A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT MORISHITA: INSIDE EAST BAY, September 2019
- September 26, 2019
By now, you have heard the news that I will be retiring from Cal State East Bay and the California State University system on June 30, 2020. As I said in my message to campus last week, out of my 40 years as a California state employee, the last eight years serving as president of this university have been the most fulfilling of my career.
My goal has always been to work collaboratively with our staff, faculty, alumni and community partners as we help our students dream, be successful in their endeavors and become socially responsible citizens in the world. I look forward to continuing this important work with each of you throughout the next year.
Earlier this month, Hickry Nguyen was named our campus recipient of the prestigious CSU Trustees' Award. As immigrants to the United States, Hickry and his family endured periods of hardship before he was able to realize his dream of attending college. An honors student in Health Sciences, he says the scholarship will allow him to apply himself fully to academics and as he works toward his goal of becoming a physical therapist.
Cal State East Bay has also received its sixth consecutive Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award from “INSIGHT Into Diversity” magazine. The award is the only national recognition honoring universities and colleges for their efforts and successes in diversity and inclusion.
On a related note, you may have caught award-winning author and inspirational speaker Reyna Grande on campus earlier this month. Her visit kicked off a yearlong celebration of heritage months, spearheaded by the Office of Diversity and the Diversity and Inclusion Student Center. Planned activities include speakers, artists and authors who will strive not only to discuss their work, but also engage the community in a dialogue about each month’s theme. Upcoming months include Accessibility Month in October and Native Awareness Month in November.
Next month, we will also celebrate four Pioneers at the Distinguished Alumni Awards, on Oct. 18. These exceptional alumni have made remarkable contributions in their professional and personal lives — please join me in celebrating Kenneth Kahrs (’73), Sara Toyloy (’87), James Hannan (’89) and Karen Oliver (’74) at this memorable event.
Indeed, it will be a busy year ahead, filled with more milestones for our students, achievements by our faculty and university community, and Cal State East Bay’s continued leadership in helping our community thrive. Thank you for your work and dedication and I look forward to the rest of an exceptional academic year.