May 24, 2024 - Thank You for an Amazing Year!

Dear Campus Community, 

As we near the end of academic year 2023–24—my first as president at Chico State—I can’t help but reflect on what a year it’s been! Last week, we celebrated the achievements of nearly 3,300 graduates and it was a momentous cap on an extraordinary year. Chico State provided six beautiful and well-organized ceremonies over five days and many affinity group celebrations as well, including for the first time our Project Rebound graduates. It is a huge undertaking, and I want to thank all the staff and faculty who participated, as well as the 185 volunteers who provided our graduates and their families the experience of a lifetime. 

Looking back at the spring semester, we have so many moments where we can take pride in our campus and our community. While campuses nationwide faced turmoil and disruption, our community was able to come together to discuss their beliefs through respectful, constructive, and educational conversations. We talked about the many aspects of this tragic and complicated time with compassion, watched our students hold several peaceful demonstrations, and witnessed the Academic Senate collaborate to pass two resolutions. It is all further evidence that Chico State is indeed a special place.  

I also want to commend the efforts of our Enrollment Management team and the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office, which have been working under difficult circumstances with the delayed and problematic rollout of the new FAFSA. Applications and admits are at record numbers and intents-to-enroll are looking strong as we near the June 1 deadline for fall. We launched new initiatives, including transfer agreements with our North State Community Colleges and the Dia de la Familia event on campus. And, let’s not forget Chico State hosted its best-ever Choose Chico event in April, attended by a whopping 1,700 prospective students, their families and friends—more than 5,000 people in all. It takes all of us (faculty, staff, students, alums, community members, everyone) to support our students and our enrollment goals and I’m grateful to those of you who are engaged in this work, either bringing in new students or supporting and retaining continuing students.

Finally, I would like to highlight a sampling of extraordinary achievements from this spring: 

• Agriculture Professor Tatevik Avetisyan Artoonian is developing powerful collaborations with colleagues around the world. Whether securing a grant from Amy’s Kitchen to assess farmers’ willingness to adopt regenerative agriculture practices, being awarded a United States Agency for International Development grant to explore regional food hubs in West Africa, or exploring the fresh pod fava bean markets in California, her innovative and scholarly work is making deep impressions throughout the region and across the globe.
• Comparative Religion and Humanities lecturer Heather Altfeld was named a Fulbright Scholar and will spend 10 months in Morocco studying and writing about the ritual and commemorative practices of Muslims and Jews and the significance of pilgrimages to saint tombs.
• Department of Computer Science Associate Professor Jaime Raigoza and other scientists from around the state have been awarded a three-year, $2.5 million grant from the Department of Energy to promote the field of quantum information science and technology (QIST)—an area of science that impacts communication, quantum computing and sensing.
• Jackson Webster, associate professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, and Sandrine Matiasek, associate professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, joined by researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder and the United States Geological Survey (USGS), recently published on research that sheds light on the alarming impact of wildfires on stormwater runoff in the prestigious Journal of Environmental Science: Processes and Impacts.
• Chico State’s Speech and Debate Team competed in more than a dozen tournaments and hosted the Northern California Forensics Association Spring Championship Tournament in February. Two Chico State students, Madison Gillen and Millie Kinnamont, were named national champions.
• Our community, alumni and friends supported Chico State in a very big way on Giving Day, bringing in a record $1.2 million from 3,889 donors.
• Our Cybersecurity team, Usr0 Club, came out on top at the National Cyber League Team competition, finishing first out of more than 1,000 teams from across the country.
• The American Marketing Association (AMA) at Chico State was named the Top Chapter of the Year at the AMA’s International Collegiate Conference in New Orleans. Of note, senior Kristen Chatham, who graduated this month with a BS in business administration, placed first in the student research competition and second in the nation for sales.
• I had amazing opportunities to meet and learn from Chico State students and faculty in the “How to” video series. It has been so fun being with our students and colleagues as they share their pride and joy in what they do. I can’t wait to continue these in the fall. 
• Chico State Track and Field men’s and women’s teams both finished in second place at the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship meet. They are competing at the NCAA Division II championships this week. Go Wildcats!

These are just a few examples of the many unbelievable things that we do at Chico State. 

As we head into summer, I hope you will take some time to relax and appreciate the company of family and friends. An event I would like to call your attention to is the CSU’s second biennial Juneteenth Symposium on June 13-14. Our Chico State community is invited to join the livestream in Kendall Hall, Room 207, starting at noon on June 13.

In fall, it will be ever so important to continue to uphold the values of free speech and continue the respectful, civil discourse that is a Chico State value as we head into the upcoming election season. We will have the excitement of the opening of the new Behavioral and Social Sciences building and a groundbreaking at the University Farm. And we will continue our work on the Chico State Community Agreements and new strategic plan. Thank you for all you do to make this such a unique and wonderful place. 

Enjoy your summer, 

Steve Perez