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San Diego State University
San Diego State University was founded on March 13, 1897 for the training of elementary school teachers. The seven faculty and ninety-one students of the then Normal School's first class met on November 1, 1898 in temporary quarters downtown while the first unit of the main building of the campus was under construction at Park Boulevard where El Cajon Boulevard begins.
The curriculum was limited at first to English, history and mathematics, but it broadened rapidly under the leadership of Samuel T. Black, who left the position of State Superintendent of Public Instruction to become the first President (1898-1910).
Under the vigorous administration of the second president, Edward L. Hardy (1910-1935), the School was reorganized as a four-year State Teachers' College in 1921, and control was transferred from a local board of trustees to the State Board of Education. In the same year, the two-year San Diego Junior College, the antecedent institution to the present Community Colleges, was incorporated as a branch of San Diego State, where it remained through 1946.
It became clear early that the only collegiate institution in San Diego would soon outgrow its 17-acre site, and a campaign was begun in the 1920s to build a new campus. The Legislature agreed, provided the city furnish a new site and buy the old one. In 1928 the present campus, on what was then the far eastern border of the city, was approved by the electorate.
In February 1931, the college moved to the seven mission-style buildings of the present campus, surrounding what is still called the Main Quad. In 1935, the Legislature removed the word "Teachers" from the name of the institution and authorized the expansion of degree programs into areas other than teacher preparation. In the same year, Walter R. Hepner (1935-1952) was appointed president, and the institution entered a period of slow growth and then, with the coming of war, of contraction. At the end of World War II, enrollment had fallen to 1,918.
In the next quarter century, under Dr. Hepner and subsequently under Malcolm A. Love (1952-1971), enrollments increased phenomenally to over 25,000 students. In 1960, the College became a part of the newly created California State College system, under a statewide Board of Trustees and a Chancellor. In 1971, recognizing that the institution had in fact achieved the status of a university, the Legislature renamed the system The California State University and Colleges, and shortly afterward renamed this institution San Diego State University.
Acting President Donald E. Walker (1971-1972), President Brage Golding (1972-1977), Acting President Trevor Colbourn (1977-1978), and President Thomas B. Day (1978-1996) were followed by the seventh President Stephen L. Weber (1996-).
Today, San Diego State University is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a Doctoral University II. It is the unquestioned leader in The California State University system. With over 28,000 students it is one of the largest universities in the western United States.
SDSU is a teaching university with strong research programs. Research and scholarship strengthen the instruction SDSU students receive in the classroom and laboratory. SDSU's faculty conducts more than $65 million in funded research each year. These projects provide unusual opportunities for students who can work alongside faculty using the latest equipment. The excitement of discovery spreads to the classroom, creating a unique learning experience.
To better accommodate its students, the campus continues to add physical facilities as well. It currently encompasses over 4.5 million square feet in 44 academic buildings. Included are Aztec Center, the first student union building in the CSU system; the Dramatic Arts building with one of the finest theaters in the nation; the Music building with its Recital Hall; and the 320,000 square foot Malcolm A. Love Library. The Health Services facility, Art and Humanities classroom buildings, and additional residence halls and parking facilities make up the core of buildings added in the 1970s. Several renovation projects have improved facilities for nursing, physical education, public health, and the sciences. A new Student Services Building with a prominent clock tower now houses all of the needs of entering students. A major addition to the library; the Gateway Center housing Continuing Education and KPBS; an International Student Center; and additional student housing and parking structures have been added in the past five years. Currently in the construction and planning stages are new buildings to house a student-financed Activities Center and major additions to the Engineering building and the Chemistry/Geology building.
The University now offers bachelor's degrees in 76 areas, the master's in 54, and the doctorate in 10.
There are five multidisciplinary honor societies on campus that help to reinforce the high academic standards of the campus. They include Golden Key, Mortar Board, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Eta Sigma, and Phi Kappa Phi. In addition, there are a number of disciplinary honor societies that recognize superior scholarship and leadership in specific academic fields.
The mission of San Diego State University is to provide well-balanced, high quality education for undergraduate and graduate students and to contribute to knowledge and the solution of problems through excellence and distinction in teaching, research, and service.
San Diego State University provides an environment that encourages the intellectual development of students. Its undergraduate and graduate programs in the liberal arts and sciences are designed to help students learn about themselves, their cultural and social heritage, and their physical environment. Additionally, students are challenged to understand how advances in these areas may influence their present lives and their futures. Professional programs, while including many of these broad goals, are designed to meet the needs of the students who seek specific employment in many diverse fields. The University is concerned with developing leaders in cultural, economic, educational, scientific, social, and technical fields.
Closely related to the teaching mission of the University is student and faculty research. Involvement in research ensures that both students and faculty maintain currency in their disciplines and fosters the advancement of knowledge. Graduate study at San Diego State University at the master's and doctoral levels emphasizes creative scholarship, original research, and the development and utilization of research techniques.
Located in a large and ethnically diverse metropolitan center bordering Mexico and on the Pacific Rim, the University uses the social, cultural, scientific, and technical resources of this region to enrich its teaching and research programs. Through its teaching, research, and service, the University is primarily responsive to the people of California as well as to the needs of the regional, national, and international communities it serves. The University also seeks cooperative programs with other institutions of higher education both in the United States and abroad.
- President of the University Stephen L. Weber
- Vice President for Academic Affairs Ronald H. Hopkins
- Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs Sally F. Roush
- Vice President for Student Affairs Daniel B. Nowak
- Vice President for University Relations
and Development Harry R. Albers
Office of the President
- Executive Assistant to the President Barbara W. Hartung
- Coordinators of Affirmative Action Kathee M. Christensen,
Augustine S. Chavez
Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs
- Associate Vice President for
Academic Affairs Ethan A. Singer
- Associate Vice President for
Faculty Affairs Dean O. Popp
- Assistant Vice President for
Academic Services Jane K. Smith
- University Librarian Don L. Bosseau
- Chair of the Senate Raford D. Boddy
- Office of the Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs
- Assistant Vice President Linda A. Stewart
- Director of Business Services, Administrative
Computing and Telecommunications Joseph Vasquez
- Director of Personnel Services Sue Blair
- Director of Financial Management Kenneth B. Perry
- Director of Facilities Planning and
Management W. Anthony Fulton
- Director of Internal Review and Business
Information Systems Ellene J. Gibbs
- Director of Physical Plant Martin E. Holzman, Jr.
- Director of Public Safety John J. Carpenter
- Director of Environmental Health and Safety M.C. Hull
Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
- Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Carl F. Emerich
- Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Nancy C. Sprotte
- Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Sharon L. Edwards
- Ombudsmen, Program Coordinator Susan Chappellet
- Records Officer and Judicial Coordinator Michael A. Car
- Director of Disabled Student Services Elizabeth A. Bacon
- Director of Student Resource Center Terry Holmes (Interim)
- Director of Admissions and Records Nancy C. Sprotte
- Director of Student Outreach
Services Gonzalo G. Rojas
- Director of Educational Opportunity
and Ethnic Affairs Augustine S. Chavez
- Director of Financial Aid William D. Boyd
- Director of Career Services Judith G. Gumbiner
- Director of Compliance and Policy Analysis Martin J. Block
- Director of Counseling and Psychological
Services Douglas J. Van Sickle
- Director of International Student Services Ron Moffatt
- Director of Student Health
Services Kevin Patrick, M.D.
- Director of Housing and Residential Life Michael B. Hoctor
- Director of Scholarship Kathleen H. Ross
- Director of Test Office Michael A. Irwin
- Coordinator of Student Athlete Academic
Support Services Garold L. Tisue
- Office of the Vice President for University Relations and Development
- Director of University Communications Rick Moore
- Director of Planned Giving and Legislative Liaison Tricia Moulton
- Director of Development and Special Gifts Myrna Hall
- Director of University Advancement Services Keith Benton
- Director of Community Relations Stephanie Boyd Barnett
- Director of Alumni Relations and
Annual Giving Barbara Barrow
- Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Rick Bay
- President of Aztec Athletic Foundation William Earley
- COLLEGE OF ARTS AND LETTERS Paul J. Strand, Dean
- Associate Dean Kathleen B. Jones
- Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Student and
Faculty Relations Ann M. Johns
- Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Student Advising and
Special Programs Leslie S. Johnson
- Assistant Dean for Development Barbara London
- Departments Chair or Director
- Africana Studies JoAnne Cornwell
- American Indian Studies Linda S. Parker
- Anthropology Ronald S. Himes
- Classics and Humanities E. N. Genovese
- Economics Raford D. Boddy
- English and Comparative Literature Carey G. Wall
- French and Italian Languages and
Literatures Edith J. Benkov
- Geography Douglas A. Stow
- German and Russian Languages and
Literatures Edith J. Benkov
- History David V. DuFault
- Linguistics and Oriental Languages Robert Underhill
- Mexican American Studies Isidro D. Ortiz
- Philosophy Thomas S. Weston
- Political Science E. Walter Miles
- Religious Studies Irving Alan Sparks
- Rhetoric and Writing Studies Carol O. Sweedler-Brown
- Sociology James L. Wood
- Spanish and Portuguese Languages
and Literatures Theodore V. Higgs
- Women's Studies Bonnie Zimmerman
Programs
- Africa and Middle East Studies Marcia K. Hermansen
- American Studies David V. DuFault
- Asian Studies Murugappa C. Madhavan
- European Studies E.N. Genovese
- International Business Alvord G. Branan
- International Security and Conflict
Resolution David H. Johns
- Judaic Studies Lawrence Baron
- Latin American Studies Thomas M. Davies, Jr.
- M.A., Liberal Arts Howard I. Kushner
- Russian and East European Studies Veronica Shapovalov
- Social Science Albert C. O'Brien
- Urban Studies Roger W. Caves
- COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Allan R. Bailey, Dean
- Associate Dean and Director of
Graduate Program Michael L. Hergert
- Associate Dean and Director of
Undergraduate Program Robert W. Wilbur
- Associate Dean, Community Economic
Development Harold K. Brown
- Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Patricia L. Dintrone
- Assistant Dean for Student Relations Jeffrey Glazer
- Director of Communications Marsha Gear
- Director of Development Chris A. Audette
- Departments and Schools Chair or Director
- Accountancy O. Ray Whittington
- Finance Nikhil P. Varaiya
- Information and Decision Systems John M. Penrose
- Management Kenneth E. Marino
- Marketing George E. Belch
- Program
- International Business Alvord G. Branan
- COLLEGE OF EDUCATION Ann I. Morey, Dean
- Associate Dean Gordon M. Thompson
- Associate Dean for Faculty Development
and Research Margie K. Kitano
- Assistant Dean Barbara E. Allen
- Doctoral Programs William E. Piland
- Director of Center for Careers in Education Helen Duffy
- Director of Development Thomas C. Gutenberger
- Departments and Schools Chair or Director
- Administration, Rehabilitation and Postsecondary
Education Fred R. McFarlane
- Counseling and School
Psychology Carol A. Robinson-Zañartu
- Educational Technology Patrick J. Harrison
- Policy Studies in Language and Cross-Cultural
Education Alberto M. Ochoa
- Special Education Ian R. Pumpian
- Teacher Education Pamela J. Ross
- COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Pieter A. Frick, Dean
- Associate Dean Nihad A. Hussain
- Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Fang-Hui Chou
- Development Officer Dona Barber
- Departments Chair or Director
- Aerospace Engineering and Engineering
Mechanics Allen Plotkin
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Janusz C. Supernak
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Nicholas Panos
- Mechanical Engineering John G. Pinto
- COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES Dolores A. Wozniak, Dean
- Associate Dean Olita D. Harris
- Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Li-Rong Lilly Cheng
- Development Officer Mary Ruth Carleton
- Departments and Schools Chair or Director
- Communicative Disorders Steven J. Kramer
- Graduate School of Public Health Stephen J. Bender (Acting)
- Nursing Patricia R. Wahl
- Social Work Anita S. Harbert
Program
- Gerontology E. Percil Stanford
- COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
AND FINE ARTS Joyce M. Gattas, Dean
- Associate Dean Hayes L. Anderson
- Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Carole A. Robasciotti
- Departments and Schools Chair or Director
- Aerospace Studies Col. William D. Airman
- Art, Design and Art History Fredrick J. Orth
- Child and Family Development Francine Deutsch
- Communication Barbara W. Hartung (Interim)
- Drama Alicia M. Annas
- Exercise and Nutritional Sciences B. Robert Carlson
- Military Science Lt. Col. Frank Roberts, Jr.
- Music and Dance Martin J. Chambers
- Naval Science Capt. John S. Boyd
- Public Administration and Urban Studies Louis M. Rea
- Recreation, Parks and Tourism Gene G. Lamke
- Programs
- International Security and Conflict
Resolution David H. Johns
- Urban Studies Roger W. Caves
- COLLEGE OF SCIENCES Donald R. Short, Jr., Dean
- Associate Dean Rebecca B. Bryson
- Associate Dean for Special Programs Paul J. Paolini
- Associate Dean for External Relations Gordon L. Shackelford
- Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Catherine J. Atkins-Kaplan
- Assistant Dean for
Underrepresented Student Programs Lawrence J. Alfred
- Assistant Dean for Faculty Development Robert S. Pozos
- Director of Development Barry R. Humphrey
- Departments Chair or Director
- Astronomy Ronald J. Angione
- Biology Sanford I. Bernstein
- Chemistry Stephen B.W. Roeder
- Geological Sciences Kathe K. Bertine
- Mathematical Sciences John D. Elwin
- Physics Roger A. Lilly
- Psychology Frederick W. Hornbeck
Programs
- Energy Studies Alan R. Sweedler
- International Security and Conflict
Resolution David H. Johns
- Molecular Biology Jacques Perrault
- Oceanography Joy B. Zedler
- IMPERIAL VALLEY CAMPUS David Ballesteros, Dean
- Associate Dean Pamela M. Balch
- Assistant Dean Jeanette Shumaker
- Director of Library Services Frank Bruno
- Director of Academic Services Kathleen Russum
- Director of Financial and
Business Services Irma Martinez
- Development Director John Renison
- OFFICE OF THE DEAN OF THE
GRADUATE DIVISION AND RESEARCH James W. Cobble, Dean
- Associate Dean/Executive Director of
International Programs Lawrence B. Feinberg
- Associate Dean Janis F. Andersen
- Assistant Dean Michael R. Seitz
- OFFICE OF THE DEAN OF
UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES Carole A. Scott
- Associate Dean Thomas J. Cox
- Associate Dean Amanda L. Golbeck
- Assistant Dean Bonnie M. Anderson
- OFFICE OF THE DEAN OF
EXTENDED STUDIES William P. Locke, Dean
- Associate Dean Paula Kelly
- Assistant Dean for Special Sessions
and Extension Larry G. Cobb
- Executive Director of Professional Development Peggy Covert
- Director of American Language Institute William Gaskill
- Executive Director of International
Training Center Miguel A. Cardenas
- Director of Retired Adults Program Leslie Koch
- Director of Telecommunications Jim Cary
San Diego State University Foundation
- President Stephen L. Weber
- Vice President James W. Cobble
- General Manager Harry R. Albers
Aztec Shops, Ltd.
- General Manager Harvey J. Goodfriend
The Associated Students of San Diego State University
- President Michael Ashworth
- Executive Director Dan Cornthwaite
webmaster@libweb.sdsu.edu
1996, San Diego State University. All rights
reserved.
