President's Messages

Based on several interactions I have had with Beach students, I have started to reflect on my understanding of the word elite and its meaning across a few categories. One thought is that some “eliteness” comes from history or even genealogy. People are born with a certain name, and that name (for example, Rockefeller) carries an elite association. Or people inherit money and are treated in special ways because we tend to honor the rich, perhaps, for self-serving reasons or just…

I’m finally here full time, in person, and it feels great. Despite being co-located for two weeks, I’ve had a chance to meet some alumni, alumni parents, community members, neighbors, student leadership, elected officials, and lots of staff and faculty. It’s been a pleasure to hear about what we do well and where we might improve. My transition to this great university is enhanced through this input. I’ve also been walking around campus to familiarize myself with where everything is, and…

A couple of weeks into my new position, I have formed some impressions about this great university. It’s a place of opportunity, hope, resilience and caring. We have faculty, staff, students and alumni who have made us that kind of place over the course of many generations of effort. The university is connected to the City of Long Beach in so many meaningful ways. Our new mayor and many other elected and professional city leaders are alumni. We have partnerships with the Long Beach Unified…