Michelle Decker, president and CEO of the Inland Empire Community Foundation, was recognized with the California State University, San Bernardino’s President’s Medal on Dec. 7. The occasion was the fourth annual President’s and Philanthropic Foundation Board Holiday Dinner.

 “Ms. Decker was selected because of her exceptional leadership in community-based nonprofits for over 27 years, with a focus on community and economic development and sustainability,” President Tomás D. Morales explained to the guests. “Her example of giving back and her contributions to the betterment of the residents in our region are truly inspirational.”

CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales (left) presented the California State University, San Bernardino President’s Medal to Michelle Decker on Dec. 7.
CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales (left) presented the California State University, San Bernardino President’s Medal to Michelle Decker on Dec. 7.

Prior to joining the foundation, Decker was the CEO of Rural Action, a membership-based community development corporation in Appalachian, Ohio. Today, her work is focused on supporting a vibrant, generous and just region with unlimited opportunities.

Recent highlights of her leadership include: establishing the backbone function for the Inland Economic Growth and Opportunity strategy; a Community Foundation signature fund, the Black Equity Initiative of the Inland Empire, awarded a record $1.027 million in grants to 71 nonprofits in Riverside and San Bernardino counties last year; and the 2022 launch of the Cultivating Inland Empire Latino Opportunity Fund. In just 2 years, this fund has awarded $650,000 in grants and $232,000 in scholarships to Latino students, including CSUSB students.

The CSUSB President’s Medal is awarded in recognition of an individual’s extraordinary service. This exclusive award is the highest honor that California State University, San Bernardino will bestow upon a non-graduate of the university. The inaugural awardee was Richard “Cheech” Marin (actor, author of children’s books and a preeminent collector of Chicano art) in 2022, and the second awardee was Terrance Stone (founder and CEO of Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy) in 2023.

On Dec. 7, CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales (left) presented Chad Mayes, who represented California's 42nd Assembly District from 2014 through 2022, an award for his service to the university.
On Dec. 7, CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales (right) presented Chad Mayes (left), who represented California's 42nd Assembly District from 2014 through 2022, an award for his service to the university.

Also at the celebration, Chad Mayes, who represented California's 42nd Assembly District from 2014 through 2022, received an award for his service to the university. Along with Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (36th Assembly District, serving from 2014-24), Mayes secured $79 million in state funding to build Phase I of a new Student Services Building on the Palm Desert Campus.  The new building will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 students and is designed for maximal flexibility as the campus continues to grow.

U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar (California’s 33rd Congressional District), former California State Senator Richard Roth (California’s 31st Senate District, serving from 2012-24) and former Assemblymember Garcia were also thanked in absentia for their efforts to collectively generate nearly $100 million in state and federal funding for CSUSB.

CSUSB alumnus Lou Monville, senior vice president of the Raincross Corporate Group, as well as a trustee emeritus and a past board chair of the California State University Board of Trustees, served as the event’s emcee. Alumni, donors and elected officials were in attendance.

CSUSB alumna Abi Carter ’23, 2024 winner of the 22nd season of “American Idol,” provided special music for the guests.

CSUSB alumna Abi Carter, 2024 winner of the 22nd season of “American Idol”, performed three songs for guests at the President’s and Philanthropic Foundation Board Holiday Dinner on Dec. 7.
CSUSB alumna Abi Carter, 2024 winner of the 22nd season of “American Idol”, performed three songs for guests at the President’s and Philanthropic Foundation Board Holiday Dinner on Dec. 7.

CSUSB announced that Our Defining Moment: The Campaign for CSUSB has received $221 million, comprised of both philanthropic and sponsored research grants. The campaign is ongoing. Donors who received special thanks for their landmark gifts included: Jim and Judy Watson, resulting in the naming of the James R. Watson and Judy Rodriguez Watson College of Education; Stater Bros. Markets, resulting in the Stater Bros. Markets Online Bachelor of Arts in Administration Degree Completion Program in the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration; Neale and Patricia Perkins, for their generous support of the Mountain Communities Endowed Scholarship; Shelby Obershaw, for her long-time investment in the community, supporting 13 to 17 students every year; and Ellen and Stan Weisser, for their leadership gift in naming the foyer of CSUSB’s under construction Performing Arts Theatre.

Robert J. Nava, the vice president for University Advancement and executive director of the CSUSB Foundation, stated that the CSUSB Foundation Board members’ stewardship of donor gifts has helped increase the university’s endowment 141 percent over the past 10 years, from $24 million to $60 million.  Over the last decade, CSUSB has awarded more than $14.8 million in donor scholarships to over 5,200 students. Of those students, 4,100 are now alumni.

For more information on the CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation, please visit their website.