A new year invites reflection and hope, and as the turn of the year approaches, I have been thinking about my resolution for Cal State Monterey Bay for 2026. For the university, the coming year brings a renewed sense of purpose and possibility. Cal State Monterey Bay stands as a source of pride for the Central Coast. When our graduates succeed, the community grows stronger.
Since fall 2022, our enrollment has risen by 27.4%, finances have steadied and the university continues to gain national recognition. Cal State Monterey Bay has been ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the Western region for upward mobility for the past three years, according to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings. That means students who pursue an education with us are improving their lives and creating new opportunities for their families. Their success reaches far beyond the classroom.
Our students arrive from many places and backgrounds, united by a shared dream to learn, to grow and to serve. More than half of our students are the first in their families to attend college and 60% have their full tuition covered by financial aid. Some study accounting, preparing to guide local businesses toward success, or marine science, with a goal of stewarding the unique environment of our coastal region. Others focus on agricultural plant and soil science or agribusiness supply chain management, supporting farms that feed communities around the world while stewarding sustainable practices that protect the land. Others pursue music and the arts, filling the region with creativity, culture and joy. (Editor’s note: Dana Arvig, the Herald’s director of operations & advertising, is a CSUMB graduate, as are editorial staff members Arianna Nalbach and Chris Hamilton)
As our enrollment grows and we expand our academic programs, we must also keep pace in creating spaces that foster learning. Student engagement helps build connections that last across a lifetime. As we invest in state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities, we need the support of community partners and philanthropists to make our vision a reality.
We have received significant external support for the new Edward “Ted” Taylor Science and Engineering Building, which will provide laboratories for mechatronics engineering and marine science, two fields vital to both the economy and the environment of the Central Coast. A new greenhouse complex and a research and teaching farm will advance research and teaching in sustainable farming. With community support, we are optimistic that our greenhouse complex and teaching and research farm, paired with the Ted Taylor Science and Engineering building, will make Cal State Monterey Bay a leader in ag technology.
We will also be renovating our Black Box Cabaret, which will be renamed as the Robert Darwin Black Box Cabaret pending California State University Board of Trustees approval, with a generous gift from the late Robert Darwin. His philanthropic vision will bring a new performing arts venue to the region, offering a home for music, theater and dance.
Lastly, we are focused on expanding health care programs, an integral need for our community. The region needs more skilled professionals in nursing, community wellness and similar fields, and Cal State Monterey Bay is ready to help meet that need. Each future nurse, therapist and public health leader trained on campus will strengthen the health and well-being of our region. To expand our programs, we need a dedicated building for Health Sciences and Human Services that provides unique simulation teaching spaces and clinical research opportunities for our students.
As the new year begins, I resolve to continue the momentum of change and my wish for Cal State Monterey Bay is simple. May every student find success. May every action of the university open more doors. May every graduate move forward with purpose, lifting families and communities along the way. May our community move forward with economic vitality and may every partnership between the university and the region continue to bring growth, hope and inspiration.
Cal State Monterey Bay is more than a campus. It is a promise, a promise that education can lift individuals, empower families, and strengthen the workforce that drives the Central Coast. The university prepares graduates who build businesses, teach future generations, care for the health of our residents and protect the environment we all share. Every student success story becomes a story of regional progress. Together, we will keep learning, serving and shaping a stronger future for our region, making all Otters proud.
Vanya Quiñones is the president of Cal State Monterey Bay.
