"The university is highly valued and is critically important to life in the region and the state. I could not be more excited to be part of what is happening here," said Sonoma State University's Interim President, Dr. Emily Cutrer, during her welcome to SSU students, faculty, and staff at the university’s 2024 Convocation ceremony.
Cutrer, who assumed SSU leadership on Aug. 1 following her appointment by CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia, emphasized progress the university has made in several critical areas – budget, tribal artifact repatriation, Title IX, and especially enrollment.
“Enrollment numbers for the first time in eight years have not only held steady, but could increase to as many as 130 students when the final numbers come in. And that is a huge accomplishment,” she said.
Cutrer urged everyone learning, teaching, and working at Sonoma State to adopt an interdisciplinary approach to collaboration and problem-solving, noting that “interdisciplinarity allows for the synthesis of ideas and characteristics from many disciplines.”
“I would suggest to you that this interdisciplinary view of what is possible has broad application to everything we do at Sonoma State – how we encourage our students to learn, yes, but also how we think of the organization as a whole,” she said.
Academic Senate Chair Dr. Emily Acosta Lewis opened the ceremony by sharing that the event would be more focused on new students than in years past.
"As we embark on this new academic year, we are excited to focus on our collective success and well-being. Your dedication and passion are the foundation of our students' achievements," Acosta Lewis said.
The event, held Monday, August 19 in the Green Music Center's Weill Hall, welcomed new faculty and honored recipients of the Excellence in Teaching Award, the Educational Experience Enhancement award, and the Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities Program (RSCAP) grantees.
Dr. Karen Moranski, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, introduced the year's awards and ushered in the new academic year by echoing Dr. Cutrer's theme of interdisciplinary collaboration.
"There are forces beckoning change, such as the expanding scope of knowledge, new disciplinary frontiers, and new interactions between the academy, industry and government granting agencies that require team science or cross-disciplinary collaborations," Moranski said.
"Such changes invite a different approach, a more collaborative one that involves mutual accountability, interdependence, power sharing, and inclusive decision making."
Moranski then announced the honorees:
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The Excellence in Teaching Award went to Dr. Nadiya Parekh and Dr. Alexis Boutin.
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The Educational Experience Enhancement Award went to Dr. Emily Acosta Lewis, Dr. Soo-Yeon Yoon, Dr. Daniel Malpica, and Dr. James Mestaz.
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Dr. Nansong Wu received the RSCAP Early Career Award, and Dr. Edward Lyon was honored with the RSCAP Career Impact Award.
Moranski also welcomed new faculty members:
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Oleksiy Al-Saadi, Assistant Professor of Computer Science
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Janelle Coleman-Smith, Assistant Professor of Nursing
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Jacob Garsez, SSU Baseball Coach.
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Alex Hanson, Assistant Professor of Art (former SSU Lecturer)
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Evan Lintz, Assistant Professor of Psychology
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James Nwaizugbu, Assistant Professor of Nursing (former SSU Lecturer)
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Roya Salek-Shahrezaie, Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Convocation closed with remarks from Staff Council Chair Gillian Estes and President of Associated Students Vanessa Sanchez, who introduced her council. Sanchez then welcomed new student Seawolves to the stage, where they were announced and acknowledged by Moranski and the audience.
Krista Sherer - Strategic Communications Writer