Message from the President: Building Our Next Chapter Together

Monday, August 24, 2026, 9:02am

Dear Sonoma State Community,

On Friday, we came together to mark the beginning of a new academic year and celebrate the community that makes Sonoma State such a special place.

At the Fall 2026 Kickoff, we also launched "Think Outside the Box," a new opportunity for our community to share ideas, aspirations, and possibilities for Sonoma State's future.

The idea is simple: great ideas can come from anywhere.

Our future will be shaped by the creativity, experience, perspectives, and commitment of people across our entire community. "Think Outside the Box" is one way to ensure their voices are heard, inviting all of us to imagine what is possible.

Throughout the morning, students, faculty, and staff added their ideas to our interactive installation. It was exciting to watch the installation begin to disappear beneath Post-it notes representing the hopes, ideas, and possibilities of our community.

But Friday's event was only the beginning.

Whether you joined us on Friday or weren't able to attend, I invite you to be part of the conversation. Visit Think Outside the Box to share what possibility excites you most for Sonoma State. Share one idea or several -- there are no limits outside the box.

In the weeks and months ahead, we'll continue sharing ideas and themes that emerge from the conversation and will look for opportunities to connect them with the work happening across the university.

Thank you for everything you do for our students, for one another, and for Sonoma State. I am excited about what lies ahead and the possibilities we will create together.

Let's keep thinking differently, imagining what's possible, and building our next chapter together.

Warmly,