Student Affairs Leadership

During its annual marathon meeting today (May 17), Cal State Fullerton’s Academic Senate stopped proceedings to honor Silas Abrego, interim vice president for student affairs, for 27 years of service to the campus and its students.

Members of the senate gave a standing ovation to Abrego, following the reading of the resolution and presentation of a ‘senate key chain’ by Senate Chair Jack Bedell.

“It’s been an incredible run,” said Abrego. “It’s been very rewarding to see the changes in diversity on campus, and to be paid to do what I love and am very passionate about.”

The text of the resolution presented to Abrego reads:

Whereas, Sy joined the CSUF family in the summer of 1985; and

Whereas, prior to coming to CSUF, Sy was the coordinator of the California Education Policy Fellowship Program at the Institute for Educational Leadership, Tomas  Rivera Center at Claremont Graduate School; and

Whereas Sy understood the opportunities that public education avails to qualified students and immediately established a reputation at CSUF for having a strong commitment to high quality outreach and retention programs; and

Whereas Sy demonstrated his commitment to the “whole student” by demonstrating a commitment to, and practicing, wide and deep collaboration across University divisions, most especially with Academic Affairs; and

Whereas Sy was appointed Acting Vice President for Student Affairs in January, 2011; and

Whereas, as Associate Vice President and Acting Vice President for Student Affairs, Sy has supervised such diverse Student Affairs units as the University Learning Center, Athletic Academic Services, College-based Assistant Deans for Student Affairs, Dean of Students, Guardian Scholars, International Education and Exchange, Student Health and Counseling, and WoMen's Center/Adult Re-entry/Veterans Student Services; and

Whereas Sy has also had the undeniable privilege, and no doubt heartwarming experience, of being responsible for, and direct supervision of, Intercollegiate Athletics, during multiple Conference and National Championship seasons and kept steady watch while our football team remains unbeaten for a record number of seasons; and

Whereas, in spite of his great intelligence, in spite of his well known rationality and further in spite of his ability to make sense out of the nonsensical, he remains a loyal and life-time member of the Democratic Party; and

Whereas Sy was recognized on May 10, 2012, by the Orange County’s Human Relations Commission for helping to foster a CSUF environment where all students feel secure and are prepared for rich academic class room experiences; and

Whereas Sy has enjoyed countless sit-ins, slumber parties, hunger strikes, late night underwear runs, and camp-outs while being a member of our TITAN family; and

Whereas in his well over two (2) decades at CSUF, Sy has authored or co-authored over $23 million in external grants and raised millions of dollars for student scholarships; now be it

Resolved that the Academic Senate wishes Sy great health, great wealth and much fun, in his long postponed retirement; and be it further

Resolved that the Academic Senate thanks Sy for his true collaborative spirit working with Academic Affairs, including his Academic Senate colleagues, for the success of all of our students as they reach for their dreams.

John W. Bedell, Chair, the Academic Senate