November 12, 2010 - National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) honored CSU President Dr. Horace Mitchell with its coveted President's Award at a ceremony last Friday in Portland, Oregon.

The President's Award is a special recognition given to a college or university president who has, over a sustained period of time, advanced the quality of student life on campus by supporting student affairs staff and programs. Dr. Mitchell's award represents Region VI, which includes California, Arizona and Hawaii.

"I have nothing but the greatest respect for President Mitchell's contributions to student affairs, both at CSUB and to the field in general," wrote John Hultsman, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs at CSUB, in his letter nominating Mitchell for the award.

A few of Mitchell's initiatives at CSUB so far include:

• Creation of a Student Affairs Strategic Plan;
• Passage of a student referendum providing funding for the state-of-the-art Student Recreation Center and intercollegiate athletics;
• Approval from the Chancellor's Office to build new residence halls to open in Fall 2013;
• Establishment of a Center for Community Engagement and Career Development to provide volunteer and internship opportunities for students;
• Successful transition to NCAA Division I status;
• Establishment of a school alma mater, fight song and flag.

All of these initiatives help foster a sense of belonging and pride for students at CSUB. Former CSUB student government president and Presidential Intern Dan Gianoutsos also wrote a nomination letter on Dr. Mitchell's behalf:

"Dr. Mitchell has a unique and innate ability to relate with students," he wrote. "On a regular basis, Dr. Mitchell can be found attending student functions, hosting student socials, and walking around campus to greet students and attentively listen to their feedback. . He achieves a perfect balance of being able to relate to the students while maintaining the professionalism expected of his position."

Dr. Mitchell's ongoing role as a mentor throughout his career boosted him to the top of the competitive nominations, said Rebecca Gutierrez-Keeton, NASPA awards chair and the Associate Vice President and Dean of Students at Cal Poly, Pomona. She pointed out that two of his four nomination letters came from student affairs administrators at universities who count Mitchell as an influential role in their careers.

Dr. Mitchell became president of CSUB in 2004. Prior to that, he served as Vice Chancellor, Business and Administrative Services from 1995 to 2004 at UC Berkeley, and Vice Chancellor-Student Affairs and Campus Life from 1984 to 1995 at UC Irvine. He holds a bachelor's degree in psychology, a master of arts in education and a Ph.D. in counseling psychology, all from Washington University. He has held leadership roles in higher education since 1968, starting with assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at his alma mater.