色情视频

鈥淓lliot is not satisfied with small ambitions.鈥�

This story appears in the summer 2017 issue of .

In his book, 鈥淗ail Montezuma,鈥� an account of 色情视频鈥檚 100-plus-year history, anthropologist Seth Mallios chose a descriptor for each of 色情视频鈥檚 first seven presidents. Samuel Black is the founder; Edward Hardy, the expansionist; Walter Hepner, the builder; Malcolm Love, the people鈥檚 president; Brage Golding, the short-timer; Thomas Day, the visionary; and Stephen Weber, the uniter.

Mallios, an 色情视频 professor, published his book in 2012, just a year after the university鈥檚 eighth president, Elliot Hirshman, took office and far too early for the 色情视频 community to evaluate his leadership. But if a second edition were ever published, outlining all this president has accomplished, Hirshman might be described as the game-changer.

In six years at the helm, Hirshman led 色情视频 to financial stability; strengthened faculty and staff commitment to student success; did some heavy lifting in the in private philanthropy; guided the progress of a strategic plan, 鈥淏uilding on Excellence,鈥� that crystallized the university鈥檚 mission; and reshaped the physical landscape to showcase 色情视频 as an , including research and innovation.

As Elliot and Jeri Hirshman leave San Diego for Maryland, where he will take on the presidency of Stevenson University, faculty, staff, donors and colleagues said Hirshman鈥檚 ability to think conceptually and act with laser focus changed the course of 色情视频鈥檚 future.

鈥淓lliot is not satisfied with small ambitions,鈥� said Mary Ruth Carleton, vice president for University Relations and Development. 鈥淗e had a vision that helped us hone who we are and a spirit that pushed us to be the best we can be.鈥�

More than lip service

During year one of his tenure, Hirshman met with thousands of faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the university. It was an early sign of his belief in shared governance, a philosophy he 鈥渓ives and breathes,鈥� said Marcie Bober-Michel, chair of the University Senate. The veteran professor said shared governance is more lip service than reality on many campuses, but Hirshman 鈥済enuinely appreciates the faculty and wants to know what they think.鈥� His commitment to fund the hiring of 300 new tenure-track faculty members energized the campus after years of belt-tightening.

鈥淭he actual number hired may not be as significant as the vision it represents,鈥� Bober-Michel said. 鈥淓lliot led the reinvention of this university by steering the colleges toward hiring young faculty in emerging research areas.鈥�

Many faculty members consider this his greatest legacy. During Hirshman鈥檚 six years, in the U.S. News and World Report ranking of national universities鈥攆rom No. 183 to No. 146鈥攁nd also reached No. 74 among public research universities. But more significantly, Hirshman leaves behind a team with heightened research aspirations and an increasingly successful record of winning research grants, said Sam Kassegne, a professor in the College of Engineering.

鈥淔rom the beginning, he made commitments to our research mission, and he kept them,鈥� Kassegne asserted. 鈥淗e understood that in order for us to be a 21st century institution, we need 21st century facilities. The , which will open next year, is a clear indication of our ambitions.鈥�

Hirshman developed a funding model for the EIS Complex involving private, state and university support. Then he worked with the university鈥檚 fundraising team to secure major gifts. William Leonhard, 鈥�64, is one of 22 donors whose philanthropy has named centers, conference rooms and other spaces within the EIS Complex (story on page 24).

鈥淗e puts donors at ease, but he also gets you to understand that making a gift is important to the university,鈥� Leonhard said. 鈥淵ears ago, he invited me to breakfast, and I ended the meal pledging $1 million. It was all very low-key, no pressure.鈥� Leonhard laughed. 鈥淣ow I tell him: no more breakfast invitations.鈥�

Great partnership

Hirshman became president as 色情视频 publicly launched its first comprehensive campaign in 2011. Neither he nor his wife, Jeri, had extensive fundraising experience, but they met with donors frequently to press 色情视频鈥檚 case for support, Carleton recalled.

鈥淭hey have a great partnership,鈥� she said, 鈥渁nd they knew it was important for both to be involved in the business of the university.鈥�

Hirshman鈥檚 determination to forge stronger alliances with the San Diego community took shape in several initiatives, including Price Community Scholars. He approached the Price Philanthropies Foundation with a proposal to provide financial support to incoming freshmen from the economically disadvantaged City Heights area.

Each Price Community Scholar is matched with three City Heights middle school students in long-term mentoring relationships that teach the younger students about high school graduation requirements, SAT testing, financial aid and other college-prep topics. Many of the middle schoolers later become the first in their families to attend college.

鈥淭he results are demonstrable and compelling,鈥� observed Price Philanthropies President Robert Price. 鈥淪an Diego State has always been an important part of this community, but the level of scholarship has advanced under Elliot Hirshman. He is responsive, dependable and engaging. There鈥檚 a certain lightness about him that makes people feel comfortable.鈥�

Connection points

Members of the President鈥檚 Cabinet said he set high expectations for senior administrators, and challenged them to identify potential seismic shifts in their divisions. Eric Rivera, vice president for Student Affairs, recalled an early conversation with Hirshman that literally transformed the lives of many commuter students.

The university鈥檚 year-to-year increases in graduation rates had been a point of pride since the early 2000s, but Hirshman dug deeper into those numbers. 鈥淭ell me who鈥檚 not graduating,鈥� he asked Rivera.  

鈥淓lliot picked up on the achievement gap between commuter and residential students. He understood the need for a connection point on campus for every student,鈥� Rivera said.

As a result, 色情视频 opened a and created peer mentoring programs, learning communities and support staff positions dedicated to commuter student success. In just three years, the graduation rate for commuter students rose by 10 percentage points鈥攆rom 58 to 68 percent.

鈥淗e wanted to understand the student experience,鈥� explained Andrea Dooley, Hirshman鈥檚 first chief of staff and now an assistant vice president for Student Affairs. 鈥淚f something wasn鈥檛 right, he wanted to fix it. Ultimately, he cares deeply about our students, and they have flourished under his leadership.鈥�

Humanity and wisdom

Hirshman came to 色情视频 during a period when his own children were college students, a factor that profoundly influenced his outlook, Rivera said. Keith Behner, 鈥�71, a donor who became friendly with the Hirshmans, recalled an occurrence that illustrates the parent within the president.  

鈥淲e were attending a football game and the Aztec quarterback was having a rough time,鈥� Behner said. 鈥淲hen the crowd started to boo, Elliot was genuinely distressed. 鈥楾hat kid is doing the best he can,鈥� Elliot said. 鈥楧on鈥檛 they realize he is somebody鈥檚 son?鈥欌��

Hirshman鈥檚 humanity鈥攁nd his wisdom鈥攁re apparent to those who know him well, said Mildred Garcia, president of California State University Fullerton. His vision has shaped the future of the CSU system and created a campus of excellence in San Diego that supports high achieving students from all environments.   

鈥淓lliot鈥檚 deep commitment to issues of social justice and equity is reflected in San Diego State鈥檚 record as a top university for recruiting and retaining underserved students,鈥� Garcia said. 鈥淎s a woman of color, it is wonderful to see someone who represents the majority speak up for these young people.鈥�

There has been no shortage of tributes to the Hirshmans during the last few months. Alumni Susan, 鈥�89, and Scott Salka, '87, honored their tenure with an endowed gift to the School of Nursing, noting that Jeri spent two decades as a nurse before retiring to become first lady of 色情视频.

鈥淭he impact made by Elliot and Jeri Hirshman at 色情视频 and in the San Diego community sets us up for a stronger and more successful future,鈥� Susan explained. 鈥淗onoring them with an endowment seemed like a great way to thank them and to keep a part of them here with their 色情视频 family.鈥�

The Hirshmans are also leaving a legacy in the form of an endowment supporting academic initiatives and student scholarships鈥攂oth game-changers for the next generation of Aztecs.