AR: What are your top priorities as Provost for the nest 2-3 years? JTR: My first and immediate priority is to double student enrollment: Grow to 2,000 students within five years. 2. Reinvigorate Research: Rebuild our grant portfolio and diversify funding beyond federal sources. 3. Enhance Operational Efficiency: Improve service units and internal workflows to elevate student services and financial accountability.
AR: How are you driving excellence across CDU’ s three colleges? JTR: Leadership meets every Thursday in the Provost Cabinet— myself and the three deans from Medicine, Science & Health, and Nursing. If anything comes up during the week, we connect again— sometimes once, sometimes more. I stay closely involved with planning across all three colleges.
We’ re also exploring future satellite locations. The goal is to expand access without compromising our mission.
AR: With Alumni Relations launching a formal mentorship platform, what do you see as the value of student-to-student( peer-topeer) and alumni-to-student mentorship in higher education today?
JTR: Mentorship is fundamental to the success of students in higher education. Over my 40 years in academia, I’ ve seen how impactful the right mentorship can be. Whether it ' s peer-to-peer or alumni-tostudent, mentorship helps build confidence, create community, and guide students through both academic and professional transitions.
The success of a mentorship platform like this one depends on full alignment and buyin across the university— leadership, faculty, staff, and students.
Matching mentors isn’ t one-size-fits-all. Sometimes students need multiple mentors across different areas— academic, career, personal. That’ s why intentionality matters when selecting and training mentors. But if it’ s done well, this platform can become one of the strongest pillars of student success and alumni engagement.
And to be clear— my office supports this fully.
AR: What role do you see alumni engagement playing in CDU’ s growth strategy? How can alumni contribute beyond financial support?
JTR:: Everyone must be aligned. Alumni can offer more than donations— they bring wisdom, professional networks, and real-world insight. Relationships take time and intention. By nurturing those connections, we enrich the entire CDU community.
AR: In closing reflections, What has inspired you the most during your time here at CDU so far— and what keeps you motivated each day?
JTR: The authenticity of CDU’ s leadership. When they speak of compassion and inclusion, it’ s real. That sincerity keeps me motivated. I’ m a natural optimist— always hungry for innovation and growth. You lose that hunger, you lose momentum.
And I’ m just getting started.
Dr. Torress- Ruiz Top Priorities 1. Grow student enrollment to 2,000 2. Reinvigorate Research 3. Enhance Operational Efficiency
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