I am writing to share that Jonathan Bowman, vice president for Administration and Business Affairs and chief financial officer, has announced his resignation effective immediately. We are saddened by his departure but are grateful for his significant contributions to Sacramento State over the past five years.
Jonathan joined the Hornet Family in January 2019, bringing valuable experience from his previous role at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). His impact on our campus was immediate, as he successfully integrated our Human Resources division with Administration and Business Affairs, streamlining our operations. He also played a crucial role in the California Mobility Center, serving as Board Secretary and Treasurer.
Jonathan's leadership was critical during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. He oversaw the allocation of $214 million in Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) money, ensuring that over $88 million directly benefited our students. His efforts that helped ensure our successful return to campus included establishing COVID testing centers and strategically utilizing funds for long-term solutions such as outdoor instructional areas, classroom renovations and equipment upgrades, helped ensure our successful return to campus.
Jonathan's strategic vision and negotiation skills were instrumental in the Placer Ranch/Sacramento State Placer Campus project. He finalized crucial agreements between Placer Ranch, the CSU trustees, Placer County, and Sacramento State, securing land for the future Placer Center. His work culminated in the approval of the Placer Campus master plan 2024, and he played a key role in planning for the Placer County Crime Lab at the Placer Campus. Jonathan’s work also was critical in securing funding for the new Art Building, which is set to open this fall.
Perhaps most importantly, Jonathan elevated the culture of the Division of Administration and Business Affairs through his servant leadership approach. His commitment to our institution and its people has left an indelible mark on Sacramento State. Please join me in thanking Jonathan for his dedicated service and wishing him the very best in his future endeavors.
Senior Associate Vice President for Human Resources Machelle Martin will step forward to lead the finance and compliance areas of ABA, including Human Resources, University Police Department, Financial Services, and Budget Planning and Administration. Machelle has led numerous strategic projects and improvements to HR since coming to Sac State in 2019, including establishing the Staff & Faculty Emergency Fund, and improving various workflows to increase efficiencies and reduce paper, such as automated timesheets for a large population of student assistants, Casual Workers and Hourly Intermittent employees. She has numerous years of leadership experience across multiple industries, in both the private and public sectors. Machelle is twice Made at Sac State – she holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and a master’s in business administration. She also holds the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), Professional in Human Resources – California (PHR-CA) and Society for Human Resource Management-Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) certifications.
Associate Vice President for Facilities Management Felicia Lindstrot Johnson will lead the facilities and administration functions of ABA, including Facilities Management, Risk Management Services, and UTAPS. Felicia joined Sacramento State in 2022, brining extensive facility management experience from her roles at the University of California, Westridge School for Girls in Pasadena, Rio Hondo College in Whittier, and the California Institute of Technology (CalTech), and experience with federal, state, and local compliance. She holds a bachelor’s degree from UCLA in Mechanical Engineering, was the president of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), and was a member of the Society of Women Engineers. In her first year at Sac State, Felicia introduced antiracism training for campus custodial and grounds teams, resulting in greater awareness and clear reporting protocols for offensive symbols. Her leadership in the School at Work program underscores her commitment to the professional development of her team. Felicia's swift actions during numerous critical situations have been crucial in maintaining smooth campus operations.
ABA Chief of Operations Dr. Margaret Hwang will support Machelle and Felicia by continuing to lead the Office of the Vice President. I am confident these leaders will provide strong and effective leadership for ABA during this transition, maintaining continuity and progress in the vital work carried out by ABA.
Please join me in thanking Jonathan for all he did for the Hornet Family.
