SACRAMENTO STATE
95,000-square foot building opened in 2019 and was made possible through the largest gift in the university ’ s history , a $ 9 million donation from Ernest E . Tschannen , a Swiss immigrant who moved to Sacramento in the mid-1950s but never attended the school . The Tschannen complex includes 30 teaching labs to support leading programs at the university , such as studies in gerontology and climate change . It also features a planetarium with a 40-foot diameter dome and a grass roof to increase its energy efficiency .
“ We were able to create this beautiful new building that , as the president has said , is the gift that keeps on giving ,” Cardoza says , explaining that even when the campus was shut down due to the pandemic , the Tschannen complex served an important role . “ When COVID hit and everyone was sent home , we were able to use the refrigerators
HORNET PRIDE
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
CALIFORNIA ’ S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY TOP ADVOCATES
Countless Sacramento State graduates have played critical roles in the state ’ s economy , including leaders at the California Manufacturers & Technology Association . Since 1918 , CMTA has advocated for pro-growth laws and regulations before California ’ s state government .
CMTA represents 400 California manufacturers , fighting for their competitiveness in policy areas of taxation , regulatory issues , energy costs , workforce development and others that impact an operation ’ s bottom line . They also provide training services and a group workers compensation insurance program .
CMTA is vital to California ’ s manufacturing industry — a sector whose numbers have a significant effect on our entire state ’ s economy . Total output from manufacturing in California is more than $ 300 billion per year , and manufacturers employ more than 1.2 million California workers , paying wages more than $ 25,000 higher than other non-farm employers in the state .
At CMTA ’ s helm as president and CEO is Sac State alum Lance Hastings (’ 87 , Economics ). He is joined by fellow Hornets Lawrence Gayden (‘ 19 , English ) and Dean Talley (‘ 18 , Communications ), recently hired as policy directors , while Teresa Kent (‘ 04 , Graphic Design ) has led CMTA ’ s graphic design and other communications projects for more than 15 years .
In the midst of partnerships with the university , Hastings says , “ CMTA is working with Sacramento State to find talent in the government relations space and to partner to make manufacturing an attractive career option for skilled workers in the region .” to house vaccines because we had the appropriate equipment .”
Philanthropy and fundraising is still a relatively new endeavor at Sac State , Cardoza says , but it has become more critical as state funding has decreased . On the Rise donations have funded the Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship , a unique resource that helps students in a variety of majors form bonds with members of the entrepreneur community and build a basis for starting their own companies . Funds raised through the campaign and a major land donation are also furthering the development of a Placer County branch of the university that will feature a new crime lab and enable Sac State to serve thousands of additional students each year .
One of Nelsen ’ s top priorities when he arrived in 2015 was increasing the school ’ s admittedly dismal four-year graduation rate . He quickly implemented the Finish in Four program , which made required classes more available and coordinated student success activities across departments , colleges and divisions . The four-year graduation rate has subsequently increased by 143 % since 2016 and Cardoza says the university ’ s effort has saved students who graduate in a timely manner an estimated $ 53 million in tuition , fees and unrealized earnings .
“ The education you get here is different because the faculty are 100 % behind the students , the administration is 100 % behind the students ,” says Tina Treis , board chair of the University Foundation , Sac State ’ s philanthropy arm . “ The heart of the teachers is amazing here , and I don ’ t think you always see that at other institutions . They really , really are student centered .”
Treis says Sac State has received more million-dollar-plus donations during the past three or four years than it had over the previous seven decades . One of those gifts came from local health insurer Western Health Advantage , helmed by president and CEO — and Sac State graduate — Garry Maisel . WHA made a $ 1 million gift to help fund the Carlsen Center and sponsors the university ’ s Entrepreneurship Week each year .
CMTA . NET SPONSORED PROFILE
16 comstocksmag . com | 2021