S T A N I S L A U S S T AT E
FALL 2023
M A G A Z I N E
F E AT U R E S T O R Y
meet Interim President Sue Borrego
A Word from the
PRESIDENT Embarking on a Bountiful Season Warm greetings to you! Stanislaus State’s fall semester began with a dynamic burst of activity as students, faculty and staff members filled our campus with inspiring energy.
As nature begins its seasonal transformation, Stan State similarly offers fertile ground where academic achievements, community engagement and personal development are cultivated and celebrated in an atmosphere of inspiration, service and academic pursuits by our students and faculty.
Since stepping into the role of interim president, I’ve had the opportunity to immerse myself in the Warrior community and the remarkable Central Valley. I have spent the past 10 weeks getting acquainted with the extraordinary students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and friends of the University who make Stan State such an amazing place. Each day has been an opportunity to learn, and I’m absorbing as much as I can from everyone I meet.
We have lots to accomplish this academic year, and one of my goals is to continue building on a strong sense of community. We have the opportunity, responsibility and privilege of creating a learning environment that celebrates our differences and harnesses that power to drive us forward. Keeping our focus on working together and growing, we are highlighting stories that show the strong and wide-reaching impact of our community and University.
As I dove into the important task of nurturing connections and securing support for our University, I found something wonderfully symbolic about embarking on this journey as the season itself is transforming around us. Fall brings not just a change in the landscape but a rich, bountiful season where abundance and prosperity in the surrounding agriculture mirrors our University. It’s like watching nature itself aligning with our aspirations, crafting a scene where every leaf tells a story of change, growth and potential.
This issue of STAN Magazine spotlights those who are making a powerful difference on our campus, in our community and beyond. Every Warrior has a story worth telling, and we’re thrilled to share these tales of achievement, innovative spirit and dedication with you. Warm regards,
Susan E. Borrego, Ph.D. Interim President
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CONTENTS
STAN Magazine is published by the Office of Communications and Public Affairs in the Division of University Advancement at Stanislaus State. Interim President
Marketing Specialist
Vice President for University Advancement
Digital Communications Specialist
Susan E. Borrego Michele Lahti
Kristen Sederquist (’13)
Sara Balisha (’13)
Senior Associate Vice President Website Accessibility for Communications, Marketing Coordinator and Media Relations Saul Avila (’17)
Rosalee Rush
Director for Communications and Creative Services
Kristina Stamper (’06) Senior Writer and Content Specialist
Donna Birch Trahan
Content Specialists
Gina Oltman Lori Gilbert (’91) Conor Demings (’20) Andrew Cabrera (’20) Kimberly Horg
Senior Graphic Designer
Steve Caballero (’21) Graphic Designer
Katie Dowling Associate Director of Marketing & Digital Strategy
Mandeep Khaira (’02) Photographer
Merri Hansen Media Production Specialist
Frankie Tovar (’11)
Stay in touch!
Phone: (209) 667-3131 cpa@csustan.edu www.csustan.edu/stan-magazine This Page: Fall’s arrival on campus is beautifully announced by the golden leaves adorning our ginkgo trees. On the Cover: Interim President Susan Borrego eagerly anticipates collaborating with the Stan State community. Dive into our exclusive Q & A with Sue on page 16.
04 News Briefs
20 Community Catalysts
10 Alumni on Track to Make a Difference
22 Homegrown Excellence
12 Stockton Campus Rising
28 Life in Death Valley
14 Adding Value 16 Leading with Clarity and Purpose
24 Start Something 30 From Svalbard to the Central Valley
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If you receive more than one copy of STAN Magazine, please pass it along to a friend of Stanislaus State. If you would like to support Stanislaus State, visit www.csustan.edu/giving. Stanislaus State serves a diverse student body of more than 10,000 at two locations in the Central Valley — a beautiful 228acre campus in Turlock and the Stockton Campus, located in University Park, a 102acre site in Stockton’s historic Magnolia District. Widely recognized for dedicated faculty, high-quality academic programs and exceptional value, the University offers more than 100 majors, minors and areas of concentration, along with 19 master’s degree programs, six credential programs and a doctorate in educational leadership. We are a proud member of the 23-campus California State University system.
FALL 2023
NEWS BRIEFS
HONORING THE CLASS OF 2023
Stanislaus State’s Class of 2023 experienced the return of all Commencement traditions — a processional, walking across the stage as their names were announced and faculty members in their academic regalia who cheered and celebrated their students’ achievements — during the University’s 63rd Commencement ceremonies. Those customary rituals were paused for the 2021 and 2022 ceremonies due to COVID-19 restrictions. But with the restrictions suspended, graduates were able to experience all the traditional festivities associated with Commencement — including marching into the venue to “Pomp and Circumstance,” and sitting among their fellow graduates. Stanislaus State celebrated 2,988 graduates and 373 credential recipients during three ceremonies held in May.
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INAUGURAL CHIEF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION OFFICER SACHA JOSEPH-MATHEWS
BEST IN THE WEST: FORGING PATHS TO EXCELLENCE Stanislaus State has once again made a mark in the academic arena, securing top rankings and ratings from Washington Monthly, U.S. News & World Report, Money.com and other publications. The University was recognized for its outstanding academic programs, affordability and the exceptional value for students.
On Oct. 2, Stanislaus State welcomed Sacha Joseph-Mathews as its inaugural vice president and chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer (CDEIO). A leading expert in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and marketing, Joseph-Mathews brings a diverse range of experience to her role. Prior to joining Stan State, she served as the assistant dean for diversity, equity, inclusion and community engagement, as well as a marketing professor, at the University of the Pacific in Stockton.
In August, Washington Monthly ranked the University No. 2 in the West for “Best Bang for the Buck.” That same month, the Princeton Review included Stan State on its national Best Colleges list. When U.S. News & World Report released its annual rankings in mid-September, the University secured top 10 Best in the West rankings in four categories: • No. 3, Social Mobility • No. 4, Top Public Schools • No. 6, Best College for Veterans • No. 10, Regional Universities
She has taught classes in the United States, Caribbean, Asia and Africa and has published numerous articles and presentations on DEI, marketing, tourism, customer service, ethical consumption and international business. Joseph-Mathews also played a significant role in developing a DEI certificate at Pacific’s Eberhardt School of Business.
The rankings underscore Stan State’s commitment to academic excellence, student success and affordability in addition to preparing students to meet regional workforce needs.
Joseph-Mathews earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from the University of the West Indies, Mona campus, a Master of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management, and a doctorate in business administration with a specialization in marketing, both attained from Florida State University.
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FALL 2023
WAYNE AND DONNA PIERCE TRANS-CALIFORNIA PATHWAY NAMING HONORS FORCES BEHIND IT
KRISTEN RONEY NAMED ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR FACULTY AFFAIRS Kristen Roney began her position as the associate vice president for faculty affairs at Stan State on July 1. She is a highly experienced leader who has held various roles in the CSU system. Roney holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Comparative Literature from the University of Georgia, and a B.A. in English from Norfolk State University. Most recently, she served as vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo and previously served at CSU Monterey Bay as associate vice president for academic programs and founding dean of the University College and Graduate Studies.
Ten years after its completion and more than 30 years after the first trees were planted, Stanislaus State’s Trans-California Pathway has a new name: the Wayne and Donna Pierce Trans-California Pathway. The trail on the University’s southeast corner shares with visitors the vegetation that grows along the transect from the Central Valley floor to the High Sierras. Conceived in the 1970s by Botany Professors Wayne Pierce and David Gotelli and Geography Professor Ida Bowers, it began when a team of volunteers planted 300 acorns at Geer and Monte Vista roads.
“I am very excited and grateful for the opportunity to join the team at Stan State. My door is always open to the campus community, so please do not hesitate to swing by,” Roney said.
For three years, Wayne Pierce connected hoses from a faucet outside the Science 1 Building and hand watered the plants while his wife Donna weeded the area. After three years, Wayne Pierce said the saplings were ready to be on their own and 47 oak trees grew. Lacking the funding to expand on his plan to share the pathway with students who’d never experienced the foothills or Sierra, the plot remained home to those oak trees alone. When Wayne passed away, Donna Pierce secured the funding to see her husband’s dream come to life, and with the financial help of others, saw its completion in 2012. While students of Pierce — who taught from 1971 to 2007, when he was named professor emeritus — never experienced the Trans-California Pathway he envisioned, today’s Stan State botany students not only study its plants but help care for it.
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STUART WOOLEY APPOINTED ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Stuart Wooley has been appointed to serve as the associate vice president for academic affairs at Stan State. Wooley has served in the Provost’s Office since 2017 in a variety of capacities including faculty fellow for assessment, faculty director of general education, and most recently, interim associate vice president for academic affairs and accreditation liaison.
Wooley recently led the campus through a thoughtful and collaborative process to develop a two-year interim report of the Stockton Campus to WASC Accrediting Commission for Schools. In addition, he has worked closely with Student Affairs and other divisions on the Graduation Initiative 2025 as well as other key student success projects.
CALIFORNIA POET LAUREATE AND ALUMNUS LEE HERRICK SHARES THE JOY OF POETRY Stanislaus State alumnus and California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick (’94, ’97) is on a statewide mission to spread the art of poetry and inspire a new generation of literary artists in the golden state. Appointed poet laureate by Gov. Gavin Newsom a year ago, Herrick returned to his alma mater in May to discuss poetry with students and read some of his work to an appreciative audience of Warriors.
Herrick is the state’s 10th poet laureate and the first Asian American in the role, which has a two-year term. When he is not fulfilling his duties as poet laureate, he works as a professor at Fresno City College. Before earning a bachelor’s degree in English in 1994 and a master’s degree in English in 1997, Herrick, who grew up in Modesto, attended Grace M. Davis High School and Modesto Junior College. “My time at Stanislaus State was transformative, and I know I would not be where I am today had I not gone there,” he said. “It just expanded me as a person and expanded my view of the world. It set me on a course that allowed me to do what I love.”
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FALL 2023
STEVEN FLOWERS PROMOTED TO ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
STAN STATE HONORS ATHLETICS LEGENDS DURING 2023 HALL OF FAME CEREMONY
Steven Flowers came to Stan State as assistant volleyball coach with his wife, head volleyball coach Lauren Flowers, in February 2022, but he now serves as a volunteer coach after being named associate director of athletics for game operations and facilities. Flowers will oversee facilities operations, game-day experience and athletics communications.
Warrior Athletics scored big on Saturday, Oct. 14, by honoring its 2023 Hall of Fame inductees: Kasey Burlingham (Track/Field), Kevin Cunningham (volunteer), Alexia Poon (Women’s soccer), Softball Coach Jan Schefkowitz and the 2007 Softball team. Congratulations!
“My role will be to oversee the facilities and look to improve branding in alignment with the growth and vision of the University,” Flowers said. “I will also be looking to increase the game day environment for both the student body and the community. For communications, I’ll be working on increasing our digital media presence in storytelling for our student-athletes.”
Read more about the honorees
Flowers’ past experience has prepared him for this role, he said. He was the fitness director at a large hospital in the Permian Basin in Texas, where he oversaw facilities, programing and staffing. At four other schools, three of them with NCAA Division II athletics programs, he worked on game-day and operations staffs. At North Central Texas College, a community college, in addition to coaching, he was the sports information director and oversaw the website, social media and digital streaming.
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NEW DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE VERSED IN PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS AND FACULTY Martina Giselle Ramirez was named the new dean of the College of Science and began her duties at Stanislaus State on July 1.
therapy education, and at the time she left, she was working with the dean of Humanities to jointly launch a Medical Humanities program. During the vacancy of the dean of Faculty Affairs, Ramirez also assumed management responsibility of New Faculty Orientation and Professional Development Day, as well as leading the planning for the new Center for Teaching, Learning and Norbertine Pedagogy.
Ramirez arrived from St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, where she was dean of the Division of Natural Sciences. While there, Ramirez helped create the Natural Sciences Early Career Award to recognize pre-tenured faculty whose work enhances the student experience in the sciences. She also facilitated the creation of a new strategic plan for the college, hired new faculty, improved the operation of the St. Norbert College-Bellin College partnership in nursing and physical
Prior to her time in Wisconsin, Ramirez served in a variety of capacities at Pomona College, Bucknell University, Denison University, East Stroudsburg University and Loyola Marymount University, where she earned her B.S. in Biology. She earned her Ph.D. in Biology at UC Santa Cruz.
MAURA GATCH APPOINTED ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR STRATEGIC ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT Maura Gatch is bringing her dedication to student success and deep understanding of enrollment management to her new role as associate vice president for strategic enrollment management. “I am incredibly thrilled to return to California and join the esteemed community at Stanislaus State,” Gatch said. “The supportive environment for students and the University’s significant impact on the Central California community are unparalleled. I eagerly
look forward to collaborating with the exceptional staff in Enrollment Management and across the campus as we strive for continued success.” Gatch previously served as vice chancellor of enrollment management at Montana State University Northern, and also held key roles including executive director of Enrollment Management, director of Student Support Services, and director of Admissions and Recruitment during her seven years at the institution. She holds an M.S. in Organizational Management and a B.A. from Chadron State College.
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FALL 2023
ALUMNI
Alumni on Track to Make a Difference
by Donna birch Trahan
Matt and Ebony Omelagah beam with pride when they talk about their experiences at Stanislaus State. After all, the University has played a major role in both their personal and professional lives. It’s where they met as undergraduates and student-athletes, as they both competed on the track and field team. It’s where Ebony broke the campus’s record in the 400-meter event, a feat that still stands nearly two decades later. And it’s where the couple fell in love. Moreover, Stan State is where they found their calling to help others. “He likes to take credit for me ending up at Stan State,” Ebony joked. “But let me tell you, that was a non-factor. I really came because I enjoyed the campus. I liked the track team, I liked (men’s and women’s track and field) Coach Troy Johnson, and I was lucky enough to get a full-ride scholarship. So, coming here was a no-brainer for me.” Gaining a life partner was another positive part of the overall package. While studying and working their way through school, it planted a seed that years later became their successful familyowned business, Omelagah, Inc., a disability services company dedicated to helping adults with developmental disabilities and complex needs. In the 12 years since the couple launched their business, it has grown exponentially. They have seven specialized residential homes in Northern California, including one in Turlock. Over the years, they have employed more than 800 workers and have been involved in more than a dozen communitybased programs.
Where it All Started Matt was born in San Jose, but he was a toddler when his family packed their bags and headed to Lagos in Nigeria, his father’s country of origin. The family spent 10 years there.
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Matt returned to California, where he eventually enrolled at Stan State and majored in communication studies. Around the same time, Ebony was beginning her higher education journey. “I was actually running track at Moorpark College, a junior college, and we had a new coach come aboard,” Ebony recalled. “He made all the student-athletes sit down and write five letters to different colleges, asking the track coaches to look at their times and review their academic records to see if they were good candidates. “I wrote my letter and I totally forgot about it. A couple of months later, I got a call from Troy, Stan State’s head track coach who said they wanted me to come to the campus because they thought I would be a good match for the team. “Thankfully, that coach had the foresight to have us all look one step ahead, and then, luckily, Coach Troy was there to really welcome me to the school. Matt was one of the hosts for my recruiting trip.” Matt had a similar recruitment experience with Johnson in the late 1990s, early 2000. “He talked me into coming to Stanislaus State,” Matt recalled. “He was trying to build the track program. At the time, a lot of my buddies were going to the PAC-12 and other big schools, while I was coming off an injury. He said, ‘Hey, come to this small town and help us rebuild the program.’ “It was a great decision,” said Matt, who joined the men’s track team as a sprinter and was the team captain for three years. “Ebony was really the elite runner. I was more of a regional guy. Because I was the team captain and leader, I helped build our program and recruited folks.” Johnson, who has been in the head coach position for 23 years, saw their leadership skills early on. “I was fortunate and blessed enough to work with them. I saw the leadership they both had,” said Johnson. “Ebony always had an ‘I can do it’ attitude.
“Our aim spans a dual horizon. One, to offer renewed opportunities to those overlooked by society, and two, to uphold a robust African American owned enterprise.” - Matt Omelagah
Matt and Ebony Omelagah revisit Al Brenda Track at Warrior Stadium.
“Matt was the politician and team leader. His best asset was how he could get everybody to listen. He could pull everybody together for a common goal, no matter the situation.” While Matt pursued communication studies, Ebony majored in criminal justice. Both graduated with their bachelor’s degrees in 2004.
Expanding Horizons Fast forward to today: The couple’s passion to help others manifested as their company, Omelagah, Inc., which provides services for adults with developmental disabilities and complex needs. Since its launch more than a decade ago, their initiative has grown. They currently operate specialized residential homes across Northern California, including one in Turlock, and are involved in numerous community projects. With Ebony’s background in criminal justice, and Matt’s master’s degree from Columbia University in social work,
the duo saw an opportunity to be a part of California’s movement to deinstitutionalization and close state institutions. Their venture is an embodiment of their shared philosophy: Everyone deserves a second chance. Matt talks about their mission with passion. “Our aim spans a dual horizon,” he said. “One, to offer renewed opportunities to those overlooked by society, and two, to uphold a robust African American owned enterprise.” He emphasizes their drive to uplift others and serve as mentors, especially to young African American professionals. As former student-athletes, they were grateful for opportunities offered by mentors who hired them for jobs while they were students, allowing them to juggle school, work and sports.
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Drawing from their experiences as undergraduates, they sought to extend similar opportunities to student-athletes. “Our initiative in Turlock is strategically located,” he said. “Merely two blocks from the University, similar to our time working at a care home during college.” The proximity allows student-athletes to access a job that not only supports their academic journey but offers them a broader perspective on caregiving and community service. Matt and Ebony are thankful for their experiences at Stan State and how it helped them reach their goals. “We feel a lot of pride watching the campus grow,” Ebony said. Matt has this message for current and prospective students: “Stan State planted the seeds. It’s like a small family. It will give you a platform to success. It’s within your reach.”
FALL 2023
STOCKTON CAMPUS
rising
By Lori Gilbert
Administrative Assistant Zona Zaragoza proudly showed off the Warrior Welcome Hub door with its light blue background, cotton ball clouds and colorful hot air balloons made of paper. The judges — Provost Rich Ogle, Vice President of Student Affairs Christine Erickson and Dean of Students Heather Dunn Carlton — deemed it the best-decorated door on the Stanislaus State Stockton Campus.
“I think we’re both growth-minded, and we see this as an opportunity. We see how much potential there is here,” Sweitzer said.
The contest — a first in Zaragoza’s tenure that began in 2006 — was part of new Stockton Campus Dean Sarah Sweitzer’s back-to-school sprucing up of the Acacia Building, which will be used until the expected completion of a new classroom building at University Park in fall 2025.
“It was an opportunity to do more here for Stan State, to do more in the Stockton community,” McKinney said. “I helped grow the Warriors on the Way program at Delta and was part of the start of that. I knew what the potential of the Stockton Campus was.”
McKinney understands the Stockton Campus, having worked for 10 years at San Joaquin Delta College before leaving for two years prior to accepting the new dean of students role.
The Stockton Campus, McKinney said, “is a hidden gem, a diamond in the rough, we need to uncover and show off to the community, show that we’re here to stay.”
The colorful door tied into Sweitzer’s “Up, Up and Away, Stockton Rising” messages. Across the hall is a huge poster of hot air balloons where everyone is invited to stop for a few moments and color. Markers sit on a table below it, and it’s not uncommon for a combination of students, faculty and staff to color together.
Stan State has had a presence in Stockton since 1974 but has largely gone unnoticed by most of its residents in recent years. Rose Ordonez, a second-year psychology student at the Stockton Campus who dreams of becoming a high school guidance counselor, graduated from nearby Stagg High School, but didn’t know there was a four-year public university in her hometown until a friend told her. She learned more about transferring to Stan State’s Stockton Campus through the Warriors on the Way program at Delta College.
It all fits neatly into the big picture for Sweitzer, named dean of the Stockton Campus in July, and Stockton’s Dean of Students Amy McKinney, who arrived in May. Together, the redheads, along with Associate Dean Matthew Derrick who arrived a year ago to start the social science program at the branch campus, are ready to turn the Stockton Campus on its head.
“What made me want to come here was when somebody I knew told me about Stan State and I live 15 minutes away from here,” Ordonez said. “I didn’t know this was a campus.”
Or at least turn it into a force in Stockton and San Joaquin County. The women share more than hair color. They share a vision. STA N M AGA Z I N E
New Dean Sarah Sweitzer Creating a Welcoming, Anchor Institution
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Amy McKinney Dean of Students, Stockton Campus
Sarah Sweitzer Dean of Stockton Campus
Sweitzer is determined to make the University’s presence better known, referring to the Stan State Stockton Campus as “an anchor institution.”
On the first day of school, she visited every faculty member’s class and welcomed them with Stan State gifts. She is awed by the faculty, whether they are full-time in Stockton, travel from Turlock, or teach a class after working a full-time job.
By that, she means the University as a community developer. “We are developing community by educating local students and giving the local community opportunities at higher education,” Sweitzer said.
They are part of the Stockton family, as is Aubrey Priest, who arrived in the spring to direct the newly created Innovation and Workforce Hub. A product of Stockton, Priest is connecting with the community to encourage members to create opportunities for students.
Stan State has made a greater commitment to those students, adding a food pantry, full-time counselor from Counseling and Psychological Services, recreational spaces and a Warrior Cross Cultural Center hub. Associated Students, Inc. is more active on campus.
So is Sweitzer. She’s meeting with city and San Joaquin County leaders about possible new collaborations.
The result is a campus that “feels more alive,” Derrick said. “The positivity is palpable.”
The new dean hit the ground running when she arrived in July and held a summer community healthcare worker training.
Derrick and five other full-time faculty members were hired last fall.
She used funding from a multimillion-dollar Northern California grant obtained at her last post as provost and chief executive officer of Touro University California in Solano County for trainings that certify students to provide health navigation to communities, health education, health outreach and some care management and peer counseling.
Midway through the year, Derrick became associate dean, and in that capacity he helped to launch Stockton Talks, with faculty, staff, students and the community invited to hear campus professors discuss different topics.
“My career has been marked by training to increase diversity in healthcare pathways,” Sweitzer said. “If we’re going to address health, economic and educational inequities, we have to diversify the population we’re educating. We have to diversify our K-12 educators. We have to diversify our healthcare educators. We have to diversify our business leaders.
Derrick organized a spring Faculty Learning Community to create a survey to be used annually to assess various aspects of Stockton life. That he has settled into the Stockton community is evident as he speaks of living there and getting to know the diverse community and the splendors of the city.
“It really is about pipelines from K-12 into community colleges, into four-year undergraduate programs, and that’s where this Stockton Campus’s sweet spot is. This is where we can make a tremendous difference in addressing education, economic and health inequities.”
Sweitzer is learning the city, too, and has shown that she leads from the heart.
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FALL 2023
FOUNDATION BOARD
ADDING VALUE
Foundation Board Member Aaron Valencia Sees Opportunity in Connecting Students with the Business Community By Gina Oltman
Rehabilitating neglected properties is Aaron Valencia’s business. Teamwork is the tool he uses to make his business thrive.
“We do the work to educate students, and they earn degrees, but we need to be more proactive about connecting students to the businesses and the business leaders in the Valley,” he said. “When we do that, we add more value to (the business community), and by default we will get more value returned to the University.”
Whether he’s collaborating with his team to acquire and renew buildings or acting as the consummate host to make visitors to his office comfortable, Valencia understands the power of collaborating and connecting with others. He says teamwork is his preferred strategy for attaining success because it works so well.
As he brainstormed ideas, Valencia envisioned groups of students spending time with various business and agribusiness leaders to learn skills, help with projects and forge lasting connections. Perhaps it could be somewhat like the annual Love Modesto day of service, he noted.
“If you have a property that somebody else might see as a big problem, and you approach it by yourself with just your mind and just your money, it is a big problem,” he recently explained while reflecting on his career in his downtown Modesto office. “But if you approach it with 100 people behind you, it’s easy. So that’s the key for me. I have great people with me, and we all carry the weight.”
“There are so many possibilities of how it can be done, but if we can figure it out, we can add more value to each other,” he said. It’s likely Valencia will figure it out because “adding value” is important to him. An electrical engineer who worked for Cisco and Varian Associates in Silicon Valley before moving to the Valley nearly 15 years ago, he enjoys solving puzzles in ways that benefit everyone involved.
A member of the Stanislaus State Foundation Board of Directors since 2021, Valencia is the president of Royal Equity Group, LLC, a real estate investment firm he founded in 2006. He brings to the Foundation an extensive background in finance and project development, as well as his firm belief that if you help someone and earn their trust, they will reciprocate.
Like many of Stan State’s students, Valencia was a firstgeneration college student. He and his family moved to Southern California from Mexico in search of a better life when he was in the eighth grade, and he later earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering from a private technical college. He says he got his first taste of business soon after arriving in the United States. He and his brother would walk their mother to her job cleaning rooms in the
As a Board member, one of his goals is to improve the reciprocal relationship between the University and the San Joaquin Valley’s business community.
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motels around Disneyland, and they found a way to make waiting for her profitable. “I would literally go to the dumpsters (behind the motels), jump in, and get the soda cans. And my brother was bigger, so he was the one who smashed them down, and we would fill up a bag. Then we would get money for them on the weekend,” he said. “So that was one of the first things on our minds, because we had heard that in America you can collect these things and sell them. In Mexico, we just threw them away.” Valencia’s business acumen and love of real estate has taken him far from those early days of aluminum can redemption. After moving to the Valley with his wife, Gloria Soriano (director of corporate accounting at E. & J. Gallo) and their son, he built up his business by renovating and reselling neglected homes, then moved on to acquiring and renovating commercial properties. One of Valencia’s most recent projects is a big one — literally. He is renovating and restoring the massive grain silo structure on Madonia Avenue near Modesto Junior College (MJC). The Modesto Silos — as he’s named the project — is being developed as a space for casual get togethers, events, fine dining and private gatherings. Two patios and an indoor/outdoor gathering space occupy the main level, while the basement has been transformed into a wellappointed lounge strictly for private get-togethers. He is building a kitchen and coffee bar using three 40-foot cargo containers and has lined up chefs from Sacramento and the Bay Area to ensure that food from the kitchen is top notch. “It will be a place where you can go out and get coffee with a friend and relax in the daytime, and then in the evening we bring out the nice tablecloths and make it fancy,” he said. “We’ll have wine, good food, good friends, art and music.”
“Our purpose is not just to make money, but to add value to the community.” - Aaron Valencia He says he has received a lot of support from nearby MJC, and he looks forward to adding value to the college campus by welcoming faculty, staff and students to his patios daily. Like his other rehab projects, Valencia sees the Silos as more than a good business opportunity. He sees it as a chance to give back. “Our purpose is not just to make money, but to add value to the community,” he said. “When we buy a property, clean it up, fix it, it improves the neighborhood. When it makes money, great. But first, we do something cool with that money, like donate some to charity. It’s the first thing you do. It’s like the money you are making must be blessed.”
Aaron Valencia
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FALL 2023
FEATURE STORY
Leading with
CLARITY AND PU By Donna Birch Trahan
Sue Borrego will tell you herself that she’s not a typical university president. Having previously held the equivalent role at the University of Michigan-Flint, Borrego joined Stanislaus State as interim president this summer.
and growth. Her authenticity and commitment to the success of others shines through in the way she leads.
Taking the helm of the University marked Borrego’s return to the California State University system. She previously held leadership positions at CSU Dominguez Hills and CSU Monterey Bay.
What’s more, her experiences in navigating systemic obstacles during her own college years underscore a deep-seated commitment to ensuring students do not face similar barriers today.
While she has more than 30 years of experience in higher education, it’s Borrego’s personal narrative that resonates profoundly. An emancipated minor at the age of 15, both her personal and professional
During a recent conversation with STAN Magazine, Borrego outlined the direction of her one-year tenure. From prioritizing enrollment and amplifying philanthropic support to expanding the Stockton Campus and laying the groundwork for her successor, she approaches each challenge with clarity and purpose.
experiences have influenced her leadership style. Outside of her professional life, Borrego finds joy and inspiration in her family, which is a constant source of support, love and humor. She and Mary Boyce, her partner of 30-plus years, are the proud parents of
Borrego opens up about her journey to this moment, the challenges she has faced, her deep-rooted dedication to student success, and her goals for the University during her leadership.
two adult children and have nine grandchildren.
Whether she’s at home surrounded by the chaos of a happy family or on campus shaping the future of the University, Borrego’s heart is all about nurturing
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what prompted you to take on the role of interim president at stanislaus state? I thought my last presidency would be at the University of Michigan-Flint. I was consulting with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and settling back into my home in Southern California when Interim Chancellor Jolene Koester called and asked would I be interested in the position. The California State University system is a powerful entity and to be on a CSU campus that offers the kind of educational experience Stan State does, it took no convincing. It was a no-brainer. what about stan state helped you determine this would be a good fit? It was an opportunity for me to do the kind of work I love and is at the core of American democracy. Regional Comprehensive Universities like Stan State provide transformational opportunities for students, their families and communities. The University is diverse, has smaller class sizes and great academic programs. Some of the majors offered here I haven’t seen at some of the other CSU campuses. It was also about the demographics of our students. Seventyfour percent are first-generation college students, and many are from underrepresented groups. I’ve worked with these communities my whole career in different ways. you talk about your background as an emancipated minor. how did your experiences shape you as an educator and leader? I can’t separate those experiences from who I am today. Living without a net, assumptions people made about who I was because I was emancipated, being “encouraged” toward the military and not college are all part of my history.
“The California State University system is a powerful entity and to be on a CSU campus that offers the kind of educational experience Stan State does, it took no convincing. It was a no-brainer.” - Sue Borrego When I got to college, I realized at the end of my first year that I didn’t have any place to put my belongings from my residence hall. Universities generally don’t let you leave your stuff for all kinds of reasons. Or, when my financial aid was late as a result of some kind of glitch, it meant I couldn’t register for classes or buy groceries. Nobody intends to make policies that are exclusive, but so many institutional norms are unconscious. While institutions are getting much better at serving students like me who come out of impoverished, working-class or first-generation backgrounds, we still have work to do to unpack the unconscious and systemic processes that can often get in the way of student’s success. I am both driven and haunted by the fact that I don’t want any of the work I do to ever defer anyone from their dreams. You’ve mentioned the four key areas you will focus on during your one-year tenure: prioritizing enrollment, garnering philanthropic support for the university, continuing our progress to enhance and grow the Stockton campus and setting the table for the next president.
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you’ve mentioned the four key areas you will focus on during your one-year tenure: prioritizing enrollment, garnering philanthropic support for the university, continuing our progress to enhance and grow the stockton campus and setting the table for the next president.
that momentum going. On my first day here, I was calling donors. Part of my role is to work with the advancement team to be where they need me to be and to work with the Foundation Board to learn what opportunities are out there for fund development. Regarding the Stockton Campus, it has an opportunity to be a branch campus with a revolutionary impact and serve as an anchor institution in the community. Its new dean, Dr. Sarah Sweitzer, and new Dean of Students Amy McKinney are doing a great job leading our efforts to build community outreach and engagement and cultivating relationships that build the University’s reputation.
how do you plan to accomplish these goals? I am aware that every decision we make each day is part of setting the table. There will be things that will be more open-ended because the incoming president should make those decisions. And there will be some things we have to decide on because they’re happening right now. For example, we need to do some things related to enrollment now. We have to look at the programs we are offering, what the community needs and what the regional workforce needs. We won’t get to all of that because it will be the work of the provost, the faculty and the next president, but we need to get started to impact spring and fall enrollment.
Stan State is poised for its next evolution. Setting the table for the next president is a result of intentionality about our everyday work. One of the things that makes me a good match for this interim role is that it doesn’t have to be about me. The mission and vision of the University is set. It’s not Sue Borrego’s vision, it is Stan State’s mission that drives our work. My job is to support the individuals who put the legs to Stan State’s mission. Every. Single. Day.
“It was an opportunity for me to do the kind of work I love to do.”
what do you want the tone of your presidency to reflect? I want to be somebody who creates space for powerful and productive conversations.
- Sue Borrego
Not everybody sees themselves as an educator, but we’re all spokes on the wheel of this institution. I hope to be a partner in creating a positive campus environment.
We’ll be looking at retention. People sometimes focus on enrollment as recruitment, but enrollment is really recruitment plus retention. We are also working on re-enrollment, in fact Student Affairs was awarded a $3 million Title III grant to assist with re-enrolling students we lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is critical to organize ourselves in ways that best support student success.
how do you want your impact and leadership to be remembered at stanislaus state? I hope I can both leave the place better than I found it and be part of an environment that really commits to working with each other. I hope people can say, ‘She cared about us, and she provided leadership that helped us move forward.’
There has been an amazing amount of work done to get ready for the comprehensive campaign for philanthropic support. We developed a comprehensive campaign at UM-Flint, and my recommendation for Stan State was with all the work University Advancement has done, let’s keep
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IN THE COMMUNITY
Community Catalysts
“Being in College Corps helped me with skills in the areas of leadership, time management and how to talk to people, especially in a public setting. It helped develop my soft skills, and I grew as a person.” - IAN CHRISVER DE VERA, BUSINESS MAJOR
Students Igniting Change
College Corps Students Make a Difference in Their Community While Gaining Skills and Earning Stipends BY Gina Oltman
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hen Perla Valencia of Stockton learned that she could earn money by inspiring young people in her community to attend college, she wasted no time jumping on the opportunity. “I know it might sound cliché, but children and teens growing up today, they hold the future,” said Valencia, a Stanislaus State criminal justice major and student assistant on the Stockton Campus. “I see the need here in Stockton, and that’s why I chose to work with Improve Your Tomorrow mentoring young men of color in high school. I saw the organization’s mission and knew I wanted to be part of it.” Valencia made her choice as a participant in the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program at Stan State. College Corps is a statewide program that pays students a stipend to spend a year working 450 hours in public service on and off campus in three priority areas: K-12 education, climate action and food insecurity. At Stan
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State, 100 students participate in College Corps over the fall and spring semesters of each academic year. “The program provides a very meaningful experience to students,” said Miriam Ureno Moreno, Stan State’s program director. “Not only do the students gain skills, but the program also provides an empowering experience that engages them in the community and prepares them to go on to other things.” Students, including Dreamers, are considered eligible for the program under a wide variety of circumstances, and they can earn up to $10,000 a year participating in College Corps, depending on how active they are. The program is now in its second year after being tested for two years as a smaller pilot program called Civic Action Fellows. College Corps at Stan State has nearly two dozen partners hosting students, including nonprofit groups, school districts and government entities. Students can choose from 43 locations for their
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service, and they can provide support at 30 one-time events, such as health fairs, community clean-ups and food drives. “For the students, what makes College Corps different from a typical part-time job is the work is very meaningful. They are not just earning money to pay for their education, they are getting meaningful experiences,” said Ureno Moreno. “From these meaningful experiences, they develop important skills. Students tell us they’ve gained skills from the program in areas that include communications, teamwork, collaboration, problem-solving and organization.” Valencia is a good example of that. As a mentor with Improve Your Tomorrow during the 2022-23 academic year, the first-generation college student managed a caseload of 16 students called “brothers” in the program. She met with each brother every two weeks, communicated with school staff and kept a written log of the their progress in the program, which focused on encouraging them to attend college after high school, introducing them to nearby college campuses and explaining the highereducation opportunities available to them.
“Being in College Corps helped me with skills in the areas of leadership, time management and how to talk to people, especially in a public setting. It helped develop my soft skills, and I grew as a person,” said Chrisver De Vera, who worked with the nonprofit Able Works tutoring middle school students in math and teaching financial literacy to older students. As he completes his bachelor’s degree in business this winter, Chrisver De Vera has already launched his career in human relations at a mortgage company in Concord.
As she worked, Valencia found that her writing and interpersonal skills were improving, and she was learning a lot about the public education system.
“My experience with College Corps helped me develop a go-getter attitude,” he said. “And that helped me get my current job.”
“I’ve only been in the education system as a student, but with Improve Your Tomorrow, I got to see the teacher and counselor side of things,” said Valencia, who is graduating this winter and feels the experience helps her in her new job as a probation assistant for San Joaquin County. “I saw how the whole education system functions from all sides.”
Ejinaka, a criminal justice major who is now in his second year with College Corps, said he learned a lot last year helping a Stanislaus County agency prepare for climate change by creating maps of the region’s vegetation, soil and buildings, then working at Turlock’s We Care shelter with the homeless population.
Two other College Corps participants, Ian Chrisver De Vera and Patrick Ejinaka, had similar experiences improving their skills and learning about topics that were new to them.
He said the work was educational, enlightening and fulfilling.
Perla Valencia
you’re not doing much, to others it means the world, so that is pretty nice.” A first-generation college student who plans to go to law school, Ejinaka said he would like to do some of his College Corps service this year in education. But, he quickly added, he would be happy with any assignment. “I am just grateful for the experience,” he said. All three students said they were also grateful for the College Corps stipend, which helped them cover their educational expenses and reduced their need to take out loans or work long hours while trying to focus on their studies. “Having the stipend was really helpful,” said Valencia. “For a college student like me, who is trying to make ends meet, that helped me a lot.”
“It makes you feel good because you see how grateful people are for your service,” he said. “Even if you think
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STUDENT SUCCESS
Homegrown Excellence Trustee Scholar and Proud Turlock Son Shines in the Hometown Spotlight By Lori Gilbert
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olin Bethishou spent his first year at Stanislaus State studying, working at the restaurant Table 26, and devoting time to Mar Addai Parish, the Assyrian Church he began regularly attending a couple years ago.
leave Turlock. I love it here. The people here are awesome. I want to give back. The ultimate act of selflessness, what people have done for me and my peers, the resources they offered, the help they offered, the advice, the mentorship, that’s what I want to do.”
He served a summer internship working full-time at Turlock Irrigation District in the information technology department, directing calls from the power provider’s multiple offices to service technicians.
At 19, Bethishou already has developed an appreciation for those he’s encountered in his nearly 20 years of life.
Now in his second year at Stan State, Bethishou is devoting more time to being a business administration student with a concentration in computer information systems, thanks to being named the University’s recipient of the California State University Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement for 2023. The Trustees’ Awards, presented to one student at each of the 23 campuses, are based on superior academic performance, personal accomplishments, community service and financial need. Bethishou, who was named the Steve Relyea Scholar, exemplifies each of these criteria. A Turlock native, Bethishou shook his head when his friends at Turlock High asked if he didn’t want to get out of town and attend college somewhere else. “I’m staying here. I’m going to Stan State,” he told them. “I don’t want to
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Whether its coaches at Turlock High School, who shared stories about the history of his town, church leaders who shared some of the region’s rich Assyrian history, or Katrin Shahbaz in Stan State’s financial aid office, who suggested he apply for the Trustees’ Award, Bethishou is full of gratitude. Bethishou is a sponge, happy to soak up whatever those with greater experience are willing to share. Someday, he would like to offer similar words of wisdom. “I’d love to create an organization in Turlock that teaches kids or teens these skills, of how you get into the professional world, how you get to college, how you stay focused, how you choose the right path to be beneficial to the community in the long run,” he said. That’s a goal for the future. For now, Bethishou is busy. After his first semester, he realized computer programming wasn’t for him and switched his major to business with a concentration in
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computer information systems. He’s more comfortable using computer programs to help run a business than designing the programs themselves. With some $7,000 in financial assistance provided by the Trustees’ Award, he’s dedicated to growing his skills and learning how to apply his knowledge to help local businesses and organizations. Much of his spare time is devoted to Mar Addai Parish. Although raised in the Assyrian Church, which he said dates back 2,000 years and was one of the first Christian churches established after the apostles spread the word of Jesus, Bethishou wasn’t a regular attendee. That changed a couple of years ago. He found something inspiring and meaningful in the services, which are recited in Aramaic. He was ordained as a sub-deacon, which is a deacon-in-training. “My goal is to work up to learning the liturgies and language and mass and one day be ordained as a deacon and continue my role there,” he said. The Assyrian Church of the East is an important part of his culture. The Church, Bethishou said, is the keeper of Assyrian history. As Christians, Assyrians were often persecuted in the Middle East. Assyrians and Armenians alike fled the Turkish genocide between 1915 and
1918, many taking nothing more than the clothes on their backs and a few items. Bethishou takes nothing for granted. Nestled within the fabric of his family’s history, Bethishou is more than just a dedicated student, he is part of a legacy. With two older siblings who attended Stan State, it felt as though he was destined to follow in their footsteps. With a hint of nostalgia, he recalls their evening walks across the beautiful tree-filled campus. “The writing was on the wall that this was the place I’d end up,” he said. It wasn’t just the family ties that bound him to Stan State. Among the picturesque beauty of the campus, Bethishou found a sanctuary in the newly renovated Vasché Library. A place where past and present converge, he has spent time exploring the Sarguis Modern Assyrian Heritage Collection and other texts about Assyrian history he didn’t know about before. His gratitude spills over when thinking about the administrators and librarians that make the collection possible. “They didn’t have to do that,” he notes. “That’s kind of them, that they were willing to go to that effort for us.”
“I’m staying here. I’m going to Stan State. I don’t want to leave Turlock. I love it here. The people here are awesome. I want to give back.” - Colin Bethishou It is this spirit of generosity and sense of community — the individuals who go above and beyond — that has left an indelible mark on him. He thinks about the countless acts of kindness that have shaped his journey. “I’ve been blessed to have all these resources, all these people doing something for me and probably other people,” Bethishou said. “They didn’t have to. I want to do that, too. “I have an obligation to do it for the next generation of Turlock and that’s part of the reason I stayed at Stanislaus State.” Colin Bethishou
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PREPARATION FOR THE FUTURE
warrior entrepreneurship & innovation Program
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Start SOMETHING Warrior Entrepreneurship & Innovation Student Group Imagining Exciting Futures By Lori Gilbert “Start something” is the slogan of the Warrior Entrepreneurship and Innovation Group, a new student organization at Stan State. The invitation is featured on the newly created WE&I Group website (theweigroup. com) under announcements about upcoming events.
It takes imagination, daring and maybe some luck to avoid that fear. The Porges Family Foundation, which funded the Warrior Entrepreneur and Innovation program at Stan State, understands that. Norm Porges and his son Evan, an Arizona State University graduate, started Prime Shine Car Wash in 1991 and saw their business grow to 20 branches, all the while supporting Stan State, first with the Champions of the American Dream Award, and in 2021, a $250,000 gift for the three-year Warrior Entrepreneurship and Innovation (WEI) program.
It’s catchy. It also cuts to the heart of entrepreneurship and innovation. Start something, like your own accounting operation that helps a variety of businesses as Stanislaus State business student Mark Powell envisions.
The program is multifaceted, with mentorships, scholarships, internships, interview training and the establishment of the Porges Champions Faculty Fellow. Business Lecturer Pablo Paredes Romero was Learn more about WEI named to the fellowship position in January and went to work immediately. He’s recorded a series of podcasts with local entrepreneurs, who share their own stories.
Or start your own human resources firm and help various businesses build great HR programs, rather than spend a career or several years in one place, which is the dream of business major Ethan Beaudette. Beaudette is president and Powell is vice president of the WE&I Group, formed in the spring semester, and off and running with a website, social media accounts, ideas for programs including guest presenters and plans to invite students from across the academic spectrum to join. The student organization works closely with the overarching Warrior Entrepreneurship and Innovation (WEI) program at Stan State.
“One of the missions of the Warrior Entrepreneurship and Innovation program is to expand the definition of entrepreneurship locally,” Paredes Romero said. “I believe that’s how we enter thought leadership spaces at the institution. There’s no reason Stan State shouldn’t be the beacon of all these things, the centrifuge, the hub. I’ve been looking for podcast guests who reflect different spaces. It’s not just starting a business. I have guests who are active in the community, or who are
“Any student looking to turn their dreams into a lifelong venture, that’s our goal,” Beaudette said. “We’re student driven. We’re all about students and making sure they’re finding careers they want. I’ve always had the fear of being stuck in a cubicle doing a job I didn’t want to do. That’s every college student’s fear.”
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starting social (nonprofit) entrepreneurships that benefit the community and society.”
“We want to bridge the gap between college and a good career.”
More importantly than expanding the understanding of entrepreneurship, Paredes Romero’s first task was to recruit students to the cause. “I saw there was a gap,” Paredes Romero said. “There are wonderful students looking for opportunities. They’re curious. They’re fearless. So, here is this wonderful idea. I thought, if the students had the opportunity to see what this was about, they would, in short order, take this over. That’s what I’m starting to see happen.”
- mark powell Business Administration, the WE&I Group is not limited to students in that major. “Entrepreneurial spirit can be found in any major or area of study,” Powell said. “It’s not just about business. It’s about separating yourself from an organization and starting something on your own.”
As an entrepreneur, Paredes Romero established Aliado Consulting and he brings his considerable expertise in human resource management and organizational behavior and develop to the WEI program. He sought students who shared his entrepreneurial interests and reached out to Beaudette, whose work in his technical writing course and the way he attracted the Pablo Paredes attention of other students caught his Romero eye. Beaudette enlisted Powell, a fellow Modesto Junior College transfer he’d met at Stan State. Others soon joined.
A week before fall classes began, Beaudette was already envisioning campus outreach. “Events are coming up,” Beaudette said. “We have community sources anxious to join us. We have a real estate professional interested in internships. Veterans Services are interested in being partners and the Stanislaus Latino Chamber of Commerce is loving the idea. I hope the students are. All they have to do is take a peek and get to know what we’re doing. We want them to get careers going and figure out what they want to do with their lives.” Paredes Romero is awed by the enthusiasm he has seen as this initiative launches.
“He was over the moon about it, really interested,” Powell said. “I take his opinion seriously. I trusted him. It’s why I joined the club. He sent me statistics from a Stanislaus 2030 report showing 20 percent of jobs in the Central Valley are considered good paying jobs.
“There is a spirit, a Warrior spirit that exists,” Paredes Romero said. “They are scrappers, ready to explore spaces they don’t know much about. That’s part of the reason we will succeed. It’s about the students. The system, fueled by the dreams and desires and wanderlust of the students, makes this what it is.”
“Ethan and I talked about this. We want to bridge the gap between college and a good career.” Both Powell and Beaudette are sons of entrepreneurs. Powell’s family owns tire businesses; Beaudette’s father is a contractor who teaches standardized business practices. They both bring these local business perspectives to the WEI effort and are excited to share with their peers. Paredes Romero, who was born in New Jersey, grew up in Puerto Rico and went to college in Florida. He began his career in Florida, then worked in Houston and in Southern California before moving to his wife’s hometown of Modesto eight years ago. He also teaches four classes at Menlo College, his link to Silicon Valley.
Paredes Romero will guide them with his own experience and as he conducts podcasts and leverages his community ties with the Small Business Development Center and other entities to connect students with local entrepreneurs and small business owners. The early efforts are being noticed. “The Porges Family Foundation is excited to see the Warrior Entrepreneurship Initiative (WEI) take off under the direction of Dr. Paredes Romero,” Evan Porges said. “With the support of Dean Terence Pitre in the College of Business Administration, Pablo has been the spark necessary to launch this exciting program to the next level. Pablo is excited about the program’s potential to illuminate and inspire Stan State students to dream about someday owning and operating a business — to achieve their own slice of the American Dream.”
What Powell and Beaudette have not learned from the family businesses, they are primed to discover through the WE&I Group and the variety of events and activities offered by the WEI program. They envision attending job fairs or hosting one themselves. And, while housed in the College of
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Mark Powell and Ethan Beaudette
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ACADEMIC SUCCESS
During a seven-day class trip to Death Valley National Park, a group of Stanislaus State students studying geography and environmental resources were impressed by the bounty of life they found in a place with a lifeless name. “People think the desert is dead and there is nothing there, but that is not the case. The desert is very much alive,” said student Yaniri Piza. “This trip gave me a new perspective on the desert.” Piza was one of 10 students who spent a week in Death Valley as part of a geography course titled, “Geographical Processes in Arid Landscapes: Death Valley.” Offered every other year, the class teaches field techniques in geography through the analysis of geomorphic processes, climate characteristics, vegetation patterns, adaptations and human impacts. Associate Professor of Geography Alison McNally noted it is the same trip she took more than two decades ago when she was an undergraduate Warrior. “Students can learn about desert processes, biodiversity and physical landscapes in the classroom, but to go out and be right in the middle of it — they’re living it,” she said. “They’re feeling it, touching it. It just makes the connection so much deeper when they get out into the field.”
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FACULTY
From Svalbard to the Central Valley Stan State Professor Explores Climate Change Connection to the Region During Arctic Adventure By Lori Gilbert
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He watched, entranced as a pod of beluga whales circled and fed around the three-masted ship on which he sailed, with underwater microphones picking up their calls to one another. He hiked across frozen tundra with vegetation no more than a few inches high and alongside glaciers with their blue-hued beauty, walked close to walruses, and donned swim trunks and dove into the Arctic Ocean amid floating ice blocks, for a few seconds, knowing anything longer could turn life threatening. The images and moments that History Professor Phil Garone experienced on a nearly threeweek summer research expedition in Svalbard, a largely ice-covered Norwegian archipelago located midway between the northern tip of mainland Norway and the North Pole, will last a lifetime. The experiences will benefit Stanislaus State students, too. Garone plans to utilize visual materials from this June 2023 trip to develop a new class on the history of climate change; this was the research project he proposed that earned him acceptance into The Arctic Circle’s residency program, as one of 30 artists, scientists and educators from 10 countries. They included his wife, Teresa Bergman, chair of the Department of Communication at University of the Pacific. He will develop this new (and as yet untitled) history course this fall, with the goal of offering it for the first time in the 2024-25 academic year. Svalbard is at the epicenter of global climate change, where average temperatures are increasing faster than anywhere else on earth. “The connection I hope to make is to look at this place where climate
change is happening so rapidly and see the effects it has on our students’ local community and their families and loved ones,” Garone said. “How does climate change manifest itself here?” Drought, heatwaves, water shortages and the spread of tropical and semitropical diseases to more northern latitudes are some of the impacts that students have already experienced. The climate changes in California’s Central Valley trickle down from what is happening thousands of miles away as ice in the Arctic melts. “I want to show how climate change is happening in places that are going to cause sea levels to rise, that are going to cause ocean currents to change, that, in turn, are going to change climate where we live,” Garone said. “Unless you can see what’s happening there, you can’t see what’s causing the things that are happening here. Everybody talks about climate change in the Arctic and students have some notion of that in their minds, but to be able to see these places scientists are talking about and see the evidence of what is happening, I think, I hope, will make it easier to connect what’s happening in the Arctic to what’s happening here in the middle of the Central Valley.” In addition to the stories he’ll share about the adventure, of twice-daily landings dedicated either to grueling hikes in special boots to accommodate the deep mud of glacial moraines and ice fields in snow covered terrain or to contemplative research, Garone will choose from the 700 photos and a bit of video he captured on the 15-day sailing venture and few days in Longyearbyen, the only major settlement in Svalbard (population about 2,500) and the northernmost permanently inhabited place of any size on earth, to share with his students. The proposed course is an extension of work Garone has done for the duration of
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his 17 years as a Stan State professor of history. “Out of the 10 different courses I teach here, five of them have a significant climate change component,” he said. The new course will have historical, scientific and policy components and will look at consequences and possible solutions and remedies, Garone said. What it won’t have is a sense of hopelessness. “The goal is to make people aware and make them want to do something themselves,” Garone said. “I want to inspire people to do something about this and not think it’s hopeless, because it’s not hopeless. It’s a question of how far climate change is going to go and how much we can rein it in.” Garone joined the history faculty at Stan State in 2006 after earning his doctorate in U.S. history, specializing in environmental history, and a master’s degree in ecology from UC Davis. Having just completed two terms as chair of the History Department, Garone is taking a year’s research leave not only to develop his new climate change course but also to work on his second book — a human and ecological history of the terminal lakes (lakes with no natural outlet) in the Great Basin of the American West from the late Pleistocene Epoch (about 15,000 years ago) to the present. His first book in 2011 was entitled “The Fall and Rise of the Wetlands of California’s Great Central Valley.” He’ll spend his time filled with rich memories of his trip, which have given Garone a fresh perspective. “It’s too cold for agriculture and other than one town there are no cities there, so it really does feel like walking back in time into the ice age,” he said. Wildlife that adapted to the polar climate is now threatened. Glaciers are melting. Hearing about those events is important because what is happening in the Arctic will ultimately impact the rest of the world. Being able to see it, to look at images of the changes for themselves, will make climate change more real for Stan State students.
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Division of University Advancement STANISLAUS STATE One University Circle Turlock, Ca 95382
Resounding Success! The bell rang at the recent Warrior Expo to celebrate newly admitted Warriors!
