Malavalli Family Foundation Pledges $1 Million to CSUEB
Kumar Malavalli
- November 20, 2015
Cal State East Bay announces the Malavalli Family Foundation has pledged a gift of
$1 million to create an endowment in support of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and outreach at the university.
“I chose Cal Sate State East Bay both for the university itself and the surrounding area,” said Kumar Malavalli, groundbreaking tech entrepreneur and CSUEB Educational Foundation board member. “I believe STEM education lays a strong foundation for students to succeed throughout their journey, all the way from kindergarten to the university, and for them to become engaged members of their communities.”
With particular emphasis on early math literacy in grades K-3, Cal State East Bay will receive generous annual support to continue building deeper relationships with East Bay schools, parents, and teachers, and prepare the future teachers who will transform STEM education for decades to come.
President Leroy M. Morishita, who is a member of the CSU President’s Council on Underserved Communities, and Presidential Coordinator for the Asian American/Pacific Islander Initiative, spoke about what this relationship with the Malavalli Family Foundation means to the university and the Bay Area at large.
“What makes this endowment particularly impactful is that it provides strategic support for students and is a sustaining commitment to developing a STEM-savvy workforce,” Morishita said. “Mr. Malavalli’s gift will enhance the great work our faculty here at Cal State East Bay has already accomplished — they are the cornerstone of success for our diverse student base, of which 60 percent are the first in their families to go to college.
“We are grateful and excited to partner with a visionary entrepreneur such as Mr. Malavalli,” Morishita continued. “His innovative, pioneering work in the technology industry exemplifies what we hope to offer our students and what we want them to be inspired to achieve.”
Stephanie Couch, PhD, and CSUEB’s Interim Associate Vice President for Research and Professional Development, explained the importance of laying the groundwork for STEM learning at an early age. “We know from research that early math literacy is key to young people’s future success in STEM fields. The gaps we see in who is good at math and who is not, is a reflection of current inequities in STEM learning opportunities,” Couch said. “And we also know that helping all the people in children’s lives understand how to help them develop early math capabilities is an essential piece of cementing the right foundation.”
The Malavalli Family Foundation’s Director of Giving, Ranjini Malavalli, agreed. “One of the most critical things we can do, especially for girls, is to make sure, at a very young age, that they have access to interesting and engaging STEM learning opportunities and positive role models.”
Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Carolyn Nelson also expressed her excitement for the opportunities the endowment will create. “CSUEB is working closely with many community partners who are focused on bringing early STEM learning opportunities to all students. This funding provides sorely needed resources that the campus and its partners can now count on as we design and implement new offerings for young people, parents, and teachers,” Nelson said.
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