Buenos dias and welcome to 2018 University Convocation well I know these
few minutes of footage capture only a fraction of the many accomplishments of
this year. There's so much to be proud of let's give ourselves a big
round of applause.
I really am humbled and honored to be here with you today to share with you
what has been happening since I officially assumed my role as the ninth
president of the university but first I want to emphasize that this is just a
beginning of what I hope will be an ongoing dialogue. Thank you for giving me
this opportunity to start this conversation. Last January when
Chancellor White announced that I would become SDSU's president and the first
female to serve in this role I was overwhelmed with emotion. I was in the
car with my husband Steve when I got the news. I just screamed. I was so ecstatic.
The idea that I'd had this opportunity to lead this flagship institution
with a history of path-breaking innovative work in teaching, research and
community service was beyond what I could have imagined. Looking back at my
35 years in higher education, being here with you is more than a dream come true.
It's an opportunity for us to reimagine, create a collective vision that will
prepare our students in this global economy whether they're first generation
students, adult learners, undergraduates graduate students, we have this wonderful
opportunity. Now most of you have been at SDSU much longer than I have so please
indulge my exuberance as I revel with fresh eyes in this great privilege to
lead an institution with such unique regional presence that provides a
platform for unprecedented national and binational influence. Both
the geographical and distinctive attributes of this university place SDSU
at a crossroads of a profound national narrative that is capturing the hearts
and minds of people across a hemisphere in the world. All of you are part of that
profound narrative. I still remember the first time I crossed the US-Mexico
border as a child with my mother's sisters and cousins. I was crossing San
Diego to Tijuana, my eyes were wide open. It was the first time that I'd
crossed the border and I began realizing I belong in two distinct worlds and
these were intricately connected. As I listened to the syncopated rhythm of my
home language, the Spanish of my roots, every syllable hit me from every
direction to remind me that I was part of a narrative much richer than I could
have imagined. Tightening the grip on my cousin's hands I wondered for the first
time where I truly belonged in this newly discovered world with tangible and
metaphorical lines that divide me from my extended kin. The wonderment is still
with me today as I see the relevance of those memories to this time
in history for San Diego State University. When I think about the issues
that we face today I realized that too often the tendency is to see the
barriers, the problems, the differences that divide us. But the real opportunity
if we listen closely if we think deeply and if we pay attention is to see the
bonds that bind us both as a community and as a campus. Today more than ever
SDSU sits at the crossroad where we can build on our legacy, our strength and a
capacity to serve the uniqueness of each student, staff and faculty member. In
this process, together we can develop a collective vision for the future and we
can capitalize on our regional position. During the last two months I've been on
a listening tour. I've heard from faculty, staff students. I've heard their unique
but always heartful expressions of love for this campus in different ways. I've
heard faculty and staff say that they want to see a real expression of shared
governance marked by transparency and trust. I hear you.
When you say that it's important to honor the knowledge and capacity of our
staff, I hear you. When you say that recognizing the accomplishments of our
faculty is also important but not enough, I hear you.
I hear you when you tell me that SDSU cares about serving this wonderful
community and wants to tackle our greatest societal problems like global
warming, homelessness, educational health disparities. And I hear you when you say
even without tangible words that you don't want me to forget about the
extraordinary legacy that has already made San Diego State University a crown
jewel among university systems. I could speak all day about all I've heard you
say. The insights you've shared over hundreds of hours of one-on-one or group
meetings. If you remember one thing from what I say today remember this: I lead
through listening. That's why I emphasize again that today is just the beginning
of a longer conversation. As you move forward this year I'll be asking you - our
staff and faculty - to approach this new chapter of the university with a blank
slate. I don't mean that you are to forget all the wonderful accomplishments
that have gotten us to this day. What I mean is that I hope you should also show
up to the conversation willing to listen without preconceived ideas, with an open
mind and with an open heart. Chris Thomas, our wonderful Associated Students
President gave me a copy of The Heart Led Leader, the book he and his
cabinet have been reading as they prepared to lead not just with skill but
also with heart. So I read the book and thought about the time you would spend
together today one principle stood out. Whatever the question, love is the answer.
What that idea says to me is that although we all bring diverse
perspectives to the work we do, we share one thing in common. Love for our
students. Love for our work. Love for our research. Love for our institution. I
share that love with you. It propels me to listen.
To listen intently to you our wonderful staff and faculty my commitment to
continue listening is important in a couple of minutes I will give you a
personal challenge that if you choose to accept will help us move San Diego State
University to the next chapter of impact and distinction. But first I want to
share the mantra, the presidential vision that has emerged from my listening tour.
My vision is that San Diego State University will be recognized for
graduating the global citizens, ethical innovators and compassionate leaders who
will impact the future of the San Diego region and the world. How will we do this
together you ask? Gleaning from what I've heard you say I've identified a few
ways. By collaborating as faculty and leaders in order to identify and amplify
our areas of distinction. By creating synergies for shared commitment among
our stakeholders. By developing exemplary relationships nationally, binationally
and internationally. By committing a process of transparent and timely
communication. By creating community benefits through the Mission Valley
project. By growing the capacity of SDSU Imperial Valley. By ensuring our
infrastructure can sustain the demands and challenges of today and tomorrow's
educational landscape. By nurturing a culture where we listen, engage in
productive dialogue, and by measuring progress with a variety of metrics.
We will be successful. It's important for me that you
understand that I did not show up to this campus with these ideas in hand. The
vision is a result of what I've heard from staff and faculty members on this
campus. From what many of you have said to me in personal and group
conversations however I also realize that not everyone has spoken. My
challenge to you is this. I want to ask that you join me
on a listening tour of your own in the form of a guided self-assessment. We all
have an idea of where we want to go as a division as a college or as a university.
Knowing who we are is crucially important before we get there. As we move
forward this year in this exercise of self-assessment and visioning, we will
cross borders together. In the immediate future we have important challenges to
address. First we must recognize that the only acceptable opportunity to grow is
through the Mission Valley plan. Second, we must address our growing campus
infrastructure needs both in terms of physical space and technology. We can
no longer afford to ignore our most basic needs today even as we plan for
the future. Third, we must continue to diversify our revenue sources. Fourth, we
must create real community partnerships that go beyond our institutional borders.
Finally we must recognize our regional position as a gateway to Mexico and to
the Americas. The why may be obvious but the how is where the work really begins.
I recognize that a new presidency can create anxiety and fears. We need to talk
about it. For now let me close with this. The first time I crossed that border as
a child my mom must have read the fear in my eyes. She put her arms around my
shoulder and whispered in my ear, "Adelita, because that's what she
called me little Adela, the border is nothing to fear but to
embrace. All we have to do is hold hands." And I can't help but notice my little
grandson there my daughter rushed out and was holding his hand and you know
it's interesting what a hand can do when you're a small chil. It can take away
the fear. It can make you feel whole. It can make you see the world in a whole
different way. So like my daughter who just walked out with my grandson
my mom did the same. I have to tell you her words have impacted me in every border I
have ever crossed in my life - real or imagined. Borders of prejudice, borders of
fear, borders between the past and the future. We as tenants of this sacred Kumeyaay
land must embrace that all of us can stand together as trans border people. My
hope is that together we will foster a culture of discourse and dialogue. That
together we build a campus culture without silos. My hope is that this place,
this University will be a space where no one will hesitate to bring up a topic
because they fear being labeled a troublemake. And as an aside my
grandmother always said I was a troublemaker. I never seemed to listen.
But nonetheless I want us to be troublemakers and indeed I think that is
your responsibility. So I also want you to know that I see you. I want you to
know the dreams you have for San Diego State University are critically
important to this conversation. Muchisimas gracias
Si vamos adelante. Let's move forward while enjoying this important
journey. Thank you.
For more infomation >> Participe de excursão 3D pela nova base russa no Ártico - Duration: 1:44. 
For more infomation >> COMMENT PROGRESSER EN PUSH UP - Devenez plus fort en pompes de CrossFit - Duration: 7:08. 
For more infomation >> Últimas notícia de hoje : STF JULGA SE REFORMA DO ENSINO MÉDIO DE TEMER É CONSTITUCIONAL - Duration: 3:39. 
For more infomation >> Mídia informa sobre criação de 'tropas táticas especiais' na Coreia do Norte - Duration: 2:59. 
For more infomation >> Últimas notícia de hoje : BOULOS SOBRE REAJUSTE DO JUDICIÁRIO: VAMOS REVOGAR ESSA ESCULHAMBAÇÃO - Duration: 1:46. 
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét