Current Position and Past Experience
Since 2010, Sheila Thomas has been the Statewide Dean of Extended Education in the Chancellor’s Office of the California State University system. As State Dean, Sheila is responsible for facilitating workforce development, strategic communication, policy review and advocating for Extended and Continuing Education, both internally and externally. She has administrative oversight of the Commission on Extended University and system distance learning compliance.

Prior to this, Thomas spent five years as the Associate Dean of Continuing and Professional Education at CSU Long Beach. This followed 14 years as the Assistant Dean of Postgraduate Education as the Southern California University of Health Sciences.

Education, Honors and Achievements
Sheila holds a bachelor’s degree from Azusa Pacific University, a master’s degree from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and is a doctoral candidate in higher education leadership at Northcentral University.

Personal Details and Community Involvement
Sheila is a member of the California State Health Workforce Development Council, serves on the Board of Directors of the National Professional Science Masters Association, and is involved in other workforce development efforts in healthcare, transportation, green and sustainability, teacher education and biotechnology.