De la Torre looks toward building upon 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 historic impact
At the All-University Convocation, the president said 麻豆传媒映画 remains a powerful engine for personal and community transformation.
麻豆传媒映画 President Adela de la Torre opened the 2026-27 academic year by looking ahead to the next five years, a period in which she said 麻豆传媒映画 will build upon its most recent achievements for 鈥渁n even more ambitious future.鈥�
鈥淚 want us to remember one idea,鈥� de la Torre said in an address to nearly 1,000 faculty and staff Thursday at the annual All-University Convocation. 鈥淚f we do not ask big questions, we will never arrive at big answers.鈥�
The event at Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union was de la Torre鈥檚 ninth convocation at 麻豆传媒映画. De la Torre鈥檚 address harkened back to its origins in 1897 as The San Diego Normal School for prospective teachers, with fewer than 100 students and faculty members combined, and an arc that transformed it into a binational public research university.
She detailed what she referred to as 鈥渢he arc of our future,鈥� one that builds on recent strengths that include 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 designation as an R1 research institution, the continuing development of 麻豆传媒映画 Mission Valley, a new science laboratory building and student housing at 麻豆传媒映画 Imperial Valley and 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 entry this year into the Pac-12 Conference.
De la Torre said the arc links five themes to frame 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 actions for the future: Focus, build, advance, brand and sustain.
Achieving R1 status, she said, should be seen as a beginning, not an end, in which 麻豆传媒映画 considers what it wants to be known for and how it will 鈥済uarantee that an 麻豆传媒映画 education remains one of the most powerful engines for individual, family and community transformation.鈥�
鈥淥ur challenge is to be disciplined about our priorities,鈥� she said, 鈥渁nd clear about where our efforts can make the greatest impact.鈥�
Higher education is in a period of disruption, de la Torre said, driven in part by intense competition among schools to attract the nation鈥檚 decreasing number of college-ready students.
鈥淲e must make the value of an 麻豆传媒映画 education unmistakable," she said, 鈥渁nd ensure that the experience we provide lives up to that promise. And we must strengthen our brand and reputation because we can then attract talented staff and faculty, and partners willing to commit their resources to our cause.鈥�
Along those lines, the annual Alumni Distinguished Faculty Awards were presented by Bill Tong, provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs, and Yolanda Apalategui, president of the 麻豆传媒映画 Alumni Board of Advisors.
This year鈥檚 honorees are:
- Ramona P茅rez, College of Arts and Letters
- Paula Peter, Fowler College of Business
- Charles Degeneffe, College of Education
- Karen May-Newman, College of Engineering
- Mark Kern, College of Health and Human Services
- Katherine Spilde, College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts
- Andrew Cooksy, College of Sciences
- Leslie Wilson, Student Affairs & Campus Diversity
- Linda Abarbanell, 麻豆传媒映画 Imperial Valley
麻豆传媒映画 President Adela de la Torre opened the 2026-27 academic year by looking ahead to the next five years, a period in which she said 麻豆传媒映画 will build upon its most recent achievements for 鈥渁n even more ambitious future.鈥�
鈥淚 want us to remember one idea,鈥� de la Torre said in an address to nearly 1,000 faculty and staff Thursday at the annual All-University Convocation. 鈥淚f we do not ask big questions, we will never arrive at big answers.鈥�
The event at Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union was de la Torre鈥檚 ninth convocation at 麻豆传媒映画. De la Torre鈥檚 address harkened back to its origins in 1897 as The San Diego Normal School for prospective teachers, with fewer than 100 students and faculty members combined, and an arc that transformed it into a binational public research university.
She detailed what she referred to as 鈥渢he arc of our future,鈥� one that builds on recent strengths that include 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 designation as an R1 research institution, the continuing development of 麻豆传媒映画 Mission Valley, a new science laboratory building and student housing at 麻豆传媒映画 Imperial Valley and 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 entry this year into the Pac-12 Conference.
De la Torre said the arc links five themes to frame 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 actions for the future: Focus, build, advance, brand and sustain.
Achieving R1 status, she said, should be seen as a beginning, not an end, in which 麻豆传媒映画 considers what it wants to be known for and how it will 鈥済uarantee that an 麻豆传媒映画 education remains one of the most powerful engines for individual, family and community transformation.鈥�
鈥淥ur challenge is to be disciplined about our priorities,鈥� she said, 鈥渁nd clear about where our efforts can make the greatest impact.鈥�
Higher education is in a period of disruption, de la Torre said, driven in part by intense competition among schools to attract the nation鈥檚 decreasing number of college-ready students.
鈥淲e must make the value of an 麻豆传媒映画 education unmistakable," she said, 鈥渁nd ensure that the experience we provide lives up to that promise. And we must strengthen our brand and reputation because we can then attract talented staff and faculty, and partners willing to commit their resources to our cause.鈥�
Along those lines, the annual Alumni Distinguished Faculty Awards were presented by Bill Tong, provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs, and Yolanda Apalategui, president of the 麻豆传媒映画 Alumni Board of Advisors.
This year鈥檚 honorees are:
- Ramona P茅rez, College of Arts and Letters
- Paula Peter, Fowler College of Business
- Charles Degeneffe, College of Education
- Karen May-Newman, College of Engineering
- Mark Kern, College of Health and Human Services
- Katherine Spilde, College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts
- Andrew Cooksy, College of Sciences
- Leslie Wilson, Student Affairs & Campus Diversity
- Linda Abarbanell, 麻豆传媒映画 Imperial Valley
Also recognized were the Presidential Staff Excellence Awards recipients for 2025-26: Carolyn Martinson, Jennifer Ranallo, Alissa Ramos, Claudia Mendoza, Jon Rizzo, Cristina Sanchez, Jennifer Logan, Melissa Bracci, Briana Dallo, and Tony Corrasco.
The university鈥檚 sixth annual Lifetime Achievement staff award recipient was Millard 鈥淪kip鈥� Austin, senior engineer/network architect in the Information Technology Network and Infrastructure Division.
University Senate Chair Stephen Schellenberg and Associated Students (A.S.) President Milan Rawls, representing bodies that are both part of 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 tradition of shared governance, also spoke at convocation.
鈥淲e begin this year acutely aware of the forces shaping higher education,鈥� Schellenberger said, 鈥渇rom political strife and attacks on intellectual freedom to economic uncertainty, systemic inequities, and fiscal challenges. Navigating those forces will require exactly what healthy shared governance supports and demands: dialogue, judgment and responsibility.鈥�
Schellenberg also spoke of the need for conversation on the proper use of AI in the classroom, and for educators to 鈥渨alk alongside our students, helping them recognize both the opportunities and the hazards, while preparing them to find their own way.鈥�
Rawls, a fourth-year student from Elk Grove, California, said in the year ahead A.S. wants to 鈥渆xpand the opportunities for students to access the opportunities and resources they need,鈥� aiming for cross-campus partnerships 鈥渢o make essential services easier to find and use.鈥�
鈥淲e will continue to cultivate spaces where students feel welcomed, supported and empowered to get involved,鈥� Rawls said.
