One Year as Chico State’s President, One Year in Chico

It’s orientation season at Chico State! This summer, roughly 3,700 incoming students and their families will learn the ins and outs of our campus, register for their first semester classes, and get a taste for Wildcat life.

One of our Orientation counselors’ top tips is to explore the community. In addition to our exceptional university and the students, faculty, and staff who make it so, we know Chico is a special place and likely different from where many students grew up. We also believe students who explore the local area have a more rewarding collegiate experience.

As a relative newcomer myself, I can attest to immersing yourself in all this community has to offer. I’m just wrapping up my first year as Chico State president, and I too have been doing my best to get involved. From joining and meeting with service- and economic-focused organizations, attending events ranging from high school graduation ceremonies to cultural celebrations, and venturing into Oroville, Red Bluff, Redding, and beyond, I’ve spent the last year learning about the North State and the people who make it an incredible place to live.

Sure, attending and presenting at meetings and events is part of my role, especially in a college town. But in Chico, it’s more than that. The enthusiasm for working together, the pride in the community, and everyone’s friendly nature have blown away my wife, Tanya, and me. We are so grateful for how the community has not only welcomed us but invited us to be a part of the work that goes into making this a fantastic area.

One invitation was to join the Chico Rotary. It’s been a wonderful experience meeting civic-minded folks who care about the future of Chico and share the university’s passion for community service. I’ve also attended and presented at City Council and Downtown Chico Business Association meetings. With our campus in the heart of downtown, our collaborations and relationships are crucial. I appreciate how we join forces for events like Wildcat Weekend and Choose Chico, dirty our hands through ’Cats in the Community cleanups, and collaborate on ideas that benefit students, their visitors, and all who call this community home.

After many productive discussions with the City Council, the university has pledged support to return commercial air service to Chico. We also accepted ownership of the bike paths on the west side of the university. And we’re proud to enhance the eastern gateway to campus through our new Behavioral and Social Science Building adjacent to Children’s Park.

It was my great honor to attend the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast celebration in Oroville as well as the Hmong New Year’s Festival, where Chico State had a booth. And I was privileged to attend Eid al-Fitr with our local Muslim community, to commemorate the end of Ramadan, as well as a Shabbat dinner with members of the Chabad Jewish Center.

Finally, I love graduations and was delighted with our seven 2024 Commencement ceremonies. However, I must admit to a feeling of emptiness when they end. So, I jumped at the chance to participate on stage when Chico High School invited me to attend their ceremony. I also attended Inspire’s graduation in Laxson Auditorium, and I’m hoping to attend more of these in the future. Chico State is a destination college, but did you know we get more students from Butte County than any other county in the state? I want all Butte County K–12 students and their families to know there is a place for them at their local university.

Actually, we want everyone to know what is happening at Chico State. Over the past several months, the university has solicited feedback via strategic input sessions about what the community would like to see in our next strategic plan. We are working collaboratively to define who we are, our purpose, what we stand for, and how we’ll reach our goals. I expect a draft to be completed by year’s end and will again be asking for feedback.

Meanwhile, I’ll continue looking for ways to get involved. Living on campus at the Warrens Center makes it easy to run into folks at the Thursday Night Market, grab coffee with an elected official or citizen leader downtown, or spark a conversation with an alum in the stands at Acker Gymnasium. I love the way this community has embraced me, and I hope you feel the same. As I’ve mentioned to countless people over the last year, keep inviting me and I’ll keep showing up. Go Wildcats!