California State University, Monterey Bay, celebrated the investiture of Vanya Quiñones in a ceremony on Feb. 10. The California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Quiñones as the fourth president of Cal State, Monterey Bay, in August 2022.
A neurobiologist, biopsychologist, and noted researcher, Quiñones, has published over 70 peer-reviewed articles. Over the course of a 20-plus-year career at the City University of New York (CUNY) – Hunter College, Quiñones served as an assistant, associate, and full professor in the Department of Psychology before being appointed to serve as the chair of the department.
She was later promoted to the role of associate provost. In 2018, she was appointed provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Pace University, where she also held the rank of full professor in the Department of Psychology. Her responsibilities included overseeing all educational and student-related academic offices, personnel, and Information Technology.
Quiñones earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in cell biology, both from the University of Puerto Rico and a Ph.D. in neurobiology and physiology from Rutgers University.
According to CSUMB, Wenda Fong, chair of the California State University Board of Trustees, presided over the presidential investiture, which featured Kanyon CoyoteWoman Sayers-Roods, an activist, artist, and educator, who sang a Native American song.
Other highlights included the Seaside High School Junior ROTC Color Guard, students who offered greetings in their native languages, remarks from various special guests, and music and dance performances.
In addition to Fong, who served as vice chair of the board (2020-2022) and has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2018, other guests included Interim Chancellor of California State University Jolene Koester; Pace University President Marvin Krislov; presidents and trustees of the CSUs, Hartnell College, and Monterey Peninsula College; CSUMB faculty, leadership, staff, students, and alums.
Local elected officials also attended. They included Marina Mayor Bruce Delgado, Seaside Mayor Ian Oglesby, Monterey County District 5 Supervisor Mary Adams, and Monterey Mayor and CSUMB Alumnus Tyller Williamson.
President Quiñones said her educational journey began with guidance from her grandmother Basillisa Torres Maldonado who saw new horizons beyond the farm. Education helped various members of the Quiñones family become engineers, doctors, lawyers, and now, a university president.
“As with my family, one family member can change the trajectory for generations to come,” she said. “Our stories tell us that when one member dreams of a better future via education, it opens doors for the whole family and future generations.”
In a follow-up meeting with the community, Quiñones said her focus would be expanding access to higher education and growing enrollment, enhancing partnerships for internship opportunities, and partnering with pre-K-12 schools and community colleges to ensure a strong pipeline of college-ready students.
Today at 2 p.m. | Watch the Presidential Investiture of Vanya Quiñones.
Quiñones will speak at the ceremony about how education transformed her own family and her belief that #CSUMB can collectively change the lives of our students.https://t.co/L3CO7Clrf4 pic.twitter.com/580uuE4nsW
— Cal State Monterey Bay (@CSUMB) February 10, 2023
Excellent coverage of an incredible event by @mcweekly | CSUMB celebrates the installation of its fourth president in a traditional ceremony with an informal twist.
https://t.co/OMRFQDofBU— Cal State Monterey Bay (@CSUMB) February 14, 2023
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