GETTING ACQUAINTED; CSUN'S NEXT CHIEF TO TAKE REINS JULY 1.

Byline: Robert Monroe Staff Writer

Incoming CSUN President Jolene Koester said Wednesday she will start July 1, and Interim President Louanne Kennedy will return to her post as provost at that time.

Koester said she will finish the school year at California State University, Sacramento, where she is currently provost and academic vice president.

She spent Wednesday meeting with administrators and staff members at California State University, Northridge. She said she plans to visit with students during return trips to CSUN in the spring semester.

``I asked every one of them to focus on the opportunities we have,'' Koester said, emerging from an afternoon meeting with university vice presidents.

Koester toured the ``domes,'' the giant tent-like prefab buildings that have housed many university offices since the 1994 Northridge earthquake. She introduced herself to people in accounts payable and student service, to a security guard on a sidewalk and the woman who will take the photo for her university identification card.

``It's an important statement to make,'' said Koester of her decision to meet staff members before returning to Sacramento Wednesday night.

The 51-year-old beat out finalist Antoine Garibaldi, provost at Howard University, for the position, finding out in a Monday night telephone call from Chancellor Charles Reed. Two other candidates, USC's Jane Pisano and Washington State's Gretchen Bataille, dropped out Friday.

Koester's salary has not yet been determined. Kennedy makes $199,752 a year as interim president.

Campus staffers said they were impressed with the new president and glad that she already knows the Cal State system. Koester has been a professor and administrator at Cal State Sacramento for 16 years.

``It's a great advantage because she comes in knowing what our issues are,'' said Margaret Fieweger, associate vice president of undergraduate studies, after introducing Koester to her staff.

Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs John Mason said her familiarity with the system is a bonus, and he was impressed with her scholarship and administrative experience.

``We're so glad. It doesn't matter if she's CSU or not,'' he said.

Koester said she and Reed agreed upon July 1 as a start date to allow a smooth transition between her and her successor at Cal State, Sacramento.

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Photo: The next CSUN president, Jolene Koester, waves to a group of students and faculty members as she takes a tour of the campus.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer