President’s Message
Welcome to another issue of CSUDH Magazine!
The arrival of the Spring 2022 semester was to have finally brought the Toro community to a goal we’ve been pursuing for almost two years—welcoming the majority of our students back to campus.
Frustratingly, even the best-laid plans are subject to the vicissitudes of this pernicious COVID-19 virus. Just as this magazine was about to go to print, with the incidence and prevalence rates of COVID infections in L.A. County spiking, out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of our campus community, I made the decision to delay the start of face-to-face engagement until at least mid-February. Hopefully, by the time you read this, the campus will indeed once again be buzzing with the energy and excitement of returning students.
A measure of my excitement is due to the fact that once students do return, they will be coming back to a campus that has been transformed while they were away. With three spectacular new buildings up and running, a new esports lab coming to the library, as well as major changes and improvements in campus landscaping, the aesthetic ambiance of CSUDH is more breathtaking than ever. Its metamorphosis has been a pleasure to behold and be a part of, and we celebrate these changes in this issue of CSUDH Magazine.
The changes are more than cosmetic, however, our new facilities promise to vault CSUDH into the first rank of urban universities nationwide. On page 12, we interview Dean Joseph Wen of the College of Business Administration and Public Policy, who details some of the ways in which the new Innovation and Instruction building will help his college prepare the leaders of the future.
In this issue, you will also discover some of the astounding philanthropic gifts the university has received over the past year. It’s clear that the community is recognizing CSUDH’s growth and potential, and they are enthusiastic about getting on board. Whether they’re providing cutting-edge equipment for the Innovation and Instruction building or gaming peripherals for our esports association, our alumni and business partners recognize and support what we are building here.
These months of isolation and virtual spaces have affected all of us in different ways. I am proud of the resilience and fortitude that our campus community has shown throughout these past few years.
Getting students back on campus will be a welcome benchmark that has been too long in coming—and one that has now been delayed even a bit more. I remain optimistic that we will have folks back on campus this semester, and that by continuing to adhere to campus health and safety protocols we can make this return a lasting one.
Sincerely,
Thomas A. Parham, PhD
President