Shawn Whalen is chief of staff at San Jose State University, where he serves as a member of the senior leadership team and advises the president on academic policy, student achievement, and strategic planning.  Shawn previously served as program director at College Futures Foundation and chief of staff to the president of San Francisco State University. He is professor emeritus of Communication Studies at San Francisco State University. As a faculty member, he was active in university governance and served three terms as chair of the Academic Senate. He also directed nationally ranked speech and debate programs at two institutions and is a past president of intercollegiate debate’s national governing body, the Cross Examination Debate Association. Shawn received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from San Diego State University and completed Ph.D. coursework at the University of Utah.

Current Term

2023 – 2026