A Moment with President Tomás Morales – December 2022

November is the month where we celebrate the lives, cultures and histories of our First Peoples across the North American continent. We know that the land on which our beautiful campuses in San Bernardino and Palm Desert sit were never “empty” spaces but rather lands inhabited and cared for, over millennia, by Native American Tribes and Nations.

Here on our San Bernardino Campus, we honor the life of Santos Manuel, the founder and spiritual leader of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, who continue to care for the land and people living in our region to this day, as they follow in his footsteps. We are proud to name our Student Union after him, grateful that we now have a Tribal Elder and Culture-Bearer in Residence (Robert Levi II); have a First Peoples’ Center, with its own director, Mr. Carlos “Two Bears” Gonzales; and are increasing our efforts both to recruit and support Native American students. On our Palm Desert Campus, our recent Transfer Agreement with the California Indian Nations College or CINC will allow us to support Native American students in the Coachella Valley.

Also this November, we were honored to host a White House Latino Economic Summit in San Bernardino, introducing U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona to our beautiful campus and letting him see firsthand what a regional changemaker looks like. Because that is who and what we are at CSUSB: we are changemakers—students, faculty, staff and administrators. I could not be more grateful for all of them and proud to be able to tell their story to a wider audience.

Another highlight this November has been the launch of a new recognition here at CSUSB: the President’s Medal.  The highest recognition bestowed by Cal State San Bernardino, it is awarded on the basis of an individual’s extraordinary service to a field, profession or our nation, and/or to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the wellbeing of others. Said individuals have not attended and/or are not graduates of CSUSB.

The inaugural honoree was Mr. Richard “Cheech” Marin. We were able to celebrate him at the annual holiday dinner held by the CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation Board of Directors at the Mission Inn in Riverside. Mr. Marin was previously selected this past September by the 11th Latino Education and Advocacy Days summit as their “padrino de honor,” so I am pleased that we are building close ties between him and CSUSB.

Mr. Marin was selected because of his accomplishments as an actor, author of children’s books and a preeminent collector of Chicano art. His recent partnership with the Riverside Art Museum to establish the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture is having a huge positive impact right here in the Inland Empire. The Cheech, as this new museum is affectionately named, has already become a cultural icon and destination.  In addition to all of these achievements, he has become a nationally ranked golfer, active in the charity circuit.

As we enter this holiday season, my wish for all of you is health, connection and caring—the ultimate markers of wellbeing, in my book. I look forward to catching up with you soon on the latest events and achievements taking place on our beautiful San Bernardino and Palm Desert campuses.