President Tomás D. Morales regularly engages with the local community, university partners, legislative representatives and educational leaders worldwide to champion CSUSB and its mission.
Welcome to the spring 2023 CSUSB Magazine! I am delighted to share that we have had another innovative, exciting and trailblazing year here on our San Bernardino and Palm Desert campuses as we continue to define the moment we are in as a university community.
As we like to do, in this magazine we will introduce you to and share the achievements of our students, alumni, faculty and staff. CSUSB is a higher education community of extraordinary and outstanding individuals who I am proud to say have a potential as large as our two-county region of the Inland Empire. As our men’s basketball team showed the country this spring: yes, here at CSUSB, we grow and support amazing student-athletes who can make it to the Final Four in Division II basketball. As our alumni show: they can create groundbreaking roles in our public K-12 system (Cherina Betters). As our faculty show: the work in the classroom and in clinical settings in the field of social work can shine a spotlight on the marginalized and advocate for them (Rigaud Joseph). As our staff show: guiding our students and providing them with the leadership that they need to launch themselves successfully post-college is a key CSUSB responsibility (Roryana Bowman). And as our administrators show: we can serve as leaders in the 23-campus California State University system (Jennifer Sorenson).
I also encourage you to read this issue’s cover story on student Jeremy Saavedra, who transferred to CSUSB from Chaffey College to pursue a biology degree. His ultimate goal is to become a physician assistant so that he can help people. A full-time trucker, he began his college journey at age 41. He is also the first person in his family to pursue a college degree. The message he is sharing: It is never too late to pursue your dream.
And, learn about the two amazing individuals who were awarded at our May Commencement ceremonies with the highest recognition bestowed by the California State University system, an honorary degree: Dr. Mary M. Heckmann and Ms. Dorene C. Dominguez.
There is so much going on at our two campuses and this issue is filled with many of them. I invite you to settle back and take a virtual trip to CSUSB so you can experience a piece of all that is going on at our vibrant campuses. As always, we would love to welcome you back so that you can see how we are growing and changing to meet the needs of our students and prepare them for a future in which they will thrive.
Tomás D. Morales
President
CSUSB awards inaugural President’s Medal to Richard ‘Cheech’ Marin
The highlight of the President’s Holiday Dinner, held at the Mission Inn in Riverside on Nov. 30, was the first-ever awarding of the President’s Medal, which was presented by President Morales to Richard “Cheech” Marin.
“Mr. Marin was selected because of his accomplishments as an actor, author of children’s books and a preeminent collector of Chicano art,” said Morales. “His recent partnership with the Riverside Art Museum to establish The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture is having a huge positive impact right here in the Inland Empire. ‘The Cheech,’ as this museum is affectionately named, has already become a cultural icon and destination.”
The CSUSB President’s Medal was created and presented in recognition of an individual’s extraordinary achievements to a field, profession or our nation, and/or to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the wellbeing of others. The recipients have not attended and/or are not graduates of CSUSB.
Importance of a college education is the key for African American community
Now is the time for members of the Black and African American community to invest in a college degree, specifically a degree from Cal State San Bernardino and the California State University system for its value, affordability and providing a pathway to the stable, meaningful, high-paying and in-demand careers of the future.
That was the message that President Morales brought to members of the St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in San Bernardino on Feb. 26, as part of the CSU’s Super Sunday initiative on the importance of preparing for college.
“I want to thank the St. Paul AME Church family for allowing me to be here – its deacons, its elders, its pastoral team and leadership. Cal State San Bernardino, simply put, is your university,” Morales said. “And I’m here to remind you that and to encourage you to partner with Cal State San Bernardino. We want to go beyond simply coming in as part of Black History Month and having an opportunity to speak with you on the fourth Sunday of the month. But more importantly, to have an opportunity to interact with the parents and grandparents and youth of the St. Paul AME family.”
With the theme “Equity, Access, Affordability and Social Mobility,” Morales joined fellow campus presidents, CSU system leaders and administrators who visited nearly 100 predominately African American churches throughout California in spreading the message to Black and African American families that a college degree is affordable, within reach, transformational and theirs for the taking.
CSUSB president speaks at Universia International Rectors’ Summit
President Morales was one of the panelists for a program, “University and Society,” at the 5th Universia International Rectors’ Summit held in Valencia, Spain, May 8-10. The summit was attended by more than 700 university leaders from across the globe, and featured discussions around three key topics: lifelong learning, promoting entrepreneurship and innovation, and developing university networks and interconnection.
Improving enrollment and retention of African American students focus of joint meeting
Officials from CSUSB and the Cooperative Economic Empowerment Movement (CEEM) met at the university on Jan. 27 to talk about increasing enrollment and retaining African American students.
The session was a follow-up to a joint meeting held in December where members of the university and cooperative discussed ways to build a stronger partnership to “further transform lives – particularly African American lives – here in the Inland Empire,” said President Morales in his welcoming remarks.
“Today we are going to dig deeper into specific data and CSUSB programs. We want to hear from the members of CEEM regarding ideas to enhance the African American experience at CSUSB, while improving enrollment and retention,” Morales said. “We strongly believe that this partnership between CEEM and CSUSB can help support and advance the IE’s African American community.”
CEEM is an economic cooperative committed to closing the racial wealth gap through education, investments and support for African American professionals and the African American entrepreneurial ecosystem.
CSUSB and Rialto School District team up to Teach Rialto
In mid-March, the Rialto Unified School District (RUSD) and CSUSB launched Teach Rialto, an initiative that will provide ninth grade students, beginning with the 2023-24 school year, a rigorous program of study and support services through their senior year in high school. That will put them in a position to meet the requirements for admission to CSUSB, where they will earn their bachelor’s degree and teaching credentials so that they could return to teach in Rialto’s schools.
The agreement, in the form of a memorandum of understanding, is the first of its kind. The RUSD Board of Education formally approved the program at its meeting in November 2022.
“As an anchor institution – and a leader in training the region’s teachers – we are committed to bolstering the education of our youth so that they can define their future and that of the Inland Empire,” said President Morales. “Our partnership with RUSD through Teach Rialto will play a major role in that, by training homegrown teachers who will take pride in giving back to their community as well as continuing the work to pay it forward. And we hope it will be a model for other school districts to emulate.”
CSUSB to formally partner with Lviv Polytechnic National University in Ukraine
CSUSB and Lviv Polytechnic National University, Ukraine, one of the largest technical universities in Eastern Europe, announced that the institutions are developing an agreement to establish a partnership and initiate international collaborative activities to promote joint educational, scientific and cultural development.
President Morales said, “This is tremendous news and a wonderful opportunity that will ultimately benefit students and the faculty and staff at both of our institutions. The memorandum of understanding reinforces my belief that students receive an incredible benefit from international studies. I look forward to our two institutions working together.”
The partnership will be designed to enhance international understanding and deepen friendship between CSUSB and Lviv Polytechnic National University, starting with cooperation in the area of entrepreneurship.
CSUSB president affiliates with Excelencia in Education’s Presidents for Latino Student Success network
Excelencia in Education, the nation’s premier authority in efforts accelerating Latino student success in higher education, announced that CSUSB President Morales has joined the Presidents for Latino Student Success network.
This important national network is comprised of college and university presidents and chancellors who commit to making their institutions learning environments where Latino students thrive. The institutions in Excelencia’s network are transforming higher education. Through the network, Morales will collaborate with Excelencia to leverage collective expertise and resources, foster partnerships, and amplify current efforts at the national level.
“I am deeply honored and proud to be part of this amazing group of leaders who are dedicated to providing an exceptional higher education experience not only to Latino students, but to all students,” Morales said. “Though our campuses are located throughout the country, our goal is the same – create an educational environment where students not only succeed, but excel and are ready to lead our communities as the future leaders of our society.”