Spring-2023

SHORT CUTS EDUCATION Vanja Quiñones brings extensive experience to her role as CSUMB president as well as the goal of positioning students for success while reinforcing the value of education. A chance invitation set Vanya Quiñones, Ph.D., on the path from undergraduate art and science classes in Puerto Rico to her current role as the fourth president of California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB). “One of my pre-med class professors asked me to work in his lab. That single experience of somebody believing in me changed my career,” she says. While working in neurobiology, biopsycholo- gy and research in New York, Quiñones noticed a lack of women and Hispanic colleagues in the field. She moved into administration at Hunter College and then Pace University, determined to be a role model for students. After seeing a similar commitment to diversity, community and service at CSUMB, Quiñones joined the university in August. She immedi- ately launched a 100-day listening tour. Those conversations with students, employees, com- munity leaders and citizens informed a five-year vision centered on specific opportunities relat - ed to student engagement, academics, enroll- ment, sustainability and other themes. From investing in faculty development to expanding existing community service and internship programs, the goal is to position students for success while reinforcing the wider value of education. “I believe in the ripple effect. If you help one student, you help their families and you help the community,” Quiñones says. “That’s the common theme to my career.” A Commitment to Diversity Dr ives New CSUMB President B Y R ENE E B R I NCK S 68 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 3 Photo: Kelli Uldall