for January 30.
With appreciation,
Jeff Wilson and Karen Moranski
Dear Colleagues,
As shared in last week’s January Monthly Update, we are now entering the final weeks leading up to the Network’s January 30 go-live. This message is the first in a series of brief weekly updates focused on what’s most relevant right now as we move closer to day one.
Countdown to Go-Live
16 days to go
In the weeks ahead, our focus is on:
- Finalizing staff team assignments
- Preparing for the launch of the Network Support Center
- Supporting Procure-to-Pay go-lives and other ongoing initiatives across the Network universities
We’ll continue using these weekly updates to highlight what to expect as we approach January 30.
Staff Team Assignments: Timing Reminder
We remain on track to finalize staff team assignments by January 16. At that time:
- Network staff will be notified of the team they are part of, and
- Network staff’s new MPP managers will reach out directly to connect and welcome them.
Prior to these notifications, Network leadership will host virtual information sessions to answer questions, share what to expect at go-live, and welcome staff to the Network. Details and registration information will be shared shortly.
Network Support Center: What’s Coming
The Network Support Center (NSC) will officially begin operations on January 30, serving ultimately as the shared front door for IT and Procurement & Accounts Payable support across Cal State East Bay, San Francisco State, and Sonoma State.
The NSC is designed to provide:
- Clear entry points for support
- Consistent service and routing
- Faster resolution by directing requests to the right teams
A full NSC announcement, including hours of operation and contact methods, is available for reference.
Important note: Existing campus IT and service desk websites will remain available during the transition. There is no immediate cutover away from current sites, allowing time for communities to acclimate to the Network support model. Current sites will route support requests to the NSC.
Network leaders will also host information sessions for campus community members to walk through the NSC, answer questions, and discuss what to expect at go-live.
Procure-to-Pay (P2P) Updates
As Cal State East Bay and San Francisco State prepare for their Procure-to-Pay (P2P) go-lives on January 26, just days ahead of the Network’s January 30 launch, the Network is coordinating closely with Procurement and Accounts Payable teams to ensure staff have clear guidance and access to support during this transition.
If your role involves purchasing, approvals, travel, or reimbursements, please review this memo carefully. It includes information on go-live timelines, training opportunities, and regular support sessions where employees can receive individualized assistance with CSUBuy and Concur processes.
The memo from Procurement and Accounts Payable outlines:
- CSUBuy P2P go-live timing
- Training sessions and office hours
- Legacy system cutover plans
- Travel and expense system updates, including Concur
Supporting Ongoing Campus Initiatives
We recognize that many teams are supporting multiple initiatives at once, including Procure-to-Pay transitions and major enterprise efforts such as Cal State East Bay’s transition from Google to Microsoft 365. These efforts continue to be fully supported, and staff remain dedicated to ensuring their success alongside the Network go-live.
Thank you for your continued focus and collaboration. We’ll continue to share concise weekly updates as we count down to January 30.
With appreciation,
Jeff Wilson and Karen Moranski
San Francisco Bay Region Network
January 14, 2026
From: Jeff Wilson, Project Lead, SF Bay Region Network
and Vice President, Administration & Finance & Chief Financial Officer
San Francisco State University | Sonoma State University
To: Employees at California State University East Bay, San Francisco State University, and Sonoma State University
Dear Colleagues:
I am pleased to share two important leadership appointments that strengthen the San Francisco Bay Region Network’s foundation as we move into the next phase of implementation.
Appointment of David Crozier
We are pleased to announce the appointment of David Crozier as the Network’s Chief Financial Services Officer, effective January 1, 2026.
David joins the Network with extensive leadership experience in financial services, operational management, process improvement, and strategic resource management. For the past eight years, he has served as Associate Vice President for Financial Services at Sonoma State University, providing senior oversight of financial operations, enhancing service delivery, and advancing strategic institutional priorities through collaborative, data-informed decision making.
Throughout his career, David has demonstrated a strong commitment to operational excellence, customer service, and continuous improvement. His expertise in financial policy, organizational leadership, and technology-enabled solutions positions him well to lead the development of a unified financial services model for the region.
In this new role, David will guide the evolution of shared financial services across the three Network universities, strengthening stewardship, streamlining processes, and promoting innovation and service excellence.
Please join me in congratulating David on this important appointment.
Appointment of Lanaya Gaberel
We are also pleased to announce that Lanaya Gaberel has been appointed as the Network’s Senior Director of Learning and Professional Development, effective January 12, 2026.
Lanaya brings extensive experience in learning strategy, organizational development, leadership development, and culture transformation. For the past eleven years, she has supported organization development efforts at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, most recently serving as Senior Director of Employee Experience & Organization Development. In this role, she leads high-impact professional development initiatives, advances organizational effectiveness, and designs learning ecosystems that enable people to thrive through change. Her portfolio includes providing strategic planning, change management and leadership support for the Cal Poly–Cal Maritime integration, as well as developing a career-planning and upskilling pilot for university staff.
Her background includes deep expertise in adult learning theory, instructional design, leadership programs, and organization-wide change management. She is known for building inclusive learning cultures, leveraging data to enhance outcomes, and fostering collaboration across diverse stakeholder groups.
In this new role, Lanaya will lead the Network’s workforce learning strategy, guiding the upskilling, readiness, and cultural integration efforts that prepare staff across all three Network universities for the work of the future. Her leadership will be foundational in developing regional professional development pathways and ensuring our teams are supported during the Network implementation and beyond.
Please join me in welcoming Lanaya to this vital leadership role.
Thank you for your ongoing partnership as we continue strengthening the SF Bay Region Network. I’m excited for all the opportunities the new year will bring to our Network universities.
December 22, 2025
From: Jeff Wilson, Project Lead, San Francisco Bay Region Network, California State University
To: Employees at California State University, East Bay, San Francisco State University, and Sonoma State University
Dear Colleagues:
I am pleased to announce that Jenifer Barnett has been appointed Senior Director of Procurement and Accounts Payable for the San Francisco Bay Region Network (SFBRN), effective immediately.
Jenifer brings to this position more than two decades of leadership experience at Sonoma State University, where she has overseen procurement, contracts, and accounts payable operations with a strong focus on efficiency, compliance, and collaboration across the California State University (CSU) system.
Jenifer has played a key role in several systemwide initiatives, including the implementation of CSUBuy and Concur Single Instance. She has also helped shape the future of procurement across the system through her contributions to the CSU Multi-U Initiative. Most recently, she conducted an assessment for the Network on integrating Procurement and Accounts Payable operations. Her proven ability to lead teams, optimize operations, provide CSUBuy and Concur training to employees, and foster partnerships across campuses makes her exceptionally well-suited for this new regional leadership role.
Jenifer will report directly to Dr. Karen Moranski, Vice President of Regional Network Transformation, until the search for the Network Chief Financial Services Officer has been completed with the assistance of the CSU Chancellor’s Office.
Please join us in congratulating Jenifer and welcoming her to this expanded position within the SFBRN. We look forward to her continued leadership in advancing procurement and accounts payable through operational excellence and service to the SFBRN campuses.November 5, 2025
Interim Head of Network IT Appointment for the SF Bay Region Network - Nish Malik
From: Jeff Wilson, Project Lead, San Francisco Bay Region Network
To: Employees at California State University, East Bay, San Francisco State University, and Sonoma State University
Dear Colleagues:
After a competitive search process, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Nish Malik as the new Interim Head of Network Information Technology for the San Francisco Bay Region Network (SFBRN), effective immediately.
Nish brings over two decades of leadership experience across higher education, state government, and the private sector. Most recently, he served as Senior Associate Vice President and Chief Information Officer at San Francisco State University, where he led major digital transformation initiatives that strengthened institutional resilience, improved user experience, and advanced cybersecurity and responsible AI integration.
Throughout his tenure at San Francisco State, Nish successfully consolidated distributed IT units into a unified organization, built high performing teams, implemented enterprise-wide modernization efforts, delivered resilient IT infrastructure, and championed cloud-first strategies and generative AI adoption. His leadership earned multiple California Public Higher Education Innovation Focus on Efficiency and Cal State Tech Awards for efficiency, organizational growth, and technology leadership.
A collaborative leader and community builder, Nish has served on systemwide CSU technology governance committees and on the board of the California Technology Council. He holds a master’s degree in Computer Information Systems from the University of San Francisco and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Johnson & Wales University.
Please join us in welcoming Nish Malik to his new role serving all three campuses in the Network. We look forward to his continued leadership in advancing technology innovation, operational excellence, and service to the SFBRN campuses.
October 21, 2025
Introducing the SF Bay Region Network Website – Our Next Step Forward
On behalf of the Presidents of Sonoma State, San Francisco State, and Cal State East Bay, we are pleased to announce the launch of the official San Francisco Bay Region Network (SFBRN) website.
Appointed by the Presidents to lead this important regional initiative, we are honored to share this next step forward with you. This announcement is being shared jointly across all three campuses today, underscoring our shared commitment to collaboration and unified progress.
This site represents our shared commitment to transparency, engagement, and progress. It offers a central hub where faculty, staff, and administrators across the three campuses can explore updates, project milestones, FAQs, and ways to get involved. Whether you are closely involved or are just beginning to learn about the Network, you’ll find valuable insight into where we are—and where we’re headed.
We’re also committing to monthly updates on the website to ensure you remain informed every step of the way. We invite you to explore the site regularly as new information becomes available. Your voice matters—please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts through the SFBRN Pulse Survey or by emailing info@sfbrn.calstate.edu, both linked directly on the homepage.
Thank you, as always, for your continued commitment, curiosity, and collaboration as we build something new—together.
In partnership,
Jeff Wilson
Project Lead, San Francisco Bay Region Network
Vice President, Administration and Finance and CFO
San Francisco State University | Sonoma State University
Karen Moranski
Vice President of Regional Network Transformation
San Francisco Bay Region Network
July 25, 2025