President Emerita Marvalene Hughes: A Lasting Legacy
President Emerita Marvalene Hughes left an enduring imprint on Stanislaus State, one still visible in its campus, culture and commitment to community.
Hughes, the University’s eighth and longest-serving president, led Stanislaus State from 1994 to 2005 as its first woman and first African American leader. She passed away Jan. 3, 2026, at age 88.
Her presidency marked a period of transformation. Enrollment expanded, the Stockton Campus moved to its permanent home, and the Turlock campus grew with $135 million in new facilities — including the lakes that remain among its most recognizable features.
In March, the University community gathered to honor her legacy with a tribute at the Dr. Marvalene Hughes University Reflecting Pond and the Marvalene Hughes Student Leadership Conference, which continues to advance her commitment to inclusive, values-driven leadership.
Just as significant was her vision for access and connection. Through partnerships with schools, community colleges and regional leaders, Hughes helped position Stanislaus State as a true anchor institution for the Central Valley.
Known for her warmth and accessibility, she led with a belief that leadership begins with listening and engagement. That philosophy continues to shape the University today.
Her legacy lives on in the campus she helped build, the opportunities she expanded and the generations she inspired.
Tuning Into Culture on KCSS
A new weekly radio program on KCSS 91.9 is blending music, culture and storytelling in a way that reflects Stanislaus State’s Hispanic-Serving identity and multilingual community.
“Música, Cultura y Geografía,” airing Wednesdays from 2 to 4 p.m., is hosted by geography professor José R. Díaz-Garayúa in collaboration with student Yanet Soto Pallares, who helped name the show. Broadcast primarily in Spanish with bilingual commentary, the program explores music through cultural, historical and geographic context.
The show grew from Díaz-Garayúa’s vision to better reflect the lived experiences of Stan State students. It also builds on the University’s broader efforts to expand cultural expression across campus.
At its core, the program is student-centered. Developed with KCSS student leaders, it serves as both a creative platform and a hands-on learning lab within the University’s long-running, student-run radio station.
For Soto Pallares, a first-generation Mexican American student, the show creates space for authentic expression.
“This show is about opening the conversation and meeting people halfway,” she said.
Together, the hosts use music to connect language, identity and place — creating a shared space where culture and community come to life on air.
Grant Accelerates Innovation and Workforce Pathways in the Central Valley
Jake Weigel, Kari Knutson Miller, Kris Roney and Adam Devitt make up Stanislaus State's EPIIC team.
A $400,000 National Science Foundation grant is helping Stanislaus State strengthen its role in building the Central Valley’s emerging circular bioeconomy — while expanding real-world opportunities for students.
The EPIIC grant supports a faculty-led effort to deepen partnerships with regional industry and align academic programs with workforce needs. Led by Professor of Art Jake Weigel, the team is working with the University of the Pacific through the North San Joaquin Valley Regional Innovation Translation Ecosystem (NSJV-RITE).
The goal is practical and forward-looking: connect students to internships, applied research and career pathways in high-demand fields, while helping the University respond more directly to regional economic priorities.
Through partnerships with organizations such as BEAM Circular and North Valley THRIVE, the work links classroom learning to innovation already underway across the region.
Together, these efforts position Stanislaus State as a key driver of regional growth — and a bridge between education, industry and the future workforce.
Carnegie Recognition Highlights Community-Engaged Learning at Stan State
At Stanislaus State, students aren’t just preparing for careers. They are already at work in the communities they call home.
That commitment earned national recognition in January, when the University once again received the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. The designation affirms a sustained, institution-wide focus on connecting learning with real-world impact. Stan State first earned the classification in 2008 and remains among a select group of institutions nationwide to hold it.
During the 2024–25 academic year, nearly one-third of students participated in service learning, internships or community-based experiences, contributing more than 127,000 hours across the Central Valley.
In classrooms and community settings alike, students are applying their skills to challenges that shape the region, from public health and education to food access and economic stability.
Programs such as California Volunteers College Corps and hands-on efforts like the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site at the Stockton Campus bring that work to life, pairing academic learning with meaningful service.
It’s an approach grounded in reciprocity and place, preparing graduates to lead while strengthening the communities they serve.
Space Honoring Yokuts Leader Dedicated at Village Lake
A new outdoor space at Stanislaus State is creating room for reflection, ceremony and cultural continuity.
In November, members of the campus and local Native communities gathered at Village Lake near Bizzini Hall for a Smudging Dedication Ceremony honoring Yokuts leader Cucunuchi, baptized “Estanislao,” for whom Stanislaus County and the University are named.
Led by Chairwoman Katherine Perez of the Northern Valley Yokuts Tribe, the ceremony included a land acknowledgment and traditional smudging. Sacred Rising Voices, an all-women drumming circle of Tübatulabal of Kern Valley descent, shared songs and stories in their traditional language.
A plaque at the site dedicates the space for the traditional practice of smudging, recognizing California’s Native peoples, past and present.
President Britt Rios-Ellis said the space reflects a commitment to honoring Indigenous traditions in practice, offering a place for ceremony, reflection and cultural continuity.
The dedication also marks a step toward creating more Native spaces and strengthening relationships with tribal partners.
The plaque reads: “Honoring Yokuts leader Cucunuchi, baptized ‘Estanislao.’ In recognition of California's Native peoples, past and present, Stanislaus State dedicates this outdoor space for the traditional practice of smudging.”
Stan State Drives Regional Economic Impact, CSU Report Shows
Stanislaus State is helping power the Central Valley’s economy, contributing more than $600 million in regional industry activity and supporting thousands of jobs, according to a new California State University economic impact report.
The report, “Moving California Forward: The Economic Power of the CSU,” underscores the system’s role in driving economic mobility and workforce development across California. Within that impact, Stan State supported 5,900 jobs and generated $235.4 million in wages across the San Joaquin Valley, with $600.7 million in total regional activity.
Statewide, Stan State-related activity contributed $686.9 million to the California economy.
That impact starts with students. Through internships, applied research and connections with employers, students gain experience that prepares them for careers in high-demand fields such as education, healthcare and agriculture.
Together, those efforts position Stanislaus State as both a pathway to upward mobility and a driver of regional growth, strengthening the communities it serves.
1960 Minutes of Giving Raises More Than $270K for Student Success
In just 1,960 minutes, the Stanislaus State community came together to make a lasting impact.
During the University’s second annual 1960 Minutes of Giving campaign, alumni, students, faculty, staff and community partners raised $270,189 through 716 gifts to support scholarships, academic programs, student organizations, athletics and basic needs.
The nearly two-day effort, named for the year Stan State was founded, brought the Warrior spirit to life across both the Turlock and Stockton campuses. From student-led thank-you stations and interactive workshops to donation drives supporting food, hygiene items and professional clothing, the campaign created opportunities to give, connect and celebrate.
Matching gifts and donor challenges helped build momentum throughout the campaign, amplifying support and expanding its reach. Contributions from alumni, community partners and campus leaders strengthened investment in areas ranging from student-athlete experiences to nursing scholarships and emergency support for students facing financial hardship.
Business Forecast Points to Prolonged Economic Uncertainty
Economic uncertainty is expected to linger across California’s Central Valley, as rising costs and delayed interest rate cuts continue to slow growth, according to the latest San Joaquin Valley Business Forecast from Stanislaus State economist Gökçe Soydemir.
The report projects a slower path to recovery, with recession risk at 50 percent, significantly higher than the long-term average. Ongoing global instability and oil-driven inflation are expected to keep pressure on both businesses and households.
Across the region, employment growth is weakening, particularly in retail, manufacturing and construction. At the same time, education and health services remain among the strongest-performing sectors, underscoring areas where workforce demand continues.
Housing activity is also cooling, with fewer building permits and home price growth expected to remain below historical trends, while inflation pressures are expected to keep interest rates elevated and contribute to continued strain in financial markets.
The forecast calls for a cautious, measured approach as conditions evolve, with projections through 2028 offering insight into the economic forces shaping the Valley’s future.
