Chico State

Elizabeth “Eli” Contreras-Perez (left) talks with Joel Ramirez, TRIO Project Director, about the support and a sense of belonging Contreras-Perez received in a program called TRIO Student Support Services.

Graduating Public Health Student Embraces Support and Grows Through Challenges

First-gen student, Elizabeth “Eli” Contreras-Perez, has navigated many personal struggles on her path to graduating, finding newfound resilience, and beginning a new chapter in life.

New Transport Program Provides Students Rides to Sacramento Airport During Breaks

Students leaving campus during extended breaks can sign up for Wildcat Rides, a new program shuttling students from campus to the Sacramento bus and train station and the Sacramento Airport.

Karsten Kaufmann poses for a photo in front of his home workstation.

Three Imaginative Media Arts Alumni Making Exciting Moves

Karsten Kaufmann’s dance moves became a viral sensation in 2015. Find out where he and collaborating media arts majors Sophie McGuirk and Michael Connell are today. Hint: They're still making amazing content!

Lindsey Barrett poses in her kitchen with her dough prepared to be fed into the pasta machine.

’Cats Get Cookin’ with Rancho Llano Seco Marketing Director Lindsey Barrett

From Boston to South America and back home to Chico, Lindsey Barrett explores life through her love of food and writing, and shares her recipe for fresh pasta dough!

Joseph Morales looks into the distance, wearing a dark gray suit and a blue shirt.

Chief Diversity Officer Joseph Morales Writes a New Chapter at Chico State

As a first-generation graduate whose life was transformed by access to education, Joseph Morales knows firsthand how powerful it can be.

Professor Jesse Engebretson is standing on a rock overlooking a valley of trees. He is addressing a group of students during a field trip.

New Study Explores Drivers of Homelessness and Impact on Public Lands

Jesse Engebretson’s research aims to uncover ways state and federal governments can better serve unhoused communities who are increasingly pushed out of urban areas.

Religious Studies Alumna Provides ‘Ministry of Presence’

One of the crucial steps along Kelly Ann Nelson's path to being present with others in pain was the religious studies education she earned at Chico State.

Sophia Hoffman is photographed against a brick wall.

Chico State Freshman Impresses Coaches on The Voice

Sophia Hoffman overcame a processing disorder to make it to Chico State—now she is turning heads on international television.

Natalie Hernandez, Abraham Trujillo, Gabby Medina Falzone, Daisy Rolon, and Oscar Cisneros-Magana on stage in Trinity Commons with a pride flag in the foreground.

Aux Talks Strikes a Chord for Connection

Sing. Laugh. Dance. Connect. Experience the power of the aux cord Thursday from 2–3 p.m. in Trinity Commons. It's Aux Talks and it's a whole lot of fun!

Student Yarely Contreras sits with one foot up on a tree retaining wall made of bricks as she looks onto into the distance.

Chico State Program Encourages Students to Give Back Home

Chico State's Giving Back Home program offers support and resources to students looking to make a difference in their hometowns.

Narcippa Teague poses with his daughters Lisa and Lizette, who are each holding a copy of the book Teague wrote about their experiences together. The full front cover of the book is shown at right.

5 Questions with Author, Alum, and Superhero While he Sleeps, Narcippa Teague

Chico State graduate and former men's basketball player Narcippa Teague shares about his new children's book and new outlook on life.

Stylish photo of Haley Willis next to words that say 2023 Distinguished Alumni Honoree

Distinguished Alum and Owner of Advantage Therapy Services Haley Willis

Haley Willis, CEO and founder of Advantage Therapy Services in Chico, is helping advance the field of speech-language pathology. She is being honored as the 2023 Distinguished Alumni of the College of Communications and Education.

Alumna Ashira Solomon smiles for a portrait..

Chico State Helps Pave Way for Alumna Now Living in Israel

In November, alumna Ashira Solomon was invited to be the presenter and moderator for the Reykjavík Global Forum – Women Political Leaders in Iceland.

An academic building sits in the early evening sun with colorful clouds swirling behind.

Chico State Announces New Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Stephen Perez, a longtime educator and administrator in the California State University system, will serve as interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.

Alumni William "Chris" Park, a marriage and family therapist, is photographed in front of his desk and bookshelf in his Chico office.

5 Questions with Alum and Marriage and Family Therapist Chris Park

Marriage and family therapist Chris Park shares his appreciation for his Chico State education and provides a glimpse into his experiences as an MFT.

Alumna Allison Ivie leans on a wall as she smiles and poses for a photograph.

5 Questions with Alumna and Vice President of Center Road Solutions Allison Ivie

Inspired by her mother, alumna Allison Ivie has made a career of advocating and empowering organizations that help women and families.

Our 10 Favorite Chico State Today Stories of 2022

The editors of Chico State Today choose their favorite stories of 2022.

Concrete Industry Management Students Take the Lead on Community Service Project

Students from Chico State’s Concrete Industry Management program have managed the construction of a new parking lot at the Chico Islamic Center.

Gretta Kirkby and two of her fellow interns pose in gloves, lab coats, masks, and face shields.

Student-Athlete Captures CalHOPE Courage Award

Gretta Kirkby, winner of the CalHOPE Courage Award, is using the opportunity to remind her peers to reach out for help if they need it.

The sun sets behind an academic building

Provost Debra Larson Announces Her Retirement

Provost Debra Larson is retiring immediately, citing health and family reasons.

Max Cordeiro, Chico State’s inaugural Human Resources Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Recruitment and Retention Specialist, poses on the patio outside of Laxson Auditorium. He is smiling joyfully and wearing a yellow Hawaiin-style collared shirt featuring blue and orange flowers. Kendall Hall and lush green plants are in the background.

New HR Specialist Advances Campus EDI Goals

College opened Maximilian “Max” Cordeiro's world. He's working to create similar experiences for others as Chico State’s inaugural Human Resources EDI Specialist.

Professor Mark Stemen poses for a photo with Chico State President Gayle Hutchin as they hold the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) Campus Sustainability Achievement Award.

Chico State Professor Helps Reshape How CSUs Teach About Climate Change

Chico State Professor Mark Stemen's Faculty Learning Community earns coveted sustainability award for helping CSUs integrate climate change topics in classrooms.

A person reaching into a container full of yellow onions and grabbing one.

Basket Brigade One of Many Opportunities To Volunteer This Month

Wednesday night's Basket Brigade is one of many opportunities to pitch in and make a difference in the weeks surrounding Thanksgiving.

Cole Schmitt, a white cisgender male student, is perched on a log in the creek that runs through Chico State campus.

Biology Student Among First to Research Fish’s Unusual Schooling Pattern

Cole Schmitt has been working with the National Systemics Laboratory and the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, studying the vertical schooling behavior of the cutlassfish.

A crape myrtle flowers in front of an academic building.

Class Notes: Fall 2022

Whether it's starting a new business, writing a book, or achieving a lifelong dream, the Wildcat family continues to reach milestones. Alumni share professional and personal updates for fall 2022.

Farhan Rehman and Esteban Teran adjust the lasers that work to cool the atoms.

Ultracold Atom Lab Attempting to Cross ‘Unreachable’ Threshold

With the ultra-high vacuum chamber up and running, the University's ultracold atom chamber is ready to cool atoms to near absolute zero so they display their true quantum nature.

An academic building called Kendall Hall

President Gayle E. Hutchinson Announces Retirement Planned for End of 2022–23 Academic Year

After 33 years of invaluable service to higher education and nearly three decades at Chico State, President Gayle E. Hutchinson announced her decision Tuesday to retire at the end of the 2022-23 academic year.

Chico State Provost Debra Larson and Mechoopda Chairman Dennis Ramirez sign documents at a table at the Butte Creek Ecological Preserve

Ancestral Land in Butte Creek Canyon Returned to the Mechoopda Tribe

In the first agreement of its kind in the state, ownership and management of the 93-acre Butte Creek Ecological Preserve has been transferred from Chico State Enterprises to the Mechoopda Indian Tribe.

Isaac Brundage poses in front of a brick wall

Meet Isaac Brundage, Chico State’s New Vice President for Student Affairs

Isaac Brundage, Chico State's new Vice President for Student Affairs, draws on his upbringing and professional experience to reach students.

A sign reading California State University, Chico sits in front of a brick academic building

Chico State Announces New Vice President for Student Affairs

Chico State has named Isaac Brundage its new vice president for Student Affairs

Class Notes: Fall 2020

Whether it's starting a new business, writing a book, or achieving a lifelong dream, the Wildcat family continues to reach milestones. Alumni share professional and personal updates for fall 2020.

Kendall Hall with spring flowers in the foreground

Class Notes: Spring 2020

Whether it's starting a new business or achieving a lifelong dream, the Wildcat family continues to reach milestones. We check in on professional and personal updates from our alumni.

Class Notes: Fall 2019

Whether it's starting a new business or achieving a lifelong dream, the Wildcat family continues to grow. We check in on professional and personal updates from the Chico State family.

Students pose with Willie the Wildcat mascot

Wildcat Welcome: Turning Students into Wildcats

This past week has been a wild one, as we welcomed roughly 2,300 first year students and transfer Wildcats to campus.

Graduating students sit facing the stage as their decorative graduation caps are displayed.

Chico State Terrific Titles of 2018

With the end of the 2017-2018 year rapidly approaching, and the swirl of the spring semester struggle muddying your memory, it seems only right to recap what our Wildcats accomplished this year.

Land steward coordinator Tom Mello helps with the Big Chico Creek Watershed Tour on April 14.

Putting Himself on the Map: A Nontraditional Student Finds His Place

Tom Mello couldn’t imagine himself as a college student, but after the Great Recession left him without a job and struggling as a single parent, the need for an education morphed into a passion for the physical geography major.

Chris Friedland and his wife delivered 290 generators for residents in Puerto Rico.

Class Notes: Spring 2018

Alumni share snippets of what they’ve been up to these days, and Chico State bids a fond farewell to recently passed alumni, students, and colleagues.

We asked Wildcats one question... Why did you choose Chico?

Why Choose Chico? We asked, you answered!

Why Choose Chico? The answers are unlimited! We spoke with alums and current students alike, and they gave us the reasons why they chose Chico as the place to call home. From the beautiful region, to the quality education, you can hear more of these inspiring and heartfelt stories at Choose Chico Day, Saturday, April 7, […]

Actresses in long white dresses rehearse on an elaborate set design.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Come True

Don’t miss your chance to see the elaborate production during the show’s run at Wismer Theatre (PAC 135), March 8–11 and March 13–15 with evening and weekend matinee performances.

If you had a day with Dylan Gray, what would you ask? What would he say?

Get to know your Associated Students president, Dylan Gray, in an up close and personal Q&A.