Fiscal Year 2022-2023
Impact of Philanthropy Leading the Way … Together
SDSU Athletics
Five years ago, I was honored to join the San Diego State University family. From the beginning, I have felt the excitement and support of our community behind our shared vision for SDSU. Since that time, we have worked collectively to elevate the university and its students, faculty, staff, and programs. We have achieved and celebrated many record-breaking firsts together — breaking ground on new sites, reaching record enrollments, and achieving unprecedented athletic and student success. This continued in Fiscal Year 2022-23, with nearly $137M in philanthropic gifts received from generous donors and $192M in research grants and contracts secured by faculty. These investments, along with the many stories of impact and change they create, show how deeply our Aztec community cares for SDSU. Thank you for your ongoing trust, encouragement, and dedication — we sincerely appreciate your support, now and always.
Adela de la Torre, Ph.D. President San Diego State University
For the first time in university history – and for any Mountain West Conference team – men’s basketball reached the Elite Eight, Final Four, and the national championship game.
Softball advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals for the first time in program history.
JD Wicker was named the Sports Business Journal AD of the Year — the first athletic director from a Group of Five school to win the prestigious award.
Celebrating SDSU Mission Valley
The first partner in the SDSU Mission Valley Innovation District and the founding partner at SDSU’s Snapdragon Stadium were named.
SDSU Imperial Valley
Snapdragon Stadium — the first component of SDSU Mission Valley — opened with football’s first regular-season home game on Bashor Field and has since hosted many SDSU events, including Aztec soccer and lacrosse.
SDSU Imperial Valley held its first white coat ceremony for the inaugural class of its accelerated pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.
Student Success
The SDSU Basic Needs Center opened its doors in Calpulli Center to connect students to resources that assist them through situations related to food insecurities, housing stability, or unforeseen financial crises that impact student success.
YEAR IN REVIEW The university held its first transborder graduation ceremony in Tijuana, Mexico, to encourage binational graduates’ family members — who are unable to cross the border — to attend the ceremony and celebrate the accomplishments of their loved ones.
With the approval of Senate Bill 684, SDSU plans to launch a new Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), marking the first independent doctoral degree offered by the university. AB 656 was also passed, authorizing additional independent doctoral degrees.
SDSU “Firsts” Research & Innovation
Faculty Achievements
The James Silberrad Brown Center for Artificial Intelligence is a catalyst for cutting-edge AI research, technology, programming, and community engagement and aims to become the country’s leading center for AI.
Professor Janet Franklin is SDSU’s first member of the National Academy of Sciences — the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honorary scientific society — and is serving as the first Endowed Campanile Foundation Professor in the Department of Geography.
SDSU researchers received the university’s first-ever multi-million dollar Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) grant to extract rare earth elements using methane-eating bacteria.
Professor Tharm Ratnarajah is serving as the first fred harris Chair in Digital Signal Processing (DSP) in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
495K+
LIVING ALUMNI
Some of the most promising teachers, engineers, entrepreneurs, business leaders, public health specialists, artists, and world-class athletes are SDSU graduates.
$415.7M
ENDOWMENT TOTAL VALUE*
SDSU supporters have joined together over the years to create a legacy of support totaling $415,703,247. * As of 6/30/2023
#16
FORBES’ 2023 TOP PUBLIC COLLEGES
SDSU ranked No. 16 on Forbes’ 2023 rankings of the Top 25 Public Colleges in the U.S. and No. 43 in the magazine’s annual list of top 500 colleges, up 20 spots from last year.
A History Filled with Groundbreaking Generosity 251,046
776,324
56,031
44 Years
51 Years
TOTAL DONORS
TOTAL GIFTS
TOTAL GIFTS OVER $1K
HIGHEST CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF GIVING BY A DONOR
HIGHEST TOTAL YEARS OF GIVING BY A DONOR
THE IMPACT OF CROSS-CAMPUS SUPPORT COLLEGE OF ARTS AND LETTERS The San Diego River Sewage Monitoring Project received ongoing grant funding, enabling impactful and critical research collaborations that help to ensure a clean water supply for our region.
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING The J.R. Filanc Construction Engineering and Management (CEM) program received three significant gifts that completed the $2.5M campaign for the AGC Construction Management Endowed Chair.
FOWLER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS The Charles W. Lamden School of Accountancy held an inaugural Soft Skills and Career Readiness Luncheon for students, which was made possible by the Paul Sager Career Readiness Series and Jeff Wang and Yu Shen Family Career Readiness Fund.
Making a Difference Today
FISCAL YEAR 2022-23 YEAR IN GIVING
DONORS
PLANNED GIFTS
14,336
A record number of donors made commitments to SDSU in FY22-23 to build future, university-wide support for our community. We honor the memory of those who included SDSU in their estate or financial plan, leaving a legacy to improve opportunities for generations to come.
TOTAL DONORS
$136.9M TOTAL RAISED
16,652 TOTAL GIFTS
5,406 SDSU LOYAL DONORS (GAVE IN EACH OF THE LAST TWO YEARS)
1,720 SDSU ANNUAL GIVING CIRCLE DONORS (GAVE BETWEEN $1K-$49K)
100
NEW PLANNED GIFT COMMITMENTS
27
REALIZED PLANNED GIFTS FROM DONOR ESTATES
*Numbers as of 6/30/2023.
COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES AND FINE ARTS The School of Communication received a significant donation to the Randy Bernstein Forensics Endowment to expand the SDSU Forensics program and support its students.
COLLEGE OF SCIENCES The Department of Biology received significant donations to the Maxson Family Biology Undergraduate Research Endowment to provide support to undergraduate student research.
SDSU ATHLETICS The inaugural Aztecs Going Pro summer internship program offered 16 paid, eightweek internship opportunities in the athletics department that were designed to provide SDSU student-athletes with professional and transferable work experience.
In conjunction with the celebration of 50 years of Title IX, the SDSU Women’s Athletics Fund and Endowment was established to enhance academic and athletics resources for female student-athletes.
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CELEBRATING FIRST-TIME DONORS
Impactful First Gifts
BASHOR FIELD We celebrated the first season on Bashor Field this past year, which was named for a first-time donor to the university who generously provided Snapdragon Stadium’s lead gift — one of the largest single donations received in university history.
5,942
SDSU FIRST-TIME DONORS SUPPORTING ALL AREAS OF CAMPUS IN FY22-23
THE IMPACT OF CROSS-CAMPUS SUPPORT CONTINUED STUDENT AFFAIRS + CAMPUS DIVERSITY The Pierce Greek Life Center Endowment — the first of its kind at SDSU — was established to unite Greek Life activities and leadership opportunities in a dedicated space, helping to promote SDSU community-based ideals and behavior.
The Herbert J. Solomon Endowed Fund for the Black Resource Center (BRC) supports BRCaffiliated students and programs to advance academic success and high-impact learning experiences.
The SDSU HSI Progresando en Salud Program Fund provides a wrap-around, cohort based, support and navigational program for Hispanic/Latinx adult learners seeking careers in health care and behavioral health services.
The creation of the Theodore William and Nhung Lu Booth Endowment provided $13.9M in support for the Astronomy Department in 2020 — the largest gift ever received by the department and also the largest planned, first-time gift on record for the university.
The Outer Space Club was launched by an emeritus faculty member — and first-time donor — to encourage students to think big and gain the skills needed to become successful in the aerospace industry.
CAMPUS-WIDE A matching gift to encourage support for the Wallace, Shatsky, Blackburn, Courage Through Cancer Student Success Fund will help SDSU students who are facing cancer crises stay on track to graduate.
FACULTY AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT The inaugural SDSU Apprenticeship Program will support a cohort of up to four apprentices in areas such as plumbing, carpentry and electrical. This program will expand San Diego’s skilled labor workforce.
The Maravai LifeSciences Foundation Student Discovery Endowment was established by a first-time donor to provide support for competitive awards for graduate-level research in the areas of cell and molecular biology, microbiology, and biochemistry at SDSU.
COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES AND FINE ARTS | PERFORMING ARTS DISTRICT, OPENED IN FALL 2023 “Thanks to the SDSU team and community support, the realization of the Performing Arts District exceeded any expectation of the vision I had over six years ago while serving as dean of the college. There are no words to express my deep emotions and gratitude for one of the most memorable transformations for the arts on campus I’ve witnessed during my time with SDSU.” - Joyce Gattas, Dean Emerita, College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts
ACADEMIC YEAR 2022-23 SCHOLARSHIPS
$6,174,508 TOTAL AWARDED 2,254 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
“As a first-generation college student from a small town, my academic goals could not be reached without your support. I have been able to pursue my passion for science in ways that I never imagined possible at San Diego State University.” - Clarissa Savko, Ph.D. Candidate, Biology
Mark Mulock, P.E., MESA Endowed Scholarship: supporting students majoring in Mechanical Engineering in the MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) program in the College of Engineering
$2,739 AVERAGE AWARD VALUE
678 SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS
547 ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS SUPPORT STUDENTS
Newly Established Scholarship
“In the midst of my cancer journey, pursuing academics seemed insurmountable. Your scholarship provided hope, lightening the weight of adversity. Thank you for making the impossible feel attainable.”
Community Health Group Nursing Endowed Scholarship Honoring Albert Vitela and the Community Health Group Public Health Endowed Scholarship: supporting firstgeneration students in the School of Nursing and School of Public Health
Newly Established Scholarship
“As a second-time student with limited means, I would not be able to complete my degree without the generosity of donors like you. Thank you for your thoughtful gift.” - Josue Corona, History, SDSU Imperial Valley
Jim and Scotty Dietz Endowed Scholarship: supporting students pursuing teaching credentials or graduate degrees in the College of Education who are being treated for a cancer diagnosis or have been affected by the disease
- Carley Foss, Studio Arts Newly Established Scholarship
“I thank you for believing in my commitment to academic success. Earning a scholarship such as this inspires me to continue my educational endeavor to one day find financial stability and give back to the student community.” - Juliana Beatriz Rocha Moraes, Political Science
Deborah M. Dexter Scholarship in Biology Endowment: honoring Faculty Emerita Dr. Dexter and supporting students pursuing a degree in the Department of Biology in the College of Sciences
Newly Established Scholarship
“This scholarship alleviates stress and allows me to really focus on my studies and career, while also giving me the room to be an active member in the communities I hold dear to my heart.” - Joshua Heming, Master’s Candidate, Theatre Art Design and Technology
John D. Chamley Memorial Scholarship: supporting students pursuing a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling in the Department of Administration, Rehabilitation, and Postsecondary Education (ranked No. 3 by U.S. News & World Report)
Newly Established Scholarship
“Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to continue my education and to better myself overall. Hopefully, in the next few years, I can give back to my community as well.”
“Thank you for supporting and inspiring me; it’s almost as if you have been a part of my journey all along. You are a hero, no cape required. Thank you for changing my fate.” - Andy Potgieter, Business Administration (Marketing IMC), Economics (Public Policy)
Hanlon/Garcia MESA Endowed Scholarship for Engineering: supporting students in the MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) program who are pursuing an undergraduate degree in the College of Engineering
- Ilse Lopez, Psychology Newly Established Scholarship Clay Family Fowler Scholars Scholarship Endowment: providing scholarship support to students participating in the Fowler Scholars Program in the Fowler College of Business
Newly Established Scholarship
“With this scholarship, I can continue to collaborate with others in my field, learn how to be effective in my teaching, and maintain a professional community to discuss special education research.” - Roxana Rodriguez, M.A. Special Education, Autism Emphasis
Ann M. Johns Endowed Scholarship for Linguistics and Ann M. Johns Endowed Scholarship for Rhetoric and Writing Studies: supporting students in the Departments of Rhetoric and Writing Studies and Linguistics and Asian/Middle Eastern Languages
“Your generosity has helped fuel my academic success thus far, and the education that I’ve acquired with your funding will help me save the lives of many once I obtain my RN license.” - Antonio Musacco, Nursing
Newly Established Scholarship
“Thank you for making it possible for students like us to succeed. One day, I hope to become a Chief Human Resource Officer, and thanks to your scholarship, I am one step closer to that goal.” - Azareel Canizales, Business Management, Human Resource Management Emphasis
Frank Mannen Endowed Scholarship: supporting undergraduate students pursuing a major in Public Administration in the School of Public Affairs
Newly Established Scholarship
Dr. Michael Buono Endowed Scholarship: established in honor of a longstanding faculty member in the School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences to support first-generation ENS students with financial need
Newly Established Scholarship
“Earning a scholarship like this further inspires me to continue my efforts in my academic journey and my passion for creating safe, equitable spaces for women in male-dominated industries.” - Leanne Allen, Computer Engineering
SDSU Mission Valley Innovation District
The Techstars San Diego Powered by San Diego State University accelerator will bring the best ideas and talent from around the world into the SDSU Mission Valley Innovation District and expand the network supporting our entrepreneurs, resulting in economic impact and mobility for the region. The 2023 inaugural class, which includes 12 companies, is underway and receiving guidance from SDSU mentors, the Techstars team, and its Entrepreneurs in Residence.
With Snapdragon Stadium up and running and river park construction nearing completion, the SDSU Mission Valley vision has quickly come to life, benefiting our campus and San Diego communities. A true asset to the region, SDSU Mission Valley will also include an Innovation District to encourage research partnerships, entrepreneurship, and economic development;
Rendering Credits: LPC West; Design: Lever / FPBA / JCFO; Image by E Studio Nod
market rate and affordable
River Park
housing units; a hotel with a conference center; neighborhoodserving retail space, and more. Our generous donors and San Diegans at large have provided an outpouring of support for these plans that will serve higher education, the public good, and the community’s goals and aspirations.
The Ben and Nikki Clay Mission Valley River Park Endowment, Alta and Franklin Grant Family Mission Valley River Park Fund, and other anonymous donors were among the first transformational gifts to support the park and open space at SDSU Mission Valley. The outdoor locale, to be completed near the end of 2023, will provide a recreation area for community members to exercise, play, picnic, and connect with nature.
Rendering credits: Schmidt Design Group
Made for San Diego Innovation District: The Commons
368 RESEARCHERS
805 AWARDS
$192.2M in Research Funding SDSU’s highly productive researchers, several of whom will relocate their labs to the Innovation District, earned a record-setting amount of funding in Fiscal Year 2022-23, increasing research funding by nearly 40% over the past 5 years.
331 FUNDING SOURCES
Center for Community Energy and Environmental Justice
Rendering Credits: LPC West; Design: Lever / FPBA / JCFO; Image by E Studio Nod
SDSU’s Experimental Mechanics Laboratory (EML), which aims to advance mechanics and broaden participation in engineering, has a future home in the Innovation District that will feature cutting-edge technology. Made possible through funding from the National Science Foundation and an industry gift in kind, the lab’s CF3D Enterprise machine and its key components will invigorate research and education, as well as inspire additional students in their projects and experiments.
SDSU will lead one of 17 federally-funded centers nationwide to connect underserved communities with resources for energy and environmental justice. “SDSU’s Center for Community Energy and Environmental Justice aligns with the Innovation District’s focus on sustainable development and community input as essential to finding solutions to the environmental and health problems created by climate change.” - Hala Madanat, SDSU Vice President for Research and Innovation
Enduring Impact Endowed chairs, professorships, and directorships help recruit and retain outstanding faculty to SDSU. We are grateful for the distinguished faculty positions that have been established at SDSU to date.
Robert and Amy Abramson Endowed Professorship in Finance*
Thomas and Evelyn Page Dean of the Fowler College of Business*
AGC Endowed Chair in Construction Management
Thomas G. Pine Endowed Professorship in Computer Engineering
AGC - Paul S. Roel Chair in Construction Engineering and Management
B. Porteous Endowed Professorship in Political Science
Terry L. Atkinson Endowed Professorship in Finance*
Don Powell Chair of Scenic Design Endowment
J. Keith Behner and Catherine Stiefel Chair of Brazilian Studies
Conrad Prebys Endowed Chair in Bio-medical Research
Birch Endowed Chair in Geography
Qualcomm Endowed Professor of Mathematics Education
William and Karen Brack Endowed Professorship in Finance*
Qualcomm Endowed Directorship
The James Silberrad Brown Endowed Director
Real Estate Professorship Endowment
William E. Cole, Sr. CPA Endowed Directorship
Patti Roscoe Meeting and Events Professorship Endowment
Eckis Seismology Chair Endowment in Geophysics
San Diego Community Foundation Blasker Chair in Environmental Engineering
Fred J. Hansen Peace Chair
Dr. Sadanand Singh Endowed Professorship in Speech and Language Sciences
fred harris Endowed Chair in Digital Signal Processing
Sprouse Endowed Professorship in the Fowler College of Business*
Fred Henry Chair in Life Sciences Endowment
Stanford Endowed Chair in History
Friends of Classics Endowed Professorship
James J. Stansell Classics Endowment
Hanlon Endowed Chair in Health Services Research and Policy in the Graduate
Dennis and Elaine G. Szeto Endowed Professorship in Finance*
School of Public Health
The Campanile Foundation Endowed Chair
Lang Endowed Professorship in Leadership Development*
USS Midway Chair in Modern US Military History
William E. Leonhard, Jr. Endowed Chair in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Van Deerlin Endowed Chair in the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts
The Corky McMillin Center for Real Estate Endowed Director
Ralph V. Whitworth Chair in Corporate Governance Endowment*
MFA Musical Theatre Endowed Professorship
Zahn Professorship of Creativity and Innovation
Nasatir Endowed Chair in the Lipinsky Institute for Jewish Studies
Zahn Innovation Platform Chair Endowment
Vern Odmark Endowed Chair in the Lamden School of Accountancy *Created in conjunction with the Fowler Match Disclaimer: Philanthropy has transformed SDSU through the decades. We are grateful for those who do so much for so many. We honor and celebrate past and present supporters, and we strive to demonstrate the impact of every gift via numerous communications throughout the year. Due to space limitations, we apologize for any exclusions or omissions in this report.
Donor Relations University Relations and Development San Diego State University 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182-8030 SDSU.edu | DonorRelations@SDSU.edu | 619-594-3490