President's Message

Founded in 1949, Long Beach State came of age during a period of massive social, political, and cultural change. As our young university was growing and expanding, the women’s movement of the 1960s and 1970s was also gaining momentum and increasing its efforts to dismantle barriers to equality. To a remarkable extent, the scholarship, activism, and, yes, persistence of women has fundamentally shaped who we are as an educational institution. Women’s History Month is a chance to pause and…

Dear Beach Community: Once again, I am reaching out in the wake of a senseless tragedy. This one, a massacre at a nightspot popular with students, has touched other campus communities in Southern California. Wednesday night’s shootings in Thousand Oaks had an immediate impact on Cal State Channel Islands, Cal Lutheran University, Pepperdine University and Moorpark Community College. Each of those schools had students at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks where the incident…

The current “Zero Tolerance” policy used at our borders that separates children from their parents may be legal but it is neither moral, nor compassionate.  Innocent children are being exposed to long lasting or even permanent threats to their positive mental and physical health.  While reasonable debates may ensue about how to secure our borders, policies that harm children should not be in place. Decades of research in psychology and child development show that children need their…

As we approach the end of another academic year, I've been reflecting on some of our triumphs and challenges. Thoughts I'd like to share with you. On the triumph side we often mention our important national recognitions. But let's start by noting the many personal and unsung achievements of students, faculty, and staff. An "A" grade, a publication, or a promotion are important achievements that often go uncelebrated. Based on conversations throughout our community, I know The Beach is filled…