Frederika Fraka Harmsen served as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at California State University, Sacramento. She is a strong advocate for higher education and has worked closely with the California legislature. Her major accomplishments include leadership in the innovative use of technology in teaching and learning, and promotion of excellence in academic practice; growing the university global footprint, and the founding of a highly interdisciplinary Institute for Water, Energy, Sustainability and Technology (iWEST).