Stepping Away from the Presidency

On September 25, after thoughtful consideration and discussions with my family, I made the decision to step away as president of San José State University at the end of the fall semester. I truly love this university and believe this choice will allow the focus going forward to be on our talented, diverse, and outstanding campus. I will conclude my tenure as president on December 21, 2021.

The time is now for strong federal support of higher education

On Friday, I wrote letters to five key U.S. Senators, including Senators Feinstein and Harris, to request their urgently-needed support for San Jose State University and the entire California State University (CSU) system as we continue to come to grips with the devastating effects our institution faces due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I have since written to several House members as well. Specifically, we are asking legislators to support higher education in the third economic relief package now being negotiated.

Welcome back!

Dear campus community, Welcome to 2020! I hope everyone had a delightful and restful holiday season. I imagine many of you enjoyed some extra sleep, visited with friends, read a good book or participated in any number of festive holiday activities. For myself, I find that the opportunity to spend time with my family helps […]

SJSU’s role in the continued development of downtown San Jose

As I prepare for a panel discussion taking place later this week about the future of downtown San Jose, it seems fitting to share an op-ed piece I wrote for the San Francisco Chronicle in November. Though the piece lays out the ways in which San Jose State can assist Google with its downtown San Jose development project, the ideas are applicable beyond that particular effort.

SJSU’s new grads shine bright as holiday season approaches

Our second—and, now, traditional—fall commencement ceremonies wrapped up yesterday on campus. What exuberance and excitement! The happy, joyful faces we saw from students and their loved ones coincide with the onset of the holiday season and provide the perfect antidote to the chilly, damp weather and shortened daylight hours.