{"id":165072,"date":"2025-08-21T23:59:08","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T23:59:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/165072\/"},"modified":"2025-08-21T23:59:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T23:59:08","slug":"de-la-torre-to-sdsu-get-set-for-a-year-of-opportunity-and-audacity-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/165072\/","title":{"rendered":"De la Torre to SDSU: Get set for \u2018a year of opportunity and audacity\u2019 | News"},"content":{"rendered":"

San Diego State University President Adela de la Torre<\/strong> opened the 2025-26 academic year by praising SDSU\u2019s leadership in California higher education, highlighting recent accomplishments in research and community engagement, and a promise to pursue the truth and amplify diverse voices in challenging times.<\/p>\n

SDSU now occupies a truly unique space, de la Torre told nearly 1,000 faculty, staff and student leaders \u2014 some of them new to the university \u2014 during her eighth All-University Convocation on Thursday, an event held at Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union.\u00a0<\/p>\n

De la Torre applauded SDSU\u2019s recognition as an R1<\/a>, a Phase I strategic plan priority. Of the 187 R1s nationwide, only 30 \u2013 like SDSU \u2013 are designated Hispanic-Serving Institutions, with 16 of those also recognized as Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions. SDSU is also among only seven R1s that hold the Carnegie Community-Engaged designation. And only one R1 \u2013 SDSU alone \u2013 has Division I athletics while also recognized as a Carnegie Opportunity University, a distinction highlighting the institution\u2019s ability to combine affordability with strong graduate earnings.<\/p>\n

During \u201ca year of opportunity and audacity,\u201d de la Torre said SDSU looks forward to reaccreditation from Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WSCUC), a process that begins in the spring and is required for universities to maintain federal funding. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to participate in the WSCUC re-accreditation plan<\/a> during the new academic year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

De la Torre spoke to SDSU\u2019s purpose as an educational institution where \u201cin this moment, leadership is not optional.\u201d<\/p>\n

She cited a number of capital improvements in San Diego and Imperial Valley and new partnerships. In July, SDSU announced a new MOU<\/a> with the San Diego Community College District to strengthen transfer pathways and establish a first-of-its-kind academic facility at SDSU Mission Valley. August marked the opening of the new SDSU Imperial Valley Sciences and Engineering Laboratories<\/a> in Brawley, followed by a groundbreaking ceremony for SDSU Mission Valley\u2019s first residential and retail development<\/a>. Construction for the Evolve Student Housing<\/a> project is also underway.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is our moment to take everything SDSU stands for — equity, excellence and impact — and apply it with precision to the challenges and possibilities ahead,\u201d de la Torre said. \u201cEach of you has a role to play this year in projects that will enable and shape our future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Federal rollbacks in student aid, Title IX protections and DEI programs have created what de la Torre called a \u201cchallenging moment\u201d for SDSU and all of higher education. The undocumented community, Dreamers and international scholars, she said, all face uncertainty from shifts in immigration policy, rollbacks in student aid and funding for DEI programs.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs escalating national polarization around curriculum and academic freedom threatens the heart of what we do, we must continue to have the courage to pursue the truth, amplify diverse voices and challenge conventional wisdom,\u201d de la Torre said. \u201cWe not only owe this to ourselves but also we must continue to be a beacon of light for those who desperately need our voices in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour work changes lives,\u201d she told the audience. \u201cIt\u2019s because of you and our fantastic student body that SDSU has not flinched. We\u2019ve innovated\u2026.and we\u2019ve stood our ground. Through community-engaged research, equity-minded hiring and inclusive pedagogy, we\u2019re not just weathering the storm. We\u2019re reshaping what\u2019s possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

SDSU \u201cis a model for the deep intertwining of academic rigor and societal impact,\u201d de la Torre said in a look ahead to expectations for the 2025-26 year, \u201cand we are poised for transformative progress and growth.\u201d<\/p>\n

SDSU\u2019s endowment, she said, has now surpassed $500 million for the first time. \u201cThese are vital funds that provide student scholarships, faculty endowments and new facilities \u2015 and every dollar donated represents trust in our ability to define and execute our vision.\u201d<\/p>\n

The convocation also continued a tradition of honoring the exceptional work of faculty and staff.<\/p>\n

The annual Alumni Distinguished Faculty Awards were presented by William Tong<\/strong>, provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs, and Brianna Bennett<\/strong>, president of the SDSU Alumni Board of Advisors.<\/p>\n

\u201cSDSU is an extraordinary university, in large part because of our extraordinary faculty,\u201d Tong said. \u201cAmong them are masterful, inspirational teachers; phenomenal researchers; committed and engaged citizens of our university community; passionate leaders of their scholarly disciplines both nationally and internationally; compassionate servants of our SDSU communities and many who actually excel in all of these areas of professional endeavor.\u201d<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s honorees are:\u00a0<\/p>\n