President's Agenda

President Tomás D. Morales regularly engages with the local community, university partners, legislative representatives and educational leaders worldwide to champion CSUSB and its mission.

President Tómas Morales poses with study aboard students.

CSUSB study abroad programs receive president’s support

President Morales has voiced his commitment and appreciation of study abroad programs numerous times, and continues to show his support. “Studying abroad is a valuable learning tool that gives students the opportunity to break out of their comfort zones, experience new educational and social environments, and grow as individuals,” Morales said. “I firmly believe that these programs provide students with positive life-changing experiences that they carry with them for the rest of their lives.” Since voicing his support of such programs, the last several years have shown a strong increase in participation, and is expected to continue to rise. CSUSB offers a number of study abroad options for students, from historical cities to tropical destinations.

President Morales at a CSU Alumni Reception in Taipei.

In mid-January, President Morales and Ron Fremont, vice president of University Advancement, attended the first-ever CSU Alumni Reception in Taipei, Taiwan, where CSU alumni had the opportunity to meet and mingle. CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White and several other CSU presidents also attended the event. Similar receptions for CSU alumni took place in Hong Kong, China and Bangkok, Thailand.

President Morales co-hosts international conference in Mexico

President Morales was one of three hosts at the semi-annual meeting of the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP), an association of university chief executives from higher education institutions around the world, held in November in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Joining Morales in hosting were Antonio Leaño Reyes, president of the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, and Fernando Leon Garcia, president of Centro de Enseñanza Técnica Y Superior (CETYS) University in Mexicali, Baja California. Morales also served as a panelist in the session “University Responsiveness to Changing Times: Challenges and Opportunities from a Cross Regional Perspective,” which included Fernando Mata Carrasco, secretary general emeritus for IAUP.

President Morales talks college preparation during Super Sunday

In February, President Morales spoke to members of the Immanuel Praise Fellowship church in Rancho Cucamonga about the importance of preparing young African-Americans for college starting at preschool and continuing through elementary school, middle school and high school. His talk was part of California State University’s Super Sunday higher education initiative, which encourages students to pursue college. CSU leaders, trustees, campus presidents and alumni visited 100 African-American churches across the state to talk about preparing for college. CSU Super Sunday began more than a decade ago as a collaboration between the CSU, its campuses and predominantly African-American churches throughout California.

President Morales participates in Goodwill forum

President Morales was a panelist at the Goodwill Southern California Inland Empire Breakfast Forum, “Tapping the Talents of Unique Populations,” on Feb. 28 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Ontario. The panelists were asked to focus on disconnected youth, military veterans, individuals with disabilities, the re-entry population, the homeless and those living in poverty, and how their talents can be tapped to contribute to the region’s workforce and meet its employment needs. President Morales presented to the audience the CSUSB programs that assist students who face these challenges, and how the university helps them succeed.

TIAA features President Morales as a ‘Difference Maker’

The financial services organization TIAA interviewed President Morales about his work with low-income and first-generation students. More than 80 percent of the students at Cal State San Bernardino are the first in their family to earn a degree. “I have spent my entire career working with low-income students,” Morales said. “The biggest challenge is to provide the leadership that creates institutions that are responsive to the unique needs of first-generation and low-income students. They often are underprepared academically, especially in math. We must ensure that they’re prepared when they enter college.” Morales said he’s been driven by the desire to increase CSUSB’s graduation rates since he became president in 2012. “By working with school districts to improve college readiness,” he said, “we’ve increased our graduation rates during the past 10 years."