Investiture Program
“With the pulse of possibility and the power of cariño — we will rise and thrive.”
The Investiture of
Britt Rios-Ellis, Ph.D.
As the Thirteenth President of
California State University, Stanislaus
Friday, October 3, 2025
Ed and Bertha Fitzpatrick Arena
Message from President Rios-Ellis
I am continuously inspired by the resilience and generosity of this region — what I call Valley Tough and Valley Kind. At Stan State, we live out this spirit through cariño — a culture of care that centers students in every decision and embodies both strength and kindness in community. Cariño is the way we show up for each other, ensuring that people are seen, valued and loved with student success at the heart of our work. Cariño is then reflected in how our graduates honor their Stan State experience through their contributions to the Central Valley.
We are charting the future of Stan State through our strategic planning effort, guided by the lived experiences and aspirations of our campus and community. Centered on people, collaboration and shared vision, this work reflects the pulse of possibility — the rhythm of dreams and determination alive in every classroom, every lab, every community space and every graduate who steps across our stage.
Together, we are building something powerful: a University nationally recognized for its quality, value and impact. Through partnership, innovation, resourcefulness and heart, we are preparing the next generation of leaders, educators and professionals who will strengthen our workforce and uplift our communities. Stan State not only reflects the Central Valley; we shape its future.
Thank you for joining us in this moment of legacy, leadership and limitless potential. ¡Adelante, Guerreros! Onward, Warriors!
Con muchisimo cariño — Thank you for your partnership and support!
Britt Rios-Ellis, Ph.D.
President
The Alma Mater
Lyrics by Ms. Linda Bunney-Sarhad
Music by Dr. Deborah Kavasch
In June 1996, President Marvalene Hughes approached Dr. Deborah Kavasch, professor of music at California State University, Stanislaus, to commission the writing of the University’s Alma Mater. Dr. Kavasch partnered with her long-time collaborator, Ms. Linda Bunney-Sarhad — an alumna and emeritus director of international studies — to set her lyrics to music. Working together on the composition became one of the highlights and cherished memories of their more than 30-year artistic partnership.
Alma Mater, we give thanks
for what we’ve learned,
for how we’ve grown,
for wider vistas we have seen,
for seeds of wisdom you have sown.
Oh Stanislaus, oh Stanislaus,
our vision will not swerve.
You give to us the chance to learn
and we go forth to serve.
In this land of golden sun,
our valley rich with gifts of earth,
the citizens of our fair state
have sacrificed to give you birth.
Oh Stanislaus, oh Stanislaus,
our vision will not swerve.
You give to us the chance to learn
and we go forth to serve.
Many people, many tongues
have come together in this place,
and we have learned to live as friends
within your nourishing embrace.
Oh Stanislaus, oh Stanislaus,
our vision will not swerve.
For your renown is in our hands
as we go forth to serve.
Platform Party
Board of Trustees
Jack B. Clarke, Jr., Chair
Wenda Fong
Yammilette Rodriguez
CSU Chancellor
Mildred García
Chancellor of the California State University
Speakers
Rich Ogle, Emcee
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Katherine Erolinda Perez
President of Nototomne Cultural
Preservation and the Chairwoman
of the Northern Valley Yokut/Ohlone Tribe
Maxwell Johannsen
Indigenous Students in Activism Club
Kilolo Brodie-Crumsey
Professor of Social Work
Jack B. Clarke, Jr.
Chair of the Board of Trustees
of the California State University
Arya Alami
Speaker of the Faculty and
Associate Professor of Exercise Science
Cheryl Sweeten
Chair of Staff Council
Danielle Rankin
Secretary of Staff Council
Eryka Lepper
President of Associated Students, Inc.
Ana York
Chair of the Alumni Advisory Council
Xóchitl, Enrique, Jr. and Itzél Rios-Ellis
President's Children
José Hernández
NASA Astronaut (former)
2025 Honorary Doctorate Recipient
Ora Hirsch Pescovitz
President of Oakland University
Ronald Carter
Chief Executive Officer, President, Carter & Associates
Mildred García
Chancellor of the California State University
Melawhy Garcia
Director of the Center for Latino Community Health, Evaluation, and Leadership Training
California State University, Long Beach
Kurt Organista
Director of the Institute for the Study of Societal Issues
UC Berkeley
Stanislaus State Past Presidents
Ellen Junn
President Emeritus
Cabinet
Michelle Kincanon
Interim Senior Associate Vice President for Human Resources, Equal Opportunity & Compliance
Rose McAuliffe
Vice President for Business & Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Gabriela Nuño
Chief of Staff
Richard Ogle
Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs
Neisha Rhodes
Director for Presidential Initiatives
Rosalee Rush
Vice President for Communications, Marketing and Strategic Partnerships
Cindy Visot
Interim Vice President for Student Affairs
Catherine Wooton
Vice President for University Advancement
Deans & Campus Leadership
Sacha Maria Joseph-Mathews
Interim Dean, College of Business Administration
Kari Knutsen Miller
Dean, Continuing and Professional Education
Martina Ramirez
Dean, College of Science
James A. Tuedio
Dean, College of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Sarah Sweitzer
Dean, Stockton Campus
Noelle Won
Interim Dean, College of Education, Kinesiology and Social Work
Stuart Wooley
Vice Provost and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
CSU Presidents
Vernon B. Harper Jr.
California State University, Bakersfield
Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval
Fresno State
Andrew Jones
Cal State Long Beach
Lynn Mahoney
San Francisco State
Ellen J. Neufeldt
California State University, San Marcos
Steve Perez
California State University, Chico
Ronald S. Rochon
California State University, Fullerton
Cathy A. Sandeen
California State University, East Bay
Cynthia Teniente-Matson
San José State
Luke Wood
Sacramento State
Community College & University Presidents
Ora Hirsch Pescovitz
President of Oakland University
Brian K. Sanders
President of Modesto Junior College
Investiture Performances
Latin Jazz Ensemble
Enrique Rios-Ellis, flute
Kristina Stamper, vocalist
Roy Justin Mendiola, piano
Cyrus Elia, bass
Ariel Lavi, drums
Anissa Jara, percussion
Luis Torres Coca, percussion
Nolan Jackson, baritone
Roy Justin Mendiola, piano
Mariachi Juvenil Corazón Ranchero
Los Banos Unified School District
Distinguished Guests & Delegates
Danielle Garcia
Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff
Greg Saks
Vice Chancellor, External Relations and Communications
Dawn S. Theodora
Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and General Counsel
Gabriela Chavira
CSU Northridge
Toni Espinoza-Ferrel
CSU Long Beach
Devorah Lieberman
President Emerita, University of La Verne
Selena Nguyen-Rodriguez
CSU Long Beach
Ruth Zambrana
University of Maryland
Victor Rojas
Cal State LA
Kale Braden
San Joaquin Delta College: Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Instruction
Camille Su-lin Johnson
Dean, College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences, Cal Poly Pomona
Sponsors
Generous donors whose financial contributions help make this celebration and presidential priorities possible.
- Aaron Valencia and Gloria Soriano
- El Concilio California
- Eileen Hamilton
- Foster Farms
- Gallo Center for the Arts
- Graystone Consulting
- Heather Dunn Carlton, Amy McKinney and Sarah Sweitzer
- Homes and Loans
- The Ismail Family
- Latino Business Association Foundation
- Modesto Subaru
- Morad Engineering
- New Bridge Management
- Rich Ogle and Cathy Wooton
- Rose McAuliffe and Cindy Visot
Traditions and Symbols
Investiture sits alongside Commencement in marking the rituals of beginnings, endings and transitions in higher education. The ceremonial component is the bestowing of the authority, responsibility and symbols of the presidency. As we embark on this next chapter for Stanislaus State, it is an opportunity to find ways in which a change in direction and leadership empowers us all.
Special medallions have been cast and presented as symbols of special events for more than a thousand years, and universities have used ceremonial medallions for this purpose since the Middle Ages.
When a president is inaugurated, the California State University Chancellor will place a specially made presidential medallion over their shoulders as an important part of the formal academic regalia. The medallion is adorned with the university seal and the lanyard contains the names of each of the preceding university’s presidents. The presentation and wearing of the medallion represents a president’s inauguration with the authority and responsibility of their position as the university’s president.
The Book of Knowledge and Lamp of Learning icons are classic academic icons that share a long history with many of the world’s most recognized university seal designs. The tree icon represents the rich agricultural heritage of California’s Central Valley. The Latin phrase “Vox Veritas Vita” (translation: “Voice — Truth — Life”) come from the official seal of the California State University system. The date 1960 (in Roman numerals) refers to the year California State University, Stanislaus opened its doors to students.
The ceremonial academic mace is a direct descendant of the battle clubs borne by the bodyguards of officers as early as the 12th century. They eventually evolved into symbols of royal authority and remain in symbolic use in the United Kingdom’s House of Commons as well as in the U.S. House of Representatives. The academic mace stands as a sturdy symbol of the authority invested in the university president and it is only to be present on formal, full-regalia academic occasions, such as commencements and inaugurations.
The history of academic dress dates back to the medieval European universities of the 14th century. European universities continue to follow varied patterns in cut and color of gown, as well as in type of headdress. In the United States, universities have standardized the academic dress so that its features generally are uniform.
Gown: The participants in the inauguration wear fully-earned academic regalia. Gowns are traditionally black for academic degrees, except where universities have authorized the use of colored gowns. The highest earned degree is indicated by the pattern on the sleeves: pointed for the bachelor's degree; oblong for the master's degree and full for the doctorate. The doctor's gown is trimmed with three bars of black or colored velvet on the sleeves and velvet facing down the front. President's gowns typically feature four bars on the sleeves.
Hood: The shape and length of the hood also reflect the highest degree held. The color of the velvet trim indicates the field of study and the color and design of the lining designates the college or university granting the degree.
Color Trimmings: Color trimmings on gowns and hoods indicate fields of study: white for Arts, Letters and Humanities; maize for Agricultural Studies; crimson for Communication Studies; midnight blue for Criminal Justice; copper for Economics; brown for Fine Arts; pink for Music; dark blue for Philosophy; peacock blue for Public Administration; citron for Social Work; beige for Business Administration; golden yellow for Science; apricot for Nursing; light blue for Education and sage green for Kinesiology.
Cap: The standard cap is the mortarboard, usually black with a black tassel. Gold tassels may be worn by persons holding doctoral degrees.
The banners leading today's procession are known as gonfalons. There is a gonfalon representing each of the four colleges. The use of gonfalons can be traced back to ancient Roman vexillum and they were later used by medieval guilds and various religious orders, some of whom continue to use them to this day. They are now popularly used in graduation and commencement ceremonies to represent the whole education institution or schools within.
Planning Committee Members
Arya Alami
Carolina Alfaro
Kilolo Brodie-Crumsey
Manesh Chand
Tiffany Davis
Monica Doll
Katie Dowling
Adrian Harrell
Jen Humphrey
Vicki Jones
Mandeep Khaira
Michelle Kincannon
Allison Kincaid-Nervino
Eryka Lepper
Belen Lopez
Naraith Lopez
Jake Malsbury
Rose McAuliffe
Amy Courtright Mckinney
Eddie Montez
Gaby Nuño
Cesar Ochoa
Steve Olson
Donovan Orozco Preciado
Jeff Porto Jr.
Neisha Rhodes
Ron Robinette
Cesar Rumayor
Rosalee Billingslea Rush
Cueponcaxochitl Moreno Sandoval
Dana Nakano
Lauren Schwall
Kristina Stamper
Cheryl Sweeten
Amanda Theis
Sandra Torres
Donna Birch Trahan
Aaron Valencia
Cindy Visot
Cathy Wooton
Students Keep Investiture Humming
From custom gowns and handcrafted décor to music, athletics and more, Stan State students infused creativity and Warrior Spirit into every part of President Britt Rios-Ellis’ Investiture.
About Stanislaus State
California State University, Stanislaus opened as Stanislaus State College in 1960, with a faculty of 15 and fewer than 800 students, at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds in Turlock. The institution moved to its current location in 1965, gained university status and its present name in 1986, first held classes in Stockton at the State of California building in 1974 and opened the Stockton Campus in 1998.
Today, the University serves a diverse student body of more than 9,700 at two locations in the Central Valley — a beautiful 228-acre campus in Turlock and the Stockton Campus, located in the city’s historic Magnolia District. In Fall 2024, the University welcomed 1,500 freshmen and celebrated just over 2,700 graduates, only 132 grads shy of our previous record.
The University has achieved important distinctions. The campus is a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution; nearly 75 percent of the student body self-identify as first-generation college students, and it is ranked as the No. 9 public university and ranked No. 2 for social mobility by the Wall Street Journal.
California State University, Stanislaus is making an impact in the region. With more than 66,000 graduates — 80-85 percent who live and work in the Central Valley — the University community is committed to a common vision founded on the idea of advancing the region by making student success a core priority.
Past Presidents
J. Burton Vasche
President
1960-1962
Gerard Crowley
Acting President
1962-1963
Alexander Capurso
President
1963-1969
Carl Gatlin
President
1969-1975
Walter Olson
President
1975-1985
John Moore
President
1985-1992
Lee Kerschner
Interim President
1992-1994
Marvalene Hughes
President
1994-2005
Hamid Shirvani
President
2005-2012
Joseph F. Sheley
President
2012-2016
Ellen Junn
President
2016-2023
Susan E. Borrego
Interim President
2023-2024
