Neufeldt on Wednesday received the Innovation & Economic Opportunity Award from LEAD San Diego, the leadership development arm of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. She was one of six individuals honored at the 23^rd annual Visionary Awards in San Diego.

“Thank you to LEAD San Diego for this honor," Neufeldt said. "This award is really the campus' award. It's the work we do together for the success and social mobility of our students. I'm so grateful to work alongside so many scholars, innovators and partners to advance what higher education should and must become.”

Neufeldt was nominated for the award for her visionary leadership in a time of rapid change across higher education and for implementing initiatives that expand access, accelerate economic opportunities and redefine how universities prepare students to succeed and lead.

Among other accomplishments, she was specifically recognized for launching multiple buildings and programs at CSUSM: the Integrated Science and Engineering Building (ground broken this summer), the University Village Student Success Housing and Dining Project (set to open next fall), the Innovation Hub, and the Scholars in Wellness and Innovation Fast-Track (SWIFT) Health Programs.

LEAD San Diego is dedicated to cultivating and empowering civic and business leaders in the San Diego region. Through comprehensive leadership development programs, LEAD San Diego provides participants with the tools, insights and connections needed to address the region’s most pressing issues.

Media Contact

Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist
bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

Neufeldt hosted about 40 people at her house on April 27 for a reception to unveil the third exhibition of student art in her home gallery. The exhibit features 11 pieces of art and was curated by Sarah Bricke, a professional artist and CSUSM alumna. Bricke also curated the previous display, which had hung in Neufeldt’s home for the past year.

The four student artists are Emma Dill, Adel Bautista, Kaia Pappas and Erin Wilmot.

More than 800 CSUSM students have a major or minor in the arts. A priority of the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences and the School of Arts is to increase space to showcase student artists, and to teach, rehearse and perform.

Here’s the language that Bricke used in describing the exhibit, followed by artist statements:

This exhibition brings together four emerging artists whose practices engage forms of portraiture as a site of experimentation. Though grounded in distinct mediums, each artist reimagines the portrait as more than likeness, exploring how it can function as a record of presence and experience.  

Dill’s photographic work, while not traditional portraits, centers the experience of live music and the ephemeral intensity of performance. Her images in this exhibition can be read as a “portrait” of a moment in time and associated emotional experience. Bautista utilizes nature photography alongside self-portraiture to convey internal states over physical representation. Her compositions reflect an engagement with the landscape as an element of portraiture. 

Pappas approaches the portrait through the labor-intensive process of woodblock printmaking. Her repeating images distort photographic clarity, reconfiguring familiar forms into graphic abstractions that invite multiple interpretations. Wilmot pushes the boundaries of the photographic portrait, layering found objects and expressive mark-making over photo substrates. Her tactile surfaces mirror the nonlinearity of childhood cognition, rendering portraiture as a fragmented, sensorial field of discovery. 

Together, these artists challenge conventional boundaries of the portrait, privileging intuition, memory and material play over realism. Their works collectively demonstrate how portraiture can serve as a flexible and generative framework for exploring identity, environment and the ever-shifting relationship between self and other.

Emma Dill

Music has been a constant presence for Dill – from singing pop and punk with a sibling to listening to alt-rock in the car with her parents – ultimately inspiring an eclectic taste that continues to evolve through college. With over a decade of experience in photography, she focuses her work on both live performance and conceptual image-making. By photographing concerts, she aims to capture the joy of shared musical experiences, offering fans the chance to relive the energy of their favorite artists. Her experimental and creative projects seek to introduce reflection and variation within an increasingly saturated visual culture. Whether through the thrill of live music or the stillness of constructed imagery, her practice explores the emotional and aesthetic dimensions of sound, performance and visual storytelling. 

Adel Bautista

Baustista is a photographer and digital media artist based in Vista. Her work draws from travels across the United States and internationally. These journeys serve as emotional outlets, offering opportunities for reflection, clarity and well-being. Her practice is rooted in emotional awareness and the pursuit of balance – socially, emotionally, spiritually, environmentally, intellectually and physically. The resulting images are shared with the intention of encouraging positive ways to manage the stresses and challenges of daily life. As a survivor of physical and emotional abuse, she makes art that’s a declaration of resilience and strength. Bautista’s work champions emotional mindfulness as a foundation for personal health and communal empowerment.

Kaia Pappas

Pappas is a woodblock printmaker based in East Los Angeles. Her work explores photographic, posterized imagery translated through the tactile and deliberate process of hand carving. Influenced by artists like Shepard Fairey and Barbara Kruger, Pappas draws inspiration from portraiture, everyday life and the subtleties found in seemingly ordinary moments. Her compositions – often rendered in black and white – embrace ambiguity and interpretation, inviting viewers to engage with the image beyond surface clarity. Some works intentionally obscure their subject matter, reflecting the artist’s belief that little in life is ever truly black and white. Her work challenges perception while celebrating the emotional and visual power of contrast, process and reinterpretation. 

Erin Wilmot

Wilmot is a mixed media artist whose recent work explores the emotional landscape and imaginative depth of childhood, inspired by a single moment captured at a family celebration. A spontaneous encounter with a child’s uninhibited play – particularly in the aftermath of a piñata explosion – served as the catalyst. Photographic prints from that day were later translated into hand-painted compositions. To foreground the painted medium, Wilmot first converted the photographs to black and white, creating a quiet visual pause for color, shape and texture to speak more vividly. Working intuitively, she incorporated found and local materials – spray-painted feathers, broken ornaments, string beads – to construct layered, tactile surfaces. With no strict blueprint, the process unfolds organically, reflecting the way children assign meaning to even the most ordinary objects. 

Media Contact

Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist

bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

It was the second time Haynes has been honored by local leaders in recent months. In May, the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation awarded her the Herb Klein Civic Leadership Award, given annually to “an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership by addressing challenges and making significant contributions to improve the region.”

The Neil Morgan Memorial Award has been awarded since 1993 and was renamed in honor of the longtime local journalist who died in 2014. It is given each year by LEAD San Diego, the leadership development arm of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, to “an individual who has served as a catalyst for positive change, resulting in a better future for the region.”

“I know that Neil Morgan cared deeply for our region, that he was a tireless advocate for its potential and possibility, and he never stopped being a catalyst for positive change,” Haynes said. “Those are values that resonate for me. During my leadership of CSUSM, we have continuously sought new ways to serve our students and our region and, while doing so, challenged the status quo, disrupted the traditional models of higher education, and propelled our students and our region forward.”

Haynes is the longest-serving president in CSUSM’s history, and her tenure, covering more than half of the university’s existence, will come to an end on June 30 when she retires.

Haynes’ legacy at CSUSM includes taking a university of some 7,000 students when she arrived in 2004 and growing it into the educational hub of the region, a university that today has 17,000 students who represent the diversity of the surrounding communities. The 10 buildings that comprised campus back then have more than doubled under her leadership. The university’s alumni base, about 13,000 when she arrived, is approaching nearly 49,000 – and Haynes has shaken the hands of nearly three-quarters of those graduates at commencement.

A first-generation college student, Haynes holds a doctorate in social work from the University of Texas in Austin and a master’s in social work from McGill University in Montreal.

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

“The apparel oft proclaims the man.”

Shakespeare penned the line in “Hamlet” as Polonius’ parting parental advice to his son, but the statement – with its modern translation that clothes make the man – exposes a perplexing inequity for women in today’s workplace.

To rise into leadership, do women need to dress like men? Can a women show her femininity and still be seen as an effective leader?

When women began entering the corporate world in record numbers in the 1970s, women’s workwear attempted to mirror the power suits of traditional executive leadership. Enter the iconic looks of pantsuits, wide lapels, shoulder pads, pinstripes and monochromatic palettes.

While workplace attire has relaxed in American culture in the last two decades, the change has not necessarily been equitable, especially in top leadership roles. Women early in their careers might push the fashion standards forward or feel more freedom to dress to their preferred style, but the higher a woman climbs the leadership ladder, the more her wardrobe begins to be stripped of color, femininity and personal style.

“With a desire to be seen and heard for their expertise and not their clothes, it’s understandable why women moving into leadership roles would dial back their personal style,” said Shira Tarrant, an expert in gender justice issues and author of “Fashion Talks: Undressing the Power of Style.”

A quick Google search reveals that there is a never-ending rabbit hole of articles, blogs, tips and books instructing women what they should wear in the workplace. Many make the same claims: Don’t overaccessorize but be bold. Add color but not an aggressive color. Avoid trends but be stylish. Dress for the job you want but stay true to yourself. Be powerful and strong but not overbearing. Stand out but blend in. The paradoxical tips make heads spin.

“As women, we’re in this catch-22,” Tarrant said. “If we dress in suits and gray tones, we risk being considered conformist and inauthentic. If we dress differently, we risk being perceived as lacking authority or expertise. And it’s not simply men judging women; women judging women contributes to these implicit biases.”

Why the hubbub over what to wear?

Research shows that women in the workplace are judged more harshly on average for things that have nothing to do with their performance. People are more eager to make connections between a woman’s appearance and her competency, than they are with a man. Those judgments can cost women, literally.

Today, female full-time workers make only 80 cents for every dollar earned by men, despite being nearly half of the workforce and having more college and graduate degrees than men, according to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. Women reach glass ceilings much earlier in their careers and are often sidestepped in promotions.

“Not only does what a woman wear affect how others perceive her abilities, which definitely contributes to the pay gap, but women are also spending more – a lot more – on their professional wardrobes,” Tarrant said.

In an attempt to avoid the gendered biases, many women unconsciously trade their preferred style for a more toned-down, more masculine wardrobe, in hopes of obtaining the opportunities given to their male counterparts.

“Even in 2019, it is difficult to be judged as both a good woman and a good leader,” said CSUSM President Karen Haynes, who built a reputation early in her career for defying conventional thinking that women leaders ought to dress in subdued tones and tailored pantsuits.

It hasn’t always been easy for Haynes. Drawn to bright colors, bold accessories and statement pieces, she once toned down her look. She had just been appointed dean of the Graduate School of Social Work at the University in Houston in 1985, and she was the only woman among 13 deans, and the first female administrator for the university. Trying to overcome sexism and prove she deserved her position of influence, she found herself emulating a masculine style, dressing in black, gray or navy suits and wearing modest jewelry.

“I noticed that it began to affect my self-esteem, and I seemed to be losing myself in trying to dress like the leaders that surrounded me,” Haynes said. “I felt literally and figuratively buttoned up.”

One day, Haynes decided she’d had enough.

“It took me a while to say, ‘The only way I can do this position is if I can speak in an authentic tone and stand up for my own style in leading,’” she said.

Her unapologetic conviction became so legendary that a national leadership program began telling its aspiring women leaders, “Don’t wear that – unless you’re Karen Haynes.”

Even the famous fuchsia suit that she wore during her open forum interview to become CSUSM’s third president made headlines. But it wasn’t just because she wore fuchsia. She intentionally referenced her outfit in her opening remarks and, in doing so, shared her sense of humor and authenticity rather than letting the campus derive its own conclusions and judgments about what she wore.

“We can’t change what we don’t talk about or see,” she said. “My style allows me to express who I am. I hope that my path and my determination to be true to myself can serve as an inspiration for other women.”

“That’s our challenge as feminists,” Tarrant said, “to keep the lens focused on the political implications and meanings of our assumptions and thoughts. As women continue to break glass ceilings, it’s OK that our wardrobe is part of that conversation. It starts first – like it did for Dr. Haynes – by embracing the importance of authenticity.”

In the lobby of Craven Hall, the university’s flagship building, hangs the official presidential portrait of Dr. Haynes. She is easy to spot. She’s the feminist wearing fuchsia.

So how then did a first-generation college student from the New Jersey shore find herself down a career path she never intended? It began with a series of calculated risks stemming from an unexpected place: an elective course in sociology.

Before arriving at Goucher College, I was drawn to helping people, so it felt natural to consider a job in human resources. I knew that field. I knew that I didn’t want a job that was just marking time; I didn’t want a life of clocking in and clocking out. Psychology felt like a good fit at first. However, as my studies began to focus more on the experimental side rather than the clinical, I questioned if I wanted to go in that direction.

Then in my sophomore year, I enrolled in an introductory social work course. In full disclosure, the class happened to fit perfectly into my schedule (solid reasoning, I know). Professor Olive Westbrooke Quinn, who became a mentor of mine, taught the course. It was unlike anything I had previously taken. It was experiential.

All of a sudden, I realized, this is my passion. Seeing and feeling those issues and then realizing that there was an entire profession devoted to trying to right the injustices by creating better solutions at both a clinical and policy level, I knew this is what I wanted to pursue.

I changed my major the following year from psychology with a sociology minor, to majoring in sociology with a minor in psychology. That switch opened new doors. Doors I never knew existed. I began blazing a new path in the field of social work and it was exciting!

I continued to build my career upon a foundation of calculated risk taking: Working abroad. Earning my master’s degree and then my doctorate. Moving across country. Being the first female professor in my department at Indiana University at Bloomington, and then later the first female administrator at the University of Houston. I wasn’t afraid to try and I wasn’t afraid to change my direction if it wasn’t a fit for me. I knew nothing had to be permanent.

It was during my tenure as a dean at the University of Houston that I got the call. I was asked to step into the role of interim university president at the University of Houston-Victoria. The chancellor knew I had the skills needed to repair the chasms of distrust that were created by the mismanagement of the previous president. I considered myself the case manager brought in to listen, to give structure, to institute policy, to restore trust, to evaluate the strengths of my team and to delegate accordingly. I put people – students, employees, community members – first. That same passion for helping people remained my focus.

I was convinced that this would be a temporary appointment. I did not want to be a president... and then, it happened – that "interim" year turned into almost nine years as president of that university!

Doing the job gave me a passion for the job.

My unexpected career path is one reason why I encourage today’s college student to explore, to be intellectually curious and to take calculated risks. Try an elective outside your major. Enroll in a class that offers service learning experience or an internship option so you can apply what you learn immediately to see if it’s a good fit. Study abroad. Attend a seminar that might open your mind to a perspective you never considered before. Find a mentor. Think of graduate school, certificate programs, or other ways to continue building on your foundation of learning. Free yourself from the restrictive thinking that there is only one perfect path to your career. It’s simply not true. And yes, there is still time to figure it out.

Trust that those “pesky” required general education courses are well thought through and foundational to skills that will prepare you well for the future, irrespective of your major or future job and career choices.

As institutions of higher learning, it is our job to remove barriers so students can graduate in a timely manner. But it is also our job to prepare you for a future – a future none of us can clearly see. So, within those expectations and constraints, intentionally take risks.

As the semester is now well underway, it can be easy to develop tunnel vision. Remember, this is not the beginning or the end—and just because you started down one road it doesn’t mean you have to keep going that way.

My journey to university president was never a straight line—chances are your path won’t be either. So, as you explore what stirs your heart, I encourage you to seize the opportunities that will help you develop new skills and expand your horizons. You may just find your passion in an unexpected place. I surely found mine.

The Social Work Pioneer Program was created to honor members of the social work profession who have contributed to the evolution and enrichment of the profession. The Pioneer Program identifies and recognizes individuals whose unique dedication, commitment and determination have improved social and human conditions.

NASW Pioneers are considered role models for future generations of social workers. Their contributions are reflected in every aspect of the profession, as well as in the establishment of social policies and human services programs.

Haynes will be honored at the NASW Social Work Pioneers 13^th Annual Program & Luncheon on Oct. 28 in Washington, D.C. The NASW is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world with 132,000 members.

Haynes is CSUSM’s longest-serving president and the senior president in the 23-campus California State University system, the first woman to hold that position. She has served for over 30 years as an academic administrator and is in her 23rd year as a university president, including 8½ years as president of the University of Houston-Victoria.

Drawing upon her experience as a social worker, Haynes has long championed higher education as an engine of social mobility and regional prosperity. Fifty-four percent of CSUSM’s 2017 graduating class were the first in their families to earn a four-year degree and 38 percent were from historically underrepresented backgrounds.

Under her leadership, CSUSM has become a first-choice campus for the region, with a particular focus on serving educationally at-risk student populations such as:

• Former foster youth, who have an 86 percent retention rate — 30 points higher than the average college student and nearly 15 percent higher than similar support programs — thanks to CSUSM’s ACE Scholars Services, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
• Veterans, including the highest percentage of veterans and military-affiliated students in the CSU system.
• American Indians, who comprise 4 percent of CSUSM’s total student population; the University has the highest per-capita number — and the only increasing number — of American Indian students in the CSU system.

Haynes leads CSUSM with her eye continually trained on social transformation through access and education; increasing the educational attainment rate of students in the region; developing relevant degree programs that make CSUSM students in demand; and engaging with the community in unique and meaningful ways. She has overseen tremendous growth at CSUSM, including the construction of 10 new facilities, the addition of a Temecula campus, and the doubling of relevant new academic programs and career certificates.

Haynes has received numerous awards and honors for her work, including:

• The 2015 Woman of the Year Award from San Diego Magazine for her commitment to creating positive change in the region;
• The 2015 President of the Year Award from the California State Student Association, which represents all 460,000 CSU students, for outstanding commitment to CSU students;
• Named a Power Broker of 2015 by the San Diego Business Journal for being a “catalyst for change and a champion for the underserved” in her leadership of CSUSM;
• The Cool Woman of 2015 Award from the San Diego Girl Scouts; and
• In 2014, the Social Work Degree Guide named Haynes the third-most influential social worker in the United States.

A first-generation college student, Haynes holds both a doctorate in Social Work from the University of Texas in Austin and a master’s in Social Work from McGill University in Montreal.

About California State University San Marcos

Building on an innovative 27-year history, California State University San Marcos is a forward-focused institution, dedicated to preparing future leaders, building great communities and solving critical issues. Located on a 304-acre hillside overlooking the City of San Marcos, it is the only public four-year comprehensive university serving North San Diego, Southwest Riverside and South Orange Counties.

The University enrolls nearly 17,000 students. With approximately 2,000 employees, the institution is a Great College to Work For® (The Chronicle of Higher Education). As a recipient of the annual HEED Award since 2014—a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion—CSUSM is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment.

“In this time of cynicism and fear, public higher education becomes more important not only as an engine for economic growth, but as a catalyst for spurring individuals to innovation and optimism, empathy and understanding,” Haynes said. “Through higher education, we assure that we will have individuals who bring new perspectives to whatever issues we may face, trained as critical thinkers with a multicultural framework.”

In her 13^th Annual Report to the Community address, “Imagine the Possibilities,” Haynes talked about innovative student learning practices and faculty who engage in solving real-world problems.

“The traditional model of higher education boxes learning within the four walls of a classroom or lecture hall,” she said. “But our model imagines what happens when students actively engage in the learning process through activities like internships, research and fieldwork, study abroad and community service.”

Among the students highlighted were Connor Leone, who helped build sustainable indoor gardens for K-12 classrooms as part of the service-learning component of his environmental sciences course; Chelsey Johnson, who spent her summer at CSUSM’s free speech-language-pathology clinic, providing speech therapy to stroke survivors and individuals with traumatic brain injuries; and Nam Ho, a computer science major who finished eighth out of nearly 900 entrants in a coding competition.

Haynes also noted the $14.6 million in research dollars recently awarded to faculty, including a $3 million award to train stem cell scientists; a $2.5 million grant to support dual-language teachers; and a $1 million grant to increase the number of American Indians nurses.

The University is preparing to launch its first engineering programs with a $6 million, five-year grant, but Haynes said that private support is vital, mentioning the University is reaching out to industry partners and philanthropists to secure sustainable funding.

Among the accolades and awards, Haynes also dug into the myriad ways that Cal State San Marcos serves its growing population of over 15,000 students. For example, the Alliance to Accelerate Excellence in Education has accepted nearly 1,000 students from 10 partner school districts. Among them is Jesus Perez, a first-generation college student majoring in applied physics who recently returned from a prestigious 16-week internship with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.

“We inspire our students to achieve their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families,” said Haynes.

Despite CSUSM’s growth and advancements, a lack of funding may damper future prospects.

“Reducing academic quality, turning students away and charging higher tuition are all distasteful and largely unacceptable not just for us, but for our region and our state,” Haynes emphasized. “The only real guaranteed return on the state’s investment is in funding education as it assuredly creates an educated workforce that generates revenue for California.”

In response to insufficient public funding, Cal State San Marcos launched a major fundraising campaign in 2015. To date, 66 percent of the $50 million goal has been raised. In her remarks, Haynes highlighted donors who have given to scholarships, programs, athletics and the arts, including the 550 individuals who donated over $170,000 in 24 hours on CSUSM Giving Day.

“I know that the antidotes to the cynicism and fear of our day are right here: optimism, curiosity and innovation fueled by education, research and partnerships,” concluded Haynes. “Imagine how we can continue to redefine what higher education can be. Imagine a region fueled by the accelerated pace of this University! If we can dream it, we can make it happen. Ahead of us lies anything we choose, constrained only by our ability to ‘imagine the possibilities.’”

Read President Haynes's full remarks or watch her recap video below.

Being the first was hard. And the transition for me wasn’t easy.

Although I was an honor student in high school and often at the top of my class, my college courses challenged me in ways I didn’t anticipate. For the first time, I found myself among very smart and talented young women, many of them second- and third-generation college students, and some with grandmothers who were college-educated, which was rare in the 1960s. Most came from families of privilege. That wasn’t my story. My parents had to stretch to give me this opportunity.

I felt intimidated. I felt socially unprepared, as well as academically worried.

And I struggled through my first quarter. Yes – struggled.

I remember sitting down with my parents during a rare home visit after that first quarter with grades below my usual straight As that had previously come so easily. My father gave me an ultimatum: raise your grades or move back home to New Jersey.

That lit a fire inside me. I have always been someone who likes being faced with a challenge and meeting it. I said to myself: you can do this. After that quarter, I changed my self-talk. I befriended other first-generation students; I saw that many of my peers, even second- and third-generation college students, were also finding their footing, and that collective experience grounded me. I made sure to attend social events to deepen my new roots.

And though my homesickness persisted, I began to thrive.

Having navigated those early experiences of college as a first-generation student, I know how easy it can be to want to give up. And as I think of our very own students starting their journey, some of whom I had the privilege of meeting during move-in, I know first-hand how pivotal this moment is; it is hard, but it is also transformative, both academically and socially.

Looking back, I can now say some of those hard times are well worth it. What can feel like a world of hurt, whether it’s homesickness or struggling to achieve your personal best, can blossom into the sweetest experiences. Perseverance and support are essential.

I had no idea what challenges I would rise to and exceed. I certainly wasn’t thinking then of doctoral work and never of becoming a university president.

Whether you’re a new student, first-generation or following in the footsteps of others, or coming to college a little later in life, the lesson I learned – and the hope I have for you – is keep believing in yourself.

As details emerge from the horrific mass shooting at a nightclub this weekend in Orlando, Florida, Cal State San Marcos sends our deepest sympathies to those impacted: the victims, the survivors, the friends and family members, and the entire LGBTQA community.

While our thoughts go out to those impacted, we also stand in solidarity against the hate and violence that now seems all too common in our nation and world. At CSUSM we are a diverse group – diverse in culture, religious belief, political perspective, gender and sexual orientation, nationality, talents and abilities. I firmly believe that these differences are our collective strengths - as a university they make us better and stronger. Now more than ever, we must continue to come together as one community to counteract the hate and divisiveness of our times.

This week the ASI LGBTQA Pride Center will be open every day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to assist and support those looking to process this senseless tragedy. Staff from Student Health and Counseling Services, the ASI Gender Equity Center, Latin@ Center, Cross-Cultural Center, Student Life and Leadership and the Dean of Students Office will also be available for those seeking support. On Friday there will be a CSUSM Community Reflection and Lunch in the ASI LGBTQA Pride Center. More information on all the resources and planned is avaiable here.

Together, we are CSUSM. Together, we stand with Orlando.

“But if we are to succeed at impacting tomorrow together, we must also agree on a destination,” President Haynes stated at her 12^th Annual Report to the Community on February 4. “I believe that destination must be a revisioned American Dream.”

In the traditional model of the American Dream, each new generation enjoys a better standard of living than their parents. College was once a primary part of that dream—but at the very time when global competitiveness depends on a well-educated citizenry, educational access is slipping. Projections show that at today’s enrollment rates, by the year 2030 California will have a 1.1 million degree gap between the total state output of bachelor’s degrees and what the state’s workforce will require.

“We must reset our compass toward this new reality— the new American Dream of a college education for all in our region who seek it – and we must do so by renewing our collective commitment to three critical goals: Increasing access to higher education…embracing innovation in all that we do…and building global awareness within our curriculum and among our students,” said Haynes.

Expanding Access

Speaking to the approximately 600 individuals in attendance from business, civic and service organizations, Haynes noted that for far too many youth in CSUSM’s region, the American Dream of a college education remains out of reach. But, in the face of insufficient state support— Governor Brown proposed funding for only one percent growth for the coming 2016-2017 academic year—she said that CSUSM is committed to growing enrollment.

For example, new online programs are serving more students while providing additional convenience for working adults.

“A great example of this, and a big win for California, is our online Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, which we launched in partnership with major health care providers in our region— Kaiser, Palomar and Scripps— to help meet their needs for qualified medical professionals,” shared Haynes. “Since the program began just this past fall with 50 students, its enrollment has grown by an additional 650 students, and for this calendar year we project another 1,250 enrollments. In just two years, we will be making those new American dreams come true for 2,000 registered nurses.”

In addition, CSUSM at Temecula continues to be Southwest Riverside County’s only four-year public institution of higher learning. The campus, founded in 2008 thanks to a partnership with the Cities of Temecula and Murrieta, Mount San Jacinto College and the Temecula Valley Unified School District, has now graduated 400 students.

Innovation

In order to be successful in extending the dream of college to more students, innovation is key. President Haynes highlighted “high impact practices”—techniques and designs for teaching and learning that have been proven to be beneficial for student engagement and learning among students from diverse backgrounds—including experiential learning.

“[Students] work alongside dedicated faculty and community partners to conduct research in the lab and in the field,” she shared. “They tackle real-world business challenges. They design and lead important social justice initiatives. They develop creative solutions to pressing regional, national and global issues.”

Two other high impact practices highlighted by Haynes was the newly launched Cougar Care Network, a safety net for students experiencing challenges inside or outside the classroom, and the real-time Degree Planner tool which gives students a visual presentation of their academic status with recommendations on the quickest path to graduation.

Global Awareness

In a world that is more interconnected than ever, the need for enhanced global awareness, multi-cultural competence and cross-cultural cooperation is greater than ever.

From global education programs to a new event series titled Conversations that Matter that presents speakers, films and facilitated workshops aimed at opening minds, questioning assumptions and broadening understanding, the University continues to be committed to helping all students feel safe, valued and appreciated.

In her speech Haynes highlighted several awards that CSUSM has recently earned, including Insight into Diversity Magazine’s Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award, a $2.6 million U.S. Department of Education grant to enhance Latino retention and graduation, a $2.5 million grant from Governor Brown to support first-year students, and ongoing recognition for serving veterans and their family members.

Future Focus

Looking forward, Haynes said that Cal State San Marcos is committed to creating programs that graduate students who are academically prepared, socially responsible and career ready.

Recently CSUSM launched a Master’s Degree in cybersecurity— the only one of its kind in California—and a hospitality and tourism management option for the Specialized MBA program. On the horizon, the University is in the early stages of developing an “Enginbeering” program that will focus on the business of craft beer as well as brewing science and brewery engineering. The campus will also soon launch a Master of Public Health and a Master of Science in Health Information Management.

“The silver tsunami” is another issue that Haynes has on the University’s radar, an issue that led the campus to create the system-wide Institute for Palliative Care in 2012.

“It’s been said that ‘great achievement has no road map’ and that there can be no gain without some risk,” said Haynes. “I stand ready, with you by our side, to go where no university has gone before…to impact tomorrow together.”

Watch a video message from President Haynes below and read her complete speech online.

Over 400 San Diegans attended the event, including the nearly 100 Woman of the Year nominees. Other 2015 Honorees included Shelley Lyford, COO of West Health and president of the Gary and Mary West Foundation; Meghan McCool, founder of Care Medical Transportation; and Debra Schwartz, president and CEO of Mission Federal Credit Union. Annie Lawless, co-founder of Suja Juice, was named winner of the Young Leader Award.

“To be chosen from among the many talented and exemplary San Diego women is an honor,” said Haynes. “It is fulfilling to even be nominated for doing a job I love that allows me to pursue my passions: expanding pathways to education and encouraging women into leadership."

Haynes is CSUSM’s third and longest-serving president, leading the University since 2004, and she is the senior female president in the CSU system. Under her leadership, the University has become a first-choice campus for the region, with a particular focus on serving educationally-at-risk student populations such as former foster youth, veterans and Native Americans. Fifty-two percent of the 2014 graduating class were the first in their families to earn a four-year degree; and well over half of the student body identifies as being a minority. Dr. Haynes’ commitment to public higher education is helping CSUSM transform the lives of students and families throughout Southern California.

Haynes has been recognized for her contributions to higher education with several awards and honors, including recently: The 2015 President of the Year Award from the California State Student Association for outstanding commitment to CSU students; the 2015 Trailblazer Award from Leadership California, which honored her as one of six female CSU presidents for groundbreaking achievements and leadership in academia; and the Cool Women of 2015 Award from the San Diego Girl Scouts. In 2014, the Social Work Degree Guide named Dr. Haynes the third-most influential social worker in the United States.

This year marked the first time in the program’s history that six women were selected to receive the award as a group. The five other CSU presidents honored were: Dr. Soraya M. Coley of Cal Poly Pomona; Dr. Jane Close Conoley of CSU Long Beach; Dr. Mildred García of CSU Fullerton; Dr. Dianne F. Harrison of CSU Northridge; and Dr. Lisa Rossbacher of Humboldt State.

“The recognition is a richly deserved honor for an accomplished group of academic leaders who have dedicated their professional and personal lives to the service of all people in California” said CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White. “As mentors, CSU’s six women presidents serve as exemplary models for women leaders in higher education and beyond. We, as a system, laud them for their commitment to transforming their campuses, our state and the nation.”

“With higher education in the forefront of state policy issues and as a desired goal of many of California’s people, the opportunity to honor the women leading higher education in our state could not be more relevant and timely,” said Pamela Hemann, executive director of Leadership California.

Haynes is CSUSM’s third president, serving in the role since 2004, and the senior female president in the CSU system. Under her leadership, the University has become a first-choice campus for the region, with a particular focus on serving educationally-at-risk student populations such as former foster youth, veterans and Native Americans. Fifty-two percent of the 2014 graduating class were the first in their families to earn a four-year degree; and well over half of the student body identifies as being a minority. Dr. Haynes’ commitment to public higher education is helping CSUSM transform the lives of students and families throughout Southern California.

“During my 30 years in academic leadership positions, I have experienced that one of the most rewarding aspects of being a leader is the opportunity to mentor and inspire the next generation of women leaders,” reflected Haynes. “While my generation has trail-blazed a path of ‘firsts’ for women, the next generations must remove the ‘token’ aspect of these achievements and make them the norm. For this to occur, I believe that it is our duty, and our reward, as female leaders to inspire and mentor those who will come after us.”

A Champion for California’s Students

At the March 25 California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees meeting in Long Beach, the California State Student Association (CSSA) presented Haynes with the Robert C. Maxson President of the Year award.

CSSA is the single recognized voice for more than 425,000 students in the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system. Founded in 1959, the association is the acknowledged statewide student organization designed to represent, serve and protect the collective interests of CSU students.

Each year the CSSA recognizes one CSU campus president whose leadership reflects a commitment to the mission of the CSSA, who has demonstrated exceptional inclusion of students within the context of shared governance and has assisted the CSSA in advancing its statewide policy agenda.

“It is probably the highest honor a president can receive to be recognized in such a meaningful way by students in one's own university system," said Haynes. "With a strong commitment to the mission of our system and its students, I am proud to have instilled a culture of leadership across our university reflecting fairness, openness, honest communication, integrity and diversity. I appreciate the efforts of the CSSA to preserve and protect the unique qualities of the CSU and its mission to provide high-quality, affordable education to the students across California. To be recognized by CSU students in this way is truly gratifying.”

“CSSA is pleased to recognize Dr. Karen Haynes as our 2014-15 President of the Year,” said CSSA Chair Devon Graves. “Her student-centered leadership style, willingness to involve students in decision-making, and support for statewide student advocacy efforts made her the standout nominee this year. We are particularly grateful for President Haynes' successful efforts to incorporate and effectively serve former foster youth in the fabric of CSU San Marcos, and the entire CSU system.”

A Cool Woman

At a ceremony on April 14, President Haynes was named one of Girl Scouts San Diego’s Cool Women of 2015, honored for her extraordinary leadership and community service. She was among 11 Cool Women and one Cool Girl honored.

“A social worker at heart, Karen brings the ideals of that profession to her presidency,” said Magda Marquet, founder and co-chair of Althea Technologies and AltheaDX, and a 2014 Cool Woman. “Creating programs for foster youth, veterans, minorities and other under-represented populations, she is raising our region’s educational attainment rates. Karen was a Girl Scout, and she encourages girls to be ‘brave, bold … and whatever they want to be.’ That’s a great lesson for all of us!”

“My professional career has always been in social work, and clearly social work connects to the Girl Scout motto of helping others at all times,” said Haynes. “And what I consider the basic job of a university president is also to reach out, touch people and help people.”

Del Norte High School junior Elena Crespo of 4S Ranch was named Cool Girl of 2015. She recently developed a computer lab for a school in Panama using computers donated by CSUSM. A delegate of Girl Scouts’ national convention, Elena is completing her Gold Award project, Girl Scouting’s highest honor.

The other 2015 Cool Women honorees are Karen Archipley, co-founder of Archi’s Acres, a hydro-organic farm; Rabbi Cantor Arlene Bernstein of Beth Israel; Lesley Cohn, co-founder of Cohn Restaurant Group; Reena Horowitz, businesswoman, philanthropist and jewelry designer; Awetash Keflezighi, an Eritrean immigrant whose 11 accomplished children include legendary marathoner Meb Keflezighi; Carol Lazier, president of the San Diego Opera Board of Directors; Susan Salka, CEO and president of AMN Healthcare; Rose Schindler, Holocaust survivor and educator; Sue Swenson, a pioneer in the wireless industry; and Carmen Vann, a Turner Construction project executive whose projects include the Central Library.

A Trailblazing Leader

Later this month, President Haynes will be one of six CSU women presidents to receive the Trailblazer Award from Leadership California in recognition of groundbreaking achievements and leadership in academia.

Initiated in 2010, the Trailblazer Award is awarded annually to women who are pioneers in their fields. This year marks the first time in Leadership California’s history that six women have been selected to receive the award as a group. The six honorees will be recognized at the Legacy of Leadership awards ceremony on April 27 in Los Angeles.

According to Leadership California, the annual awards celebrate “women of influence who exemplify a spirit of exploration, passion and groundbreaking achievement that leads the way for others to innovate and succeed.”

“The recognition is a richly deserved honor for an accomplished group of academic leaders who have dedicated their professional and personal lives to the service of all people in California” said CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White. “As mentors, CSU’s six women presidents serve as exemplary models for women leaders in higher education and beyond. We, as a system, laud them for their commitment to transforming their campuses, our state and the nation.”

“With higher education in the forefront of state policy issues and as a desired goal of many of California’s people, the opportunity to honor the women leading higher education in our state could not be more relevant and timely,” said Pamela Hemann, executive director of Leadership California.

The other CSU women presidents to be honored by Leadership California are Dr. Soraya M. Coley of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; Dr. Jane Close Conoley of California State University Long Beach; Dr. Mildred García of California State University Fullerton; Dr. Dianne F. Harrison of California State University Northridge; and Dr. Lisa Rossbacher of Humboldt State University.

CSSA is the single recognized voice for more than 425,000 students in the California State University (CSU) system. Founded in 1959, the association is the acknowledged statewide student organization designed to represent, serve and protect the collective interests of CSU students.

Each year the CSSA recognizes one CSU campus president whose leadership reflects a commitment to the mission of the CSSA, who has demonstrated exceptional inclusion of students within the context of shared governance and has assisted the CSSA in advancing its statewide policy agenda.

“It is probably the highest honor a president can receive to be recognized in such a meaningful way by students in one's own university system," said Haynes. "With a strong commitment to the mission of our system and its students, I am proud to have instilled a culture of leadership across our university reflecting fairness, openness, honest communication, integrity and diversity. I appreciate the efforts of the CSSA to preserve and protect the unique qualities of the CSU and its mission to provide high-quality, affordable education to the students across California. To be recognized by CSU students in this way is truly gratifying.”

“CSSA is pleased to recognize Dr. Karen Haynes as our 2014-15 President of the Year,” said CSSA Chair Devon Graves. “Her student-centered leadership style, willingness to involve students in decision-making, and support for statewide student advocacy efforts made her the standout nominee this year. We are particularly grateful for President Haynes' successful efforts to incorporate and effectively serve former foster youth in the fabric of CSU San Marcos, and the entire CSU system.”

Dr. Karen Haynes, president of California State University San Marcos (CSUSM), is one of six California State University (CSU) women presidents who will receive the Trailblazer Award from Leadership California in recognition of groundbreaking achievements and leadership in academia.

What:

This sold-out event will draw approximately 500 attendees from regional government, business and service organizations as well as alumni, staff and faculty.

When: 7 – 9 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015

Breakfast and registration at 7 a.m.

Remarks at 8 a.m.

Where: On campus at the Event Pavilion in Lot N, located off of Campus View Dr. Complimentary parking is available in the parking structure. CSUSM is located at 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Road in San Marcos.

Note to Media: Embargoed remarks will be available – please contact Margaret Chantung if you’d like to obtain a copy.

Dr. Karen Haynes

Under her leadership, the University has become a first-choice campus for the region, with a particular focus on serving educationally-at-risk populations such as former foster youth, veterans and Native Americans. Fifty-two percent of the 2014 graduating class were the first in their families to earn a four-year degree; and well over half of the student body identifies as being a minority. Dr. Haynes’ commitment to public higher education is helping CSUSM transform the lives of students and families throughout Southern California.

According to Social Work Degree Guide, selection was based on merit, scholastic study and political activism. From celebrities to university professors, the list includes individuals who plan, engage and support social work.

Dr. Haynes recently celebrated her tenth anniversary as president of CSUSM. Her forty year career in higher education includes academic leadership roles at the University of Houston, where she served as the dean of the Graduate School of Social Work for ten years, and the University of Houston-Victoria where she served as president for eight and a half years.

A former dean and professor of social work, Dr. Haynes has authored and co-authored numerous books, articles, and publications on political social work, including the landmark text, Affecting Change: Social Workers in the Political Arena, co-authored with Jim Mickelson. She holds a doctorate in social work from the University of Texas in Austin and currently serves as the Presidential Sponsor for the American Council on Education’s Southern California Network of Women in Higher Education. Recent awards and honors include being the 2013 recipient of the San Diego Business Journal’s Darlene Marcos Shiley Educational Leadership Award, and the 2013 American Council on Education’s Donna Shavlik Award for her commitment to advancing women through career and leadership development and for mentoring women on the state and national levels. She was also the 2010 recipient of the San Diego Business Journal’s 2010 Most Admired CEO Award, and was honored in 2007 with the San Diego YWCA’s Top Women in Industry Award and the San Diego Business Journal’s “Women Who Mean Business” Award.

“The principles of social work have remained at the center of my life’s work and serve as a fundamental touchstone for my career in higher education administration,” said Dr. Haynes. “Social workers promote social justice and social change, and it is these values that have served me well as a university president. Thanks to social work, I am a better president and a better agent of change.”

Speaking to nearly 600 faculty and staff, she reflected on recent University accomplishments, applauding the talent, perseverance, determination and resiliency of the institution and the people who make it all possible.

“Everyone here understands that our work is about more than ourselves; it’s about our entire University—a place that’s tremendously important to our region, that’s forward thinking and innovative and that transforms lives, builds better communities and solves critical issues,” said Haynes.

Watch the 2014 Convocation Video, highlighting the distinct culture of CSUSM that produces extraordinary results.

Institutional Accomplishments

In her remarks, Haynes emphasized the unique culture of CSUSM that led the Chronicle of Higher Education to name it the only public four-year university in the state as a Great College to Work For®. In a survey administered by the publication, more than 80 percent of employees agreed that they are given the freedom and responsibility to do their jobs.

“At the heart of our work and commitment to success lies accountability—the willingness to take responsibility for achieving goals, and the individual and institutional drive to make that achievement a reality,” she said.

A few recent accomplishments that she highlighted included:

• Being one of the first CSUs to launch the college scheduler, a web-based planner that enables students to see, in real time, every possible schedule option with open courses.
• Closing the achievement gap in one-year continuation rates between underrepresented minority students and majority students.
• Graduating 2,600 students in May—52 percent of whom were the first in their families to earn a bachelor’s degree.

A University for the Region

Haynes also spoke about CSUSM’s commitment to raising the region’s educational attainment rate, creating a student body that mirrors the external community, and producing well-prepared, ready-to-lead graduates who will stay local and give back.

“Half of our student body self-identifies as being from an underrepresented student population,” she said. “Last academic year, Hispanic students, at 37 percent, accounted for our largest population—the first time ever in our history.”

Among many recent accomplishments highlighting CSUSM’s work to become a diverse and inclusive environment, Haynes noted that CSUSM is:

• Educating more former foster youth per capita than any university in the United States.
• Retaining students in the College Assistance Migrant Program at 95 percent annually.
• Increasing the six-year graduation rate for African American students with year over year improvement over the past decade.

Forward Together

“People matter,” Haynes stressed. “What we do matters. Culture matters.”

As CSUSM enters the fall 2014 semester and prepares for 25^th anniversary celebrations in 2015, she applauded faculty and staff.

“We are accountable,” Haynes said. “We are supportive, inclusive and proud. That is who we are. That is the culture of CSUSM. Imagine how much more we will achieve in the coming years: forward together.”

Read a PDF of President Haynes’ complete Convocation remarks.

“In many respects the years have gone by very fast,” said Haynes, who is now CSUSM’s longest standing president.

Haynes first visited CSUSM in 2003 when interviewing for the presidency. At a public open forum, she wore a bright fuchsia suit and humorously remarked that she wore the color because she wanted to be sure that she was remembered, and because she was certain that the other two male candidates wouldn’t wear that color.

Upon her appointment the North County Times declared, “Fuchsia Suit Wins!” And in the subsequent decade, Haynes’ bold leadership style has served both the University and the region well.

A Commitment to Educate Underserved and At-Risk Populations

“When I first came to Cal State San Marcos, I realized that so many people had come here for the same reasons I had—to build a new, truly unique and innovative university,” she said. “Our shared journey, our shared commitment and work, has created a university with expanded access and broader reach—a university that is both the anchor of this region and a model in the nation.”

A trained social worker and one of only five university presidents in the nation with a social work background, Dr. Haynes’ presidency has been shaped by her profession's values.

“When I came to CSUSM, we started to talk about what would be our major strategic priorities,” she said. “I felt a strong commitment to doing what was best for this region: educating regionally at-risk and diverse student populations, and those who would stay in this region and give back after graduation.”

In 2007 CSUSM launched its ACE Scholars Services program, offering scholarships, on-campus work opportunities, counseling and other support to former foster youth. Thanks to the success of ACE, Cal State San Marcos educates more former foster youth per capita than any other institution in the United States.

Like former foster youth, American Indian students also have historically been overlooked in higher education. Through college fairs specific to tribal communities, communications in Native languages and the efforts of CSUSM’s tribal liaison—the only full-time position of its kind in the CSU and created by Haynes in 2004—Cal State San Marcos is ensuring that more American Indian students are enrolling in and graduating from college.

In 2009 CSUSM was recognized as an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution. The following year it earned its Hispanic Serving Institution status. Today over 64 percent of students self-identify as non-Caucasian and over 50 percent are first in their family earning a bachelor's degree.

“We are doing the work that our regional sister institutions are not,” said Haynes. “Yes, the other institutions are doing excellent work. They are increasingly meeting national and international needs and taking high caliber students, but these are not the educationally-at-risk students, the veterans, the former foster youth, the American Indians, the ones the statistics said wouldn’t go to college.”

A New Model for Public Higher Ed

A few years after Haynes arrived at Cal State San Marcos, the Great Recession hit bringing a dramatic reduction in state funding. While many institutions slashed programs and laid off faculty and staff, Haynes was adamant that CSUSM remain positive, resilient and innovative.

The University quickly adapted to a new framework based on community partnerships to meet its priorities. This nimbleness was essential in the face of reports indicating that Riverside and San Diego counties were experiencing moderate to robust growth in the number of high school graduates—many of whom were not expected to continue their education past the 12^th grade. Statistics also signaled that California would be short one million college educated workers by 2025.

The 2007 opening of CSUSM’s off-campus center in Temecula is one example of how University leaders worked with regional and civic entities to leverage resources and provide increased access to higher education. The center now offers programs specific to Southwest Riverside County’s industry needs, as well as broader programs in business and kinesiology.

As further proof of the University’s commitment to community engagement and raising the educational attainment rate, CSUSM has established 13 guaranteed admission programs with regional partners. Students who come to CSUSM through these agreements have higher GPAs and retention rates.

“We created the guaranteed admissions program to help at-risk students not just get into college but get through college and prove the statistics wrong,” explained Haynes.

No Longer the Best Kept Secret in North County

Over the last 10 years, Cal State San Marcos’ reputation has expanded beyond the boundaries of North San Diego County, putting the University in the national and international spotlight.

CSUSM faculty are actively engaged in groundbreaking research, including one professor who led an

international team of 75 scientists in the first-ever documentation of a pan genome shared by different algal varieties. The findings are opening new avenues for studying climate change and carbon cycling.

“It’s all work that may change the world, that will shape the future and that is transforming our region into a global knowledge center,” explained Haynes. “It’s work that is making us nationally known.”

CSUSM’s nationally known commitment to veterans led the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey to donate a sustainable building to the University for use as a new stand-alone veterans center in 2013. And it was CSUSM’s forward focus and innovative spirit that led a CSU trustee to select San Marcos as the ideal place to create and launch the CSU Institute for Palliative Care in 2012.

“The Institute for Palliative Care will address an important part of the national public health agenda that was being ignored, and the impact of our programs will be profound,” said Haynes.

A Great Future for a Great University

Haynes promises that she is not done yet and that Cal State San Marcos will remain focused on educating students through theoretical and experiential learning; investing in and supporting sophisticated, lifechanging research; and working hand-in-hand with its community to enable positive change, to solve substantive issues and to partner for the common good.

“In 10 years together, we have transformed lives, rebuilt communities and reinvigorated our economy. We have built a university geared toward educating the 21st century student,” she said. “I am so proud of the work we have done together and to be Cal State San Marcos’ president.”

“In many respects the years have gone by very fast,” said Haynes, who is now CSUSM’s longest standing president.

Haynes first visited CSUSM in 2003 when interviewing for the presidency. At a public open forum, she wore a bright fuchsia suit and humorously remarked that she wore the color because she wanted to be sure that she was remembered, and because she was certain that the other two male candidates wouldn’t wear that color.

Upon her appointment the North County Times declared, “Fuchsia Suit Wins!” And in the subsequent decade, Haynes’ bold leadership style has served both the University and the region well.

A Commitment to Educate Underserved and At-Risk Populations

“When I first came to Cal State San Marcos, I realized that so many people had come here for the same reasons I had—to build a new, truly unique and innovative university,” she said. “Our shared journey, our shared commitment and work, has created a university with expanded access and broader reach—a university that is both the anchor of this region and a model in the nation.”

A trained social worker and one of only five university presidents in the nation with a social work background, Dr. Haynes’ presidency has been shaped by her profession's values.

“When I came to CSUSM, we started to talk about what would be our major strategic priorities,” she said. “I felt a strong commitment to doing what was best for this region: educating regionally at-risk and diverse student populations, and those who would stay in this region and give back after graduation.”

In 2007 CSUSM launched its ACE Scholars Services program, offering scholarships, on-campus work opportunities, counseling and other support to former foster youth. Thanks to the success of ACE, Cal State San Marcos educates more former foster youth per capita than any other institution in the United States.

Like former foster youth, American Indian students also have historically been overlooked in higher education. Through college fairs specific to tribal communities, communications in Native languages and the efforts of CSUSM’s tribal liaison—the only full-time position of its kind in the CSU and created by Haynes in 2004—Cal State San Marcos is ensuring that more American Indian students are enrolling in and graduating from college.

In 2009 CSUSM was recognized as an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution. The following year it earned its Hispanic Serving Institution status. Today over 64 percent of students self-identify as non-Caucasian and over 50 percent are first in their family earning a bachelor's degree.

“We are doing the work that our regional sister institutions are not,” said Haynes. “Yes, the other institutions are doing excellent work. They are increasingly meeting national and international needs and taking high caliber students, but these are not the educationally-at-risk students, the veterans, the former foster youth, the American Indians, the ones the statistics said wouldn’t go to college.”

A New Model for Public Higher Ed 

A few years after Haynes arrived at Cal State San Marcos, the Great Recession hit bringing a dramatic reduction in state funding. While many institutions slashed programs and laid off faculty and staff, Haynes was adamant that CSUSM remain positive, resilient and innovative.

The University quickly adapted to a new framework based on community partnerships to meet its priorities. This nimbleness was essential in the face of reports indicating that Riverside and San Diego counties were experiencing moderate to robust growth in the number of high school graduates—many of whom were not expected to continue their education past the 12^th grade. Statistics also signaled that California would be short one million college educated workers by 2025.

The 2007 opening of CSUSM’s off-campus center in Temecula is one example of how University leaders worked with regional and civic entities to leverage resources and provide increased access to higher education. The center now offers programs specific to Southwest Riverside County’s industry needs, as well as broader programs in business and kinesiology.

As further proof of the University’s commitment to community engagement and raising the educational attainment rate, CSUSM has established 13 guaranteed admission programs with regional partners. Students who come to CSUSM through these agreements have higher GPAs and retention rates.

“We created the guaranteed admissions program to help at-risk students not just get into college but get through college and prove the statistics wrong,” explained Haynes.

No Longer the Best Kept Secret in North County

Over the last 10 years, Cal State San Marcos’ reputation has expanded beyond the boundaries of North San Diego County, putting the University in the national and international spotlight.

CSUSM faculty are actively engaged in groundbreaking research, including one professor who led an

international team of 75 scientists in the first-ever documentation of a pan genome shared by different algal varieties. The findings are opening new avenues for studying climate change and carbon cycling.

“It’s all work that may change the world, that will shape the future and that is transforming our region into a global knowledge center,” explained Haynes. “It’s work that is making us nationally known.”

CSUSM’s nationally known commitment to veterans led the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey to donate a sustainable building to the University for use as a new stand-alone veterans center in 2013. And it was CSUSM’s forward focus and innovative spirit that led a CSU trustee to select San Marcos as the ideal place to create and launch the CSU Institute for Palliative Care in 2012.

“The Institute for Palliative Care will address an important part of the national public health agenda that was being ignored, and the impact of our programs will be profound,” said Haynes.

A Great Future for a Great University

Haynes promises that she is not done yet and that Cal State San Marcos will remain focused on educating students through theoretical and experiential learning; investing in and supporting sophisticated, lifechanging research; and working hand-in-hand with its community to enable positive change, to solve substantive issues and to partner for the common good.

“In 10 years together, we have transformed lives, rebuilt communities and reinvigorated our economy. We have built a university geared toward educating the 21st century student,” she said. “I am so proud of the work we have done together and to be Cal State San Marcos’ president.”

In her new role, Dr. Haynes will be take on an advocacy role for the CSU’s biotechnology students and faculty, and work to ensure that the program remains aligned with the CSU system and CSUPERB strategy.

Biotechnology at CSUSM

Located in one of the largest biotech clusters in the world, Cal State San Marcos is taking its place as a premier educational intuition educating a well-prepared, lab-ready workforce for the growing industry.

Among the many opportunities available to students in the life sciences at CSUSM are programs in biotechnology, biochemistry, physics and nursing. Cal State San Marcos also offers an innovative professional science master’s in biotechnology which combines master’s level science, professional preparation, core MBA business courses, and an internship or work experience. The Professional Science Master is an innovative graduate degree designed to allow students to pursue advanced training and excel in science without a Ph.D., while simultaneously developing highly-valued business skills without the additional time and money needed to obtain an MBA.

In her 10th annual Report to the Community on February 6, President Karen Haynes reflected on her journey from being the lone female presidential finalist to becoming the University’s third and now longest-standing president in campus history. 

“Our shared journey, our shared commitment and work, has created a university with expanded access and broader reach, a university that is both the anchor of this region and a model in the nation,” said Haynes, in front of nearly 600 regional business and community leaders who gathered into the event pavilion to hear her speech.

CSUSM: A New Model for Public Higher Education

In the midst of a six-year recession that brought a dramatic reduction in state funding, CSUSM was quick to adapt to a new framework based on community and civic partnerships in order to meet its mission and priorities. Haynes said this nimbleness was essential in the face of reports that indicated that Riverside and San Diego counties were experiencing moderate to robust growth in the number of high school graduates – many of whom are not expected to continue their education past the 12th grade.  Statistics also signaled that California would be short one million college educated workers by 2025.

The 2007 opening of CSUSM’s off-campus center in Temecula is a robust example of how University leaders worked with regional and civic entities to leverage resources and provide increased access to higher education during a time when most institutions of public higher learning were contracting programs and restricting admission.

“We’ve already graduated more than 300 nurses from CSUSM at Temecula, right in time for the opening of the new Temecula Valley Hospital,” Haynes said. “And we currently have nearly 300 students enrolled in nursing, kinesiology and business administration – so many that we need additional space.”

CSUSM’s guaranteed admission programs with regional school districts and K-12 educational partners were also touted as another example of CSUSM’s commitment to educating the region. Students who come to CSUSM through these partnerships have higher GPAs and higher retention rates.

“We created the guaranteed admissions program to help at-risk students get into and through college and prove the statistics wrong,” explained Haynes. “We started with one program and have expanded now to agreements with eight public school districts.”

A Commitment to Educating Underserved and At-Risk Populations

In her remarks, Haynes highlighted the University’s emphasis on providing support to students from underserved and at-risk backgrounds. The ACE Scholars Services program, founded in 2007, offers scholarships, on-campus work opportunities, internships, counseling and other support to former foster youth. Thanks to the success of ACE, Cal State San Marcos educates more students from the foster care system than any other institution in the United States.

Like former foster youth, American Indian students also have historically been overlooked. Through college fairs specific to tribal communities, communications in Native languages and efforts of CSUSM’s tribal liaison, more American Indian students are enrolling and succeeding at CSUSM.

“We are doing the work that our regional sister institutions are not,” said Haynes. “Yes, the other institutions are filling a need and doing excellent work. They are increasingly meeting national and international needs and taking high caliber students…But these are not the educationally at risk students, the veterans, the former foster youth, the American Indians, the ones the statistics said wouldn’t go to college.”

No Longer the Best Kept Secret in North County

The reputation of Cal State San Marcos has expanded beyond the boundaries of North San Diego County, putting the University in the national and international spotlight. 

Haynes emphasized the faculty’s commitment to engaging in groundbreaking research, including one professor who led an international team of 75 scientists in the first-ever documentation of a pan genome shared by different algal varieties. The findings are opening new avenues for studying climate change and carbon cycling.

“It’s all work that may change the world, that will shape the future and that is transforming our region into a global knowledge center,” explained Haynes. “It’s work that is making us nationally known.”

CSUSM’s national reputation as a veteran-friendly campus also led the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey to donate a sustainable building for use as a new stand-alone veterans center.  And it was CSUSM’s forward focus and innovative spirit that led a CSU trustee to select San Marcos as the ideal place to create and launch the CSU Institute for Palliative Care last year.

“The Institute will address an important part of the national public health agenda that was being ignored, and the impact of our programs will be profound,” said Haynes. “We will change the face of healthcare delivery.”

A Great Future for a Great University

As she concluded her speech, Haynes proudly pointed to examples of the growing momentum at CSUSM.

“Together we have continued to blur the lines between our University and our region,” she said. “Together we have formed partnerships that leverage the strengths of those at the table and that provide mutual benefit to our partner and our University. We have engaged together in issues important to the region’s future. We have identified and leveraged new technologies, solved critical issues through research and service, and developed our workforce.”

Moving forward, Haynes promised that Cal State San Marcos would remain focused on educating students through theoretical and experiential learning; investing in and supporting sophisticated, life-changing research; and working hand-in-hand with its community to enable positive change, to solve substantive issues and to partner for the common good.

“In 10 years together, we have transformed lives, rebuilt communities and reinvigorated our economy. We have built a university geared toward educating the 21st century student,” concluded Haynes. “I am so proud of the work we have done together.”

[Click here to read President Haynes' full speech.]

For her exemplary contributions to women in higher education, the San Diego Business Journal (SDBJ) honored California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) President Karen Haynes with the 2013 Darlene Marcos Shiley Educational Leadership Award. The award was presented at the 2013 Women Who Mean Business Awards event on Wednesday, Nov. 13.

The SDBJ established the Darlene Marcos Shiley Educational Leadership Award in 2012.

“I am honored to accept this award for doing the work I love—leading a truly unique and special university—and for the opportunity that I have each day in my position to change the lives of our students and transform our region,” said Haynes.

President Haynes was recognized for transforming CSUSM into a model environment for women, promoting and hiring women to prominent leadership positions, including the vice president of Finance and Administrative Services and the vice president of Community Engagement.Haynes has received several awards and honors, including the 2013 Donna Shavlik Award from the American Council on Education and the 2010 San Diego Business Journal's Most Admired CEO Award. She was honored in 2007 with the San Diego YWCA's Top Women in Industry Award and the San Diego Business Journal's Women Who Mean Business Award.A trained social worker, Haynes has written several articles and books on social justice and leadership, including A Dream and a Plan: A Woman's Path to Leadership in Human Services and Women Managers in Human Services, and the landmark text,Affecting Change: Social Workers in the Political Arena, now in its seventh edition. She holds a bachelor's degree from Goucher College, a doctorate in social work from The University of Texas in Austin and an MSW from McGill University in Montreal, Canada.